The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-03
Mr.. SENC THREW IT AWAY
LETTER ABOUT THE STREET
RAILWAY ASSESSMENT
NORTH Helm Called the Assessors
Attention to Certain Matters
He Also Communicated With the
County Auditor on the Same Sub
ject, So the Board of Equalization
Is Apt to Take 1t Up.

1t is probable that the board Of equal
ization will reach the assessment of
the street railway company today, and
when it is reached there is going to
be something Of a discussion-provid-
ing the county auditor places a COM
munication which he received the other
day from NORTH Helm before the
board. Mr.. Helm demands that the as
sessment of the company be raised to
what would be an adequate valuation.
based upon the net earnings of the
company. Mr. Helm has investigated
the matter to some considerable extent.
He was Instrumental in forcing the
attention Of the board to it last year,
particularly with regard to the lack
Of assessment at all on the franchise
and he forced the matter into the
courts.
This year he has taken the matter up
at the earliest stage Of proceedings so
that there will be plenty of time and
has notified the auditor and assessor
that the assessment must be just.
Yesterday the board had not yet got
to the street railway assessment. Mr..
Seng could not remember what it was
and did not know what 1t would be.
1t was intimated that the company
might be reached today, or might be
left until the end Of the examination
of the books
Mr.. Seng was also asked If he had
received letter from Mr.. Helm on
the subject. He thought for a minute
and then said that he thought he had
received some sort Of communication
a couple of weeks ago.
Il don't remember much about it,
but did get a letter from Heinz" said
Mr.. Seng. 81 don't remember much
about the contents; something to the
effect that the street railway company
should be assessed at five to six mill
lions, and the gas company at four or
five. I can't pay any attention to that
sort of thing, you know, so I threw it
away"
What Mr.. Helm wrote to the assessor
is pretty thoroughly covered, in a gen.
eral way in the letter, which he adj
dressed to Mr.. Sullivan, and which fol-
lows:
Dear Sir: Your attention is respectfully
called to the omission Of 1903 miles Of track
and road of the ST. Paul City Railway COM
pany being placed upon the assessment books
for the year 1898. I addressed a letter to
our county assessor dated the 25th of this
month, in relation thereto. and no action
Section 1919. General Statutes Minnesota
1894. provides that the track and road of
street railways shall be assessed like per-
sonal property. Section 1880, the manner and
form in which such corporations shall make
a return of their personal property. Said COM
pany failed to make such return; had such
been made 1t would of necessity contain
statement Of the number Of miles Of street
railway operated by it and the value per
mile. The return of the company has been
made upon a blank provided for private in
dividuais. where there is no mention Of track
and road. arQIr
Said company has a gross income in this
county of at least $500 600 per annum and
net income Of 100000 per annum-all by
reason of being in control of the best high
ways In the city, and in many instances II
Is in exclusive possession of entire streets
on account of the use of the so-called T rails
1t derives its income mainly from the pub
lie inhabiting this county. for which the
people receive no compensation, save such
nominal taxes as the authorities charged with
the administration Of the tax laws impose
upon the company.
Upon two occasions did the board of equal
ization increase the assessed valuation of the
personal property of said company but, new
ertheless. this year the assessor ignored such
presidents.
All real estate adjacent to the lines Of
the street railway is taxed to its full ca
pacity. Why should 10S miles of street rail-
way track and road be omitted? Sections
1851 1880 and 1881 Of said statutes give YOU
jurisdiction to act in the matter The value