The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-04
ganized township SO, N. r. 10 W., villages OF
Biwabik, Hibbing. Eveleth, and city Of Ely.
DULUTH FARES WE'LL.

v
Then on motion of Mr.. Cooley the
valuations in Duluth were reduced 8
per cent.
G. NJ. Ferguson, counsel to the West
ern Union Telegraph company, appear
ed before the board and protested
against an increase of that company's
valuation in this state
we were assessed last year." he
said. ION a valuation of 100000. l
pointed out to the board that there had
been no Increase in poles, wires and
Instruments. There are now seventy
three miles less of poles and $50 miles
more of wires in the state. The bust
ness of 1S93-94 fell off 80 per cent, and
there was a decrease In the value of
real estate in st. Paul of $2S, 000, 900, and
of $3OOOO,O0O in Hennepin county. 1t
was said that the basis of taxation was
a gues IS, and that the steady Increase
of 10 per cent which has been made
each year was made on the same
basis.
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany has had It's share of returning
prosperity since 1891. The statute re-
quires the filing with the auditor Of Il
list o. property, but if more is wanted
the law should be more specific. We
make return of physical property. If
You conclude that that is not the basis
of taxation 1t will be necessary for US to
make statement Of income, which the
Statute does not require. Under our
system of bookkeeping 1t is impossible
for us to tell the exact amount OF bust
ness in this state. Last year 1000 900
messages were handled in this state,
averaging 40 cents each, yet it is inn
possible to say what proportion of
those messages were interstate mes
sages originating in this state. A mes
( Do, W
go direct to New York or through Hud-
son or La Crosse or Dubuque. The
earnings in this state last year were
$462,lZ8.16, and the operating expenses
S4OtOI3.59, leaving a net profit of $751;
11457.
The company never has paid a divi-
dend of over per cent on a capital
of $1OO, 600 600 The valuation of our
property in this state could hardly DE
put higher than $780, 00 There are
1890 miles Of poles and 10000 miles Of
wire In Minnesota, and taking every
thing into consideration It is worth,
1890 miles of poles at $50 per mile, $685.
OOO, and 10000 miles Of wire at $15 per
| mile, 100000, a total of $58S, 900. That
| is the value Of its physical property.
| What would be a basis for other prop
| erty would be fair basis for ours
| General superintendent Isaac Nc
! Michael said the company spent $25, 900
! on it's underground system in the Twin
| Cities. The action of the board IN
raising the assessment 10 per cent each
year was without Justification The
company'S property was on the down.
! grade and he thought the tax should
| be reduced instead Of being increased
He thought $500, 900 a liberal assess
ment
ASSESSMENT REMAINS THE SAME
When the telegraph company repre-
sentatives had gone, Mr.. Cooley moved
| that the Western Union be assessed at
| S8650O0, as last year. Mr.. Sprague moved
an increase of Is per cent, or to ST.,
| 900, 000.
Mr.. Lawrence said the board had
borne down pretty hard on the tele-
| graph companies in years past and he
| believed in letting up on them.
Some one has always had an AK
to grind, a grievance to satisfy, and
it has been taken out Of the COM
panies,' he said. "They should not be
! raised beyond last years assessments.
Mr.. Sprague's motion was lost and
the Western Union company's assess
ment remained at $685., 900.
On motion Of Mr.. Cooley the assess
| nent Of the North American Telegraph
| company was allowed to stand at $751;
500. The rate for both companies was
Mr.. Cooley said that along the line
| Of the 500 railway there is a telegraph
| system which is not owned by either
the Western Union Or the North Ameri-
| can Telegraph companies. No owner
! has been found for it and he wanted
| State Auditor Dunn to go out and find
the proprietor and tax him, If he pos
sesses such authority. His suggestion
was endorsed by the board. which will
let nothing smaller than q Twin City
trolley company escape.
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS LAID.
The following special assessments, on
motion Of Mr.. Cooley, were laid:
American Refrigerator Transit COM
Armour & Co., formerly taxed SIS, 600 5COO
Arms Palace Horse Car company ........ 1000
Burton Stock Car company .......... 800
Canada Cattle Car company ........... $1,000
Chicago, New York and Boston Refrig-
cd da bT f9mRany comnanv ~ 6 S00
Cudahy Milwaukee Refrigerator line 80. 1000
Hammond Refrigerator line.... .......... $500
Kansas City Dressed Beef company. go. 1900
keystone Palace Horse Car company. 500
Merchants Dispatch Transit company. 500
Peavey Grain line 80. ................. 10 900
Streets Western Stable Car company =. 10 900
Swift Refrigerator Transit company. g. $50
Union Refrigerator Transit company. :. Is 600
Union rank line .15, 900
California Fruit express. ............ LOO
Continental Fruit express. .............. l. 900
Mr.. Cooley then announced that the
arduous labors Of the state board of
equalization were ended There was
nothing on the docket, and the mem
bers had finished the work set out for
them.
Some one moved an adjournment. but
before the motion could prevail another
member moved a vote Of thanks to
Chairman Potter, Secretaries Cooley
ard F'iddes and Clerk Atkins.
COULDN'T FORGET OMAHA.
Chairman Potter thanked the mem
bers and said he never had had the
honor to preside over so harmonious
body as the board had been. He
felt highly honored to have been call
ed upon to preside over them in ST.
Paul and in Omaha and he hoped they
would meet together again at both
places. Both of the secretaries re-
sponded also, and as they were going
out Mr.. Gordon invited them all to
have something with him. The inyi-
tation was accepted, and so passed out
Of existence board that has spent
twenty-eight days of valuable time
transacting business that might have
been finished in week. But the mem
bers get SIS a day for twenty EIGHT DAYS,
including Sundays and days at Omaha.
MR.. PECK SAID NAY.
Anent the Omaha trip there is a good
story Sever S. StadvoId became dis
gusted with the manner in which the
board was transacting business, and
on Friday he went to his home in Foss-