Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-08-11

Bismarck. N. D., Special, Aug. 3.-The
Republican state board of equalization
consisting of Gov. Briggs State Attorney
Hannum, State Treasurer Nichols, At
tOrney General Cowan and Commissioner
of Agriculture Thomas. at tO-days SEES
sion passed a resolution adding over ST.
OOO.ON to the valuation Of railroad prop
erty in the state A raise was expected
by the railroads though not so great a
one and they protested vigorously but the
resolution was passed as agreed upon by
the members of the board.
G.. S. Fernal, tax commissioner Of the
Northern Pacific. r. A. Wilkinson. of the
Great Northern, and ]. w. Cassiday, OF
the 500. made addresses asking that no
radical increase in value be made. The
same arguments were advanced that have
been made in former years. that the
roads were already assessed high enough.
that many branch lines were not paying
much more than operating expenses and
that radical increase Of assessment
would raiEs@the valuation of railroad
property above the proportion paid by
private persons.
The resolution passed by the board had
been agreed upon by the members and
was passed without division.
Heretofore the railroads in the state
have paid on an average valuation of
barely $1,000 n mile. The state board
added million dollars to the valuation
of railroad property in 1896. making an
average valuation of $4,000 per mile. The
resolution passed to-day makes the aver
age valuation a little over $1,000. The
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
roads are assessed at $1,000 per mile fiat
on the main line and branches and as
these have the greatest mileage the in
crease falls heaviest upon them.
They do not object so much to paying
the increased tax to the state. but in
many of the counties along the branch
lines their taxes will be doubled and the
total increase will be large.
The assessment of roads as fixed by
the resolution is as follows: Great North
ern. miles of main line, 5O7, branches. 6O7,
valuation per mile $1,000 total assessed
valuation. 1914, 500; Northern Pacific,
miles Of main line 376. branches 4S2,
valuation $1,000. assessed valuation. ST.
239. 49,; 500. main line $50 miles, branches
1O4. valuation $4,000 on main line and
$500 on branches. assessed valuation ST.
!'S4 coo: Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul.
5000 main line and $1,000 on
branches. assessed valuation S517 ,S35:
Northwestern $1,000 per mile, assessed
valuation S40,9SO. Total valuation of all
roads in the state $12S96.3a6. The total
valuation last year was $S,G1943O, the in
crease being 80 per cent. Side tracks
We're raised from $3.50 to $500 per mile.
The total increase in valuation of all
roads is S4.2jO.0OO and the additional tax
that will have to be paid by the rail-
road companies is something like $121 900.
Pierre, S. D.. Special, Aug. 3.-The state
board of assessment to-day raised the
assessment of the Western Union Tele-
graph company from SOL to $50 per mile,
an increase of IS per cent. The assess
ment of the narrow gauge roads in the
Black Hills was left the same as last
year. The Minneapolis & ST. Louis was
also left the same as last year.
Upon the assessment of the Chicago.
Milwaukee & st. Paul the first serious
division took place. Gov. Lee. Auditor
Mayhem and Attorney General Grigsby
favored material increase and the others
opposed. Finally an adjournment was
taken until tomorrow. The railroad is
sue is being forced to the front in the
coming campaign and there is more or
less politics in the action of members OF
the board in the matter of assessments.