Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-08-23
The Question OF Railroad Taxation
Is Taken Up, and the Board
Hears the Arguments.
Some Interesting Statistics from the
Tables of Property Valuation
in the Various Counties.
Livestock Taken Up BY the Board,
and the Value of All Glasses
Is Fixed.
The Question of Railroad Taxation and
Valuation Again Under Discus
sion This Afternoon.
State Board of Equalization,

State Board of Equalization.
The state board of equalization con-
vened at the office of the state auditor
Tuesday morning. The following mem.
bers were present, and took the oath of
office as administered by w. o. DePuy:
First District-George B. Clifford, Grand
Forks.
Second District-George E. Widmyer,
Rolla.
Third District-A. B. tIuptil, Fargo.
Fourth District-M. F. Stevens, Wahpe-
ton.
Fifth District-Wm. Dwyer, Napoleon.
Sixth District-A.B B. Stricken, Bismarck.
Seventh Districts. d. Wallace, Dray-
ton.
At Large-Roger Allin, governor; Frank
A. Briggs, state auditor: John F. Cowan,
attorney general.
The meeting was called to order by
Governor Ailin, and John w. Gregg was
appointed as secretary by the board.
Mr.. Guptil then moved that any dele
CATION or persons present who wished to
address the board be invited so to do.
Hon. Peter Herbrandson of Trail
county was present, and addressed the
board upon the matter of real-eRtate as
sessment in his county. The value of
the lands there were raised over all other
counties in the state last year, and MI.
H~erbrandson thought this discrimina-
ton should not he, and argued against
1T. The matter was taken under advise
ment by the board.
The question Of railroad taxation was
the first one taken up by the board.
Mr.. F. P. Crandon, representing the
Northwestern railway, was the first to
address the board on this subject. He
said the Northwestern line operated
fourteen miles of road in the state. The
gross earnings of this portion Of the road
were $4,000 a year, while the operating
expenses wero $4,000, and the interest on
the bonds $4,000 a year. As a conse-
quence the property, in point Of revenue,
was worth nothing. Of course, he real
lied that the board would not SO con-
slider it, but in tie light Of the state
ments he had made, he trusted the board
would be fair in It's assessment, and take
the figures he had given into considera-
ton.
The board adjourned at the close of
Mr.. Crandon's address until 2 o'clock
this afternoon. There are several other
representatives of the roads in the state
who will address the board, and the
railroad taxation wifi probably take up
the day.
The equalization of live stock values
will bes facilitated by the preparation of
lists and values of the live stock in each
county for each member of the board.
This has been done by Secretary Gregg
and will serve greatly to expedite work.
SOME INTERESTING ELS.
Some interesting statistics of personal
property in the state are obtained from
the table of property of the several
counties in the state, as prepared by
Captain Gregg of the auditors depart
ment. The total personal valuation of
the state Is $19,80 ,492, Cass county lead
ing with $~2,139,92s, Grand Forks second
with 81, 1916 ,024, and Oliver county bring
ing up the small end with 556,352.
OF horses of all kinds in the state
there are 20S, 707, which are valued at
S5,419.257. Billings county leads in
bronchos with 1923, and Cass leads in
horses 3 years old and over with 12,44O.
OF cattle there are 231 ,035 in the state,
at an aggregate valuation of 1856, 1855,
or an average of a little over $40 each.
A peculiar fact in the assessment of
cattle is that nearly nine-tenths of all
the range cattle reported in the state
are from Billings county, which turns in
1888, at ar aggregate value of $685. $50.
The mule population is not so large,
there being but 5,158 in the state, valued
at S163,803. Trail county heads the list
in m%ulishness, if the term may be per-
mitted, with 812 of the four-legged
variety. Cass county lisa close second
with 807, while Billings and Oliver have
but 4, and in all the magnificent length
and breadth of Stark there are but 5.
There are 224,953 sheep listed, and these
are valued at 1922, 142. Morton county
returns the greatest number, $3.50, with
Emmons second at $780,.
The sum total Of hogs is 69,977. and
they are calculated to be worth $l61, 1896,
blind pigs being presumably excluded
from the list. Grand Forks has 7,116 of
the whole number, with Caes county
second at 6,806.
Wagons and carriages exist to the
number Of 5l,650, enough to carry all
the residents of the state at four persons
to the wagon. There are valued at $685.
$40. Melodeons and organs there are to
the number of 3,131, and the value of