Willmar tribune., 1899-03-08
MINNESO IA NEWS.
/ RAILROADS PAY UP.

During the last month the railroad
companies operating ii Minnesota have
paid into the state treasury nearly three
quarters of a million dollars In taxes
upon their gross earnings receipts.
The total amount due from railroad
companies, as shown by their sworn
statement made to the railroad and ware
house commission this year is $1,2O, ,2n.T,
being an increase OF about $3.50 900 over
the previous year. < i q 5z.5S z.< >ss.s .
Some Of the Minnesota companies set
tied with the state for their gross earn
1ngs tax as early as December, and a
few paid up in January, but during the
last few days of February nearly quar-
ter of million dollars was received in
less than week.
The Great Northern leads the list with
gross receipts amounting to $S,92S, 1925,
upon which tax of 3 per cent is levied,
netting the state $267. .854.80, as against
SIG, ,46o.79 charged up against the North
ern Pacific; which was paid in lump a
few days ago. The Great Northern has
settled with the state for the earnings of
all it's branch lines but the returns from
the main line have not been received. ~
Under the gross earnings tax law taxes
panies are graduated according to the
length, of time the railroad has been oper-
ating in the state. All under FIVE years,
1 per cent; under ten years pay 2 per
cent and all above that limit pay per
cent. All of the older companies come
In for the full force of the tax.
The Chicago Great Western is the only
road which has not been operating over
ten years in Minnesota which does not
pay per cent. The claim is made by the
directors of the road that it was organ
lied under the old territorial charter
which fixes its tax at 2 per cent. There
has been a dispute between the state off,
cials and the officers of the road since the
law went into effect, and preparations
are now being made to test the validity
of the claim in court
A TOWN WILL MOVE.
With the advent of spring the town Of
Eveleth will be taken and slid bodily up
the side of hill to a new location The
place 1t has occupied will be given up to
mining, and most of the present site will
be a stockpile or shafts and mine build
ings.
Last fall the owners of the townsite put
diamond drills at work to test the loca-
tion for ore. Every we'll sunk in the town
for months had stopped in bed of rich
iron, and it was evident enough that some
valuable deposits lay beneath. The lots
had all been sold with a reservation to
the original owners of the mineral rights,
so that none of the occupants held more
than surface ownership. It was easy,
therefore, to compel them to move. Last
week contractors were on the ground fig
urfng on moving the buildings, and the
townsite owners have been making prep
arat1ons to take possession. They have
decided similar area on a hillside close
by, but beyond the mineral belt, to the
village, have agreed to grade and ma
cadamize two main streets through it.,
have offered to build sidewalks, put in
water mains, lay sewers, and make all
arrangements for the new village, and to
give every man new site similar in size
and corresponding in location to that he
now holds. In addition to all this they
will bear the entire cost of moving the
buildings, SO there is not one OF the in
habitants who will not avail himself Of
the Offer