Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-12-15
DEALING IN FACTS CONCERNING THE
NELLs.FARaO EXPRESS co.

W GbIS"6 ANU LAF hLoS w.
Some time ago big, well fed, blue
coated fellow jumped onto the editor Of
this paper in Albuquerque, regarding an
article that appeared in its columns re"
earding the taxes paid by Wells Fargo
Express company in SOcorro county.
Well, We were busy then in election mat
ters and did not pay much attention to
it, and then we did not know who the
fellow was, as We had never been intro
duced to him, and We do not know as
yet who he was only by hearsay, yet We
presume it was one Nichols, the chief OF
the express service in this territory for
that company. He took umbrage at
what We said regarding the taxes paid
by that company and also the fact that
we commented upon his being in So
zorro fighting the levy made by the
county commissioners. He said if our
memory serves us right, that, Wells
Fargo always paid 100 cents on
the dollar that We went after
Wels-Fargo and did not 60 after some
private individuals who had not paid their
taxes. In fact he showed considerable
feeling over the matter. Well, We have
time now, and to-day just took look at
the tax lists of this county to see what
taxes that corporation paid in Socorro
count y, and just here We want to say for
the benefit of Mr.. Nichols and all other
agents and employees OF that express COM
pany, that the Wells-Fargo Express com
pany does not stand in its relation to the
people of this or any other community as
q private individual. 1t is quasi public
corporation, and has, and enjoys rights
not enjoyed by any private individual,
and there are duties ahd obligations rest
ing upon it that the people expect it to
discharge, and that whether one or ten
hundred private individuals pay their
taxes or not, it is none of the
business of the Wells-Fa~go Ex-
press company, or any OF its ser
wants in that capacity. But to re-
turn to the taxes paid by this company
in Socorro county. In 1887 it returned
valuation OF 5000 taxable property and
paid Sc taxes, in 1888 it returned valua-
ton OF $lS7 taxable property aud paid
$4.04 taxes, in 1889 it returned valua-
ton of taxable property and paid $3.50
taxes. In 1890 it returned $50 valuation
taxable property. The board of county
commissioners here took the matter in
hand, raised their valuation to $40 when
Mr.. Nichols put in an appearance and
the tax list was left at 1920, assessable
property, taxes $500. Now this we get
from the records. 1t may not be our
place to print this, and in the opinion of
the man at the helm Of Wells-Fargo Cos.
business in New Mexico it probably is not,
but We do it all the same. This
Wells-Farso Express company is
great big monopoly. 1t is like an
immense devil fish with ten
tacle at every hamlet in the land.
1t takes from every industry and does
not give anything for what it takes. Now
take sample, small package of paper
is wanted, its value is 81, yet to get this
hy this express company it costs 81 80.
This is business, but like the jug-handle
it is all on one side. We want the rights
of this corporate monster taken hold of
by the legislature, and the knife and
prooning hook applied, and brake put
upon it before it does further damage by
its extortionate charges; fix it's charges
the same as you do any common carrier,
and instead of having it own the people,
let it be the peoples servant as it in
truth and fact should be. So far as it's
blue-coated employees are concerned,
they are paid to do its bidding, and when
they do not, they will step out. Some
thing will be done at this legislature, you
may depend upon it.-Socorro Chieftain