The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-11-12
TAXING RAILROAD LAND&
1orOo osnt ~ 1o

when IS actually owned by private in.
dividuals escapes taxation. The land
Is purch .ssed from the railroads on con-
tract and the title remains with the
corporation. The state is in this way
robbed Of thousands of dollars eacn
year. 1t Is pretty near time to call u
halt in this kind of business. The leg
lslature ut its extra session would con-
fer \ great favor an the honest tax
payers of the state by legislating in this
direction.-Duluth Herald.
The trouble is, the people have no
hope Of relief from the present legisla-
ture. even if it is called to meet in ex-
ira session. 1t turned deaf ear to
the demand for law taxing such lands
last winter, and it is not likely it has
experienced change of heart since.
What is wanted is the election Of new
men who will Iced the wishes of the
people in this regard, aud it is hoped
that ut the election to occur next fall
this result may be accomplished.
Perhaps under the recent decision of
the supreme court, the state auditor or
the boards of Commissioners of the sew.
eral counties in which these lands lie
can order them placed on the tax list.
The board Of commissioners of Mobiles
county several years ago ordered three
sections Of s" called railroad land to he
entered on the tax list rs II test case.
but Judge Severance decided that such
lands were not taxable, and there the
matter was allowed to drop. In the
light Of recent developments, it would
seem that another attempt might be
successful if Carried to the supreme
court. Would it not be we'll for the
boards If commissioners of the several
counties interested to act in concert in
this matter.
If AL extra Session OF the legislature
IS convened, the laws should lie so
amended as to require Counties which
neglect t" build jalls. to pay counties
where their prisoners are kept Il prol,or-
tlOnatoAIn"unt Of tl,t cost Of maintain.
Ing such jai'S. Counties are encour.
aged not to build jaiIs so long as they
can use those Of thcir n+ighb"rs free,
Tor the board goes to the sheriff, and
not one cent of 1t towards the main.
i"naisce If the Jail Every county Iays
tar board 1T its prisoners, whether it
owns II Jail or uDt.-.OwatOni.a Journal
AS w'll he seen by the report Of the
grand jury published in connection
with the proceedings Of the district
court, that lxr'y recommends that our
ct'u"ty commissioners take steps to
collect rAy from other counties using
our Jail for the drtention or punish
men: ut their prisoners. considering it
hardship that the tax payers of
Mobiles county should be compelled to
bear the burden of caring for prisoners
not its own. Perhaps such expense
can be collected from other counties
under existing laws-at least it will do
80 harm to make the attempt.
"Wonld you believe that Pipestone
county has outdistanced in growth all
other counties in this congressional
district?'' asked Auditor Pearson on
Friday. ut is fact. Just look here. -
And taking down the report of the sec
retary Of state Mr.. Pearson showed
that in 1880 our population was 1902.
while in 1885 we have 1856, having
nearly doubled in five years. Now
look over the other countless said Mr..
Pearson, land you will see that not one
Of them has made any such showing. -
-Pipestone Star.
That's nothing. The little town of
James, on the Omaha road Just this
side OF Sioux City. doubled its popula-
ton inside twelve hours. One morn
Ing it had a population of five-father,
mother and three children. Before
night another family of five persons
settled in the burg. 1t takes a great
many more settlers to double 5000 or
10, 90 population than it does to double
"2,O92"