The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-09-19
Assessments Of Railway Lines Remain
as They0Wefe.
A PLEA FOR REDUCTION.
Arguments Which Failed to Influence
the Action of the State
Board.


railroads, telegraph and telephone lines
the same as last year.
This fixes the assessment of main
lines Of all railroads in the state for
1894 at $500 a mile, including rolling
stock; branch lines, 5000 mile; mar
row gauges, $4,000 a mile.
The assessment on telegraph lines is
$50 mile for poles and the first wire,
and $3.50 a mile for each additional
wire; instruments, 1896 each. Assess
ment of telephone lines is $42 mile.
The assessment of the Boise Central
right of-way was fixed at $500 mile.
When the board met there were
present representatives of all the rail-
roads doing business in the state. The
Union Pacific was represented by A. w.
Scribner, chief tax commissioner, and
his assistant, Captain o. H. Swingley,
while Jay Sedgwick, of Tacoma, ap-
peared for the Northern Pacific. A. s..
Watts, of Portland was there for Ore
gon Railway & Navigation. Assistant
Superintendent Norton, of the Western
Union Telegraph company.
Mr.. Norton said he was satisfied to
allow the telegraph assessment to re-
main as it was, but the representatives
of the railroads asked the board to
make reduction. They addressed the
board in turn reciting the fact that the
business of the roads had fallen off i'm
measurably. This, in connection with
the calamities that had overtaken the
roads in the shape of floods, Coxeyites.
etc., was, in their opinion, ample
reason why there should be decrease
in the assessment.
Mr.. Watts, the Oregon Railway &
Navigation man, caused himself to be
subjected to severe cross examination
by the statement that the rolling stock
of the Washington & Idaho, a branch
of the Oregon Railway & Navigation,
should not be assessed in Idaho as the
property belonged in Oregon.
Mr.. Watts was at once placed on the
carpet, but he stubbornly refused to be
convinced that tho stock should be as
sessed in Idaho.
lis not the rolling stock continually
kept in Idaho?" asked Governor Nc
COnnell.
"Yes," admitted Mr.. Watts.
SWELL" CONTINUED the governor,
"well have to see that Pennoyer does
not get that"
The discontinue of the over jealous
Mr.. Watts was apparent. He tried to
wiggle out of it, and the other railroad
ers commenced to guy him. He finally
made his escape. Later on he called
the governor off to one side and quietly
informed him he thought the board
was right. He then filed the Washing
ton & Idaho rolling stock assessment
with Auditor Ramsey. It amounted to
$1O,5OO.
Auditor Ramsey has received assess
ment reports from IL of the 81 counties
of the state. From these he estimates
the state assessment for this year will
be Is per cent. less than it was in 1893,
bringing the total down to less than
100000. OF this amount the rail
road assessment will be about $780,
600. In other words the railroads will
pay fully 25 per cent. of the taxes of
the state.
The assessment of the Western
Union Telegraph company for 1893 was
$68,588,88. 1t will be the same this
year.
There will be a slight increase this
year in the assessment of the Rocky
Mountain Bell Telephone company,
owing to the construction of several
new lines. Last year the company's
assessment amounted to $l5,77l.-
Statesman.