The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-14
TAX CASE CLOSED.
Afser Hard Fight the Iron Star Company Is
Eoreed 10 Pay its Taxes.

One of the hardest fights against taxes
ever made by "a corporation in the upper
peDinsul.. was formally closed yesterday,
when the Iron Star company handed
Mr.. Fred II. Abbott, the attorney Tor
the township, n draft for the taxes upon
the property OF that company FOR the
year 1895.
When the tax roll of that year came
to the hands oi The township treasurer
for collection, it WIS found that the
property OF the Iron Star company had
been taxed IN the sum of S25S2 Oh.
But the supervisor OF that year had
assessed the property in the name oi
the Great Western Mining company in
stead uf in the name of the Iron Star
company, az he should more properly
have done, and when the treasurer lie
manded payment OF the taxes by the
Iron Star company, that company re
fused on the ground that, inasmuch as
the property was not assessed in its
name, il WAS not liable for the taxes.
| Tie township treasurer disagreed with IL
and, To make his disagreement take on
II practical form, seized the stockpile of
the company at the Great Western mine
containing about sixty thousand tons
Of iron ore, with the intention Of selling
il under the statute and realizing the
amount Of the taxes, which ho claimed
To be due, together with the costs and
charges. Before the treasurer, however,
could bring the property toa sale, the
company, still persiHting in its position
81 refusal TO pay, replevined the stock
pile from the treasurer.
The case was tried ia the circuit court
OF this county in the February (lS97i
term, Messrs. Moore & Moore, one uf
the abest firm oi lawyers in Detroit,
appearing for the company and con
tending against the validity 81 the tax
and Fred II Abbott appearing for the
township and contendIng for the valid
ity of the tax. The result OF that trial
was that the township recovered n
Judgment for tho whole amount OF the
taxes, with interest, collection feos and
costs But thereupon the company
took the case tu the Supreme court
whore it was argued at the June (lS9S)
term by Mcssrs Moore * Moore for the
company and Mr.. Abbott for the town
ship. The Supreme court assumed the
same view OF the matter that the circuit
court had taken and handed down an
Iopinion sustaining the validity ot the
tax and holding the Iron Star company
liable TO pay il.
III the meantime, the keweenaw Assoc
citation, which owns the icc oi the mine
ia order 10 protect It's interests, paid
the real estate tax, but the personal
property tax remained unpaid until
yesterday when it, too, was closed up as
before stated, including also the accrued
interest, charges and costs OF the litign.
tion ia both courts.
The case has been an important on as
n precedent in this community and, az
such, has been watched with consider
able interest not only by the people %
this vicinity, but az well by the hrg,
taxpayers and attorneys of other local
tiles, where similnr questions are con
stantly liable to arise, and the town
ship il 10 be congratulated on tht
successful outcome oi its hard-iought
endeavor to obtain what il clnimcd e
bc, aud which the highest court in tn
state has declared il to be, It's just due