Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-08-22
RAILROADS.
4 Single Etem of Reduction Amount ing to S52, 400 of
 the Work.
Herald

Herald
 At their meeting, 7:30 o'clock last eve ming, the full board of equalization was present, to wit: Auditor Thomas Hughes, of Tucson, 1st district; Hon. \. J. Doran, of Florence, 2nd district: Hon. Walter Talbot, of Phoenix, 3rd district; Hon. ". c. Bashford, of Pres colt, 4th district; and Secretary Ben Honey, of Tucson.
 Col. M. J. Egan and manager John Shennen, representing the Arizona and New Mexico R. R. Co, attended. On motion of Mir. Doran the assessment Of that road was taken up. and facts ard figures called for that might aid ID ar irving 1t just valuation or the com pany's property.
 Col. Egan argued that the road was more producer than common carrier, the freight and passenger traffic being exceedingly light. Tue Arizona Copper Company was its chief feeder and tnalnstay.
 Mir. Shennen then produced figures showing the earnings Cf said road, and stated It had lost S65,OG0 by lust spring g floods. The New Mexico portion Of the road, though better equipped, was only assessed 8 ,345 per mile.
 MT. Doran admitted that in compar- ison with ArizOna's broad guage roads this company's assessment was un Gou btedly too high. On motion of MT. BashfCTd tho matter was laid over till the next meeting.
 Secretary Heney announced that re quest for a assessments were all in except those from Coconino and Pima. The former were telephoued for, the latts T pro mised foc Wednesday.
 la response to E. R, ,,Ryan's wire re- turns Of hearing Saturday, August 10th, touching the Southern Pacific property, an answer was sent making the day Friday, August 14th, if practicable, as the board desired 10 complete its la bors by that day.
 wEDNEs DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
 The full board assembled at the au- ditor's Phoenix office, Monihon Block, at o'clock this morning.
 On motion of Mir. Doran the assess ment Of the Arizona & New Mexico k. R. O., was reduced from S4.5O0 to S4O00 DCI l1llC OA iOdN Oc0, U tJC., lAic balance of the property standing as originally assessed last June. The mo- ton was carried unanimously.
 A communication was read from the Cochise county supervisors to the ef- feet that railroads there had cost S20,- 0G0 per mile and that unless there were assessed somewhere near their value the rate Of taxation upon other proper ty must be made so high as to discour- age immigration and to he deemed "disGraceful to any part of the territo- ry."
 4 communication from Col. c. s. Mas ten, relative to the Maricopa < Phoenix F. F. Co, was next read It asks for m. ifcTm assessment of all roads, saying the Atlantic & Pacific franchise and right of way had been 6ssessed at S2,- 0CG per Cile, with S5.0J0 valuation on ifs road bed, rolling stock etc, Upon this plan t-e M. & P. R. R. franchise would be rated as S7i1.55 per mile, which is excessive. The latter road had lost heavily this year by food, and years would be required to pay the new in- debtedness. The road had never paid 6 dividend, and barely paid expenses Yet it's asse essmeDt has been raised S2J,- 4SG.55. 4 valuation of Si,000 per mile is asked for
 Col. Masten and Judge H. x. Alexan- ander appeared before the board. The latter stated this road had been inoper- ative for three months last spring, from floods, and that repairs had cost nearly SS0,000. Besides the company had no fee title over the reservation. their fran chise and right of way had 10 cash val ue. Gel. Masten gave the operating ex- penses for February, March and April at g, ,J00, S6,500 and s4,500 respectively The recelpts last year averaged S7,5O0 monthly.
 Attorney General Herring and mana ger Il. T. Richards next appeared for the New Mexico & Arizona R. R. The rol- ling stock assessment was their main grievance. Manager Reynolds claimed that the company's box cars were older and smaller than the Southern Pacific's At least ore fourth of them had 20 air brakes, which made their value $50 less each. The company needed in opera tion so box and 58 other cars of all kinds. Col. Herring argued that side tra, k5 should be deducted as no other company returned and valued that item separately.
 The number Of cars assessed was then reduced to the Lur Der claimed by Mao ager Reynolds above. On motion of Mir. Bashford the separate assessment Of side tracks was set aside, their valu- ation being included in that of main track etc,
 The reduction in box cars alone to 131, at S400 each, or S52,- 400.
 Col. Herring called attention to the | F. R. Co.'S assessment, in | Yavapai county, aLd thought this prop 1 subject to local assessment, not 1 being railroad in fact ct all Mir. | Bashfcrd said the assessment had been | made at the owners request. but he | thought it improper. The boards as sessment of June last was then set aside | and notice ordered sent to the Yayapai l 
 An adjournment was then taken to i P. m.
 Cattle Notes.