The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-07
.KENOSHA TAX LEVY,
Thomas H. Brown, of Milwaukee, Pre-
sents Some Facts in Regard
to Our Assessments.
NATURALIZATION IS SHOWN.

But the Assistant Who Prepared the List
From This City Made Bad Errors and
Some Gross Misrepresentation
of the Managers of the Factories Re-
ferred to are interviewed, and state
That NJ Values Were Given.
Before the state board of Equa1iza-
ton at Madison yesterday Thomas H.
Brown, of Milwaukee, presented re-
port recently compiled by the assistant
assessors of Milwaukee county in re-
gard to the taxation of industries in
cities in the state outside of Mi1wau-
kee..
It is but just to the Kenosha indus
trial institutions that in commenting
on this report it be stated that these
| figures were made by Milwaukee par
ties for the express purpose of proving
to the state board that the city of Mil
waukee was paying too much of the
proportionate taxes of the state, ard
for this reason the facts in regard to
Kenosha, as presented by Assistant
Daily, are to be taken with a grain of
salt In his report Mr.. Daily has the
following to say of the industrial and
other institutions of this city.
The First National bank, having
capital of $50, 900, surplus of $4,000
and undivided profits of $4,000, being
book value of S15O,OOO was assessed
in 1898 at $4,000.
The Merchants and Savings bank,
without capital stock, having done
business in Kenosha for a number of
years, with it's bank furniture and
fixtures and undivided profits of over
So 900, is not assessed for personal
property at all.
The N. r. Allen Tanning company,
employing $50 hands and covering an
area of seven acres, with capital
stock of 81, zoo, 900, was in 1893 placed
upon the assessment roll at valuation
of 500, 200, being Sol, 500 for real estate
and S31, 200 for personal property. The
owl er of this property values the real
estate at $15O,0OO and the personal
property at $500, 900.
The Simmons Manufacturing COM
pany, employing LOO men and cover
ing ten acres of ground, with capital
stock of $500, 900, was in 1893 valued by
the assessor at SIS, IT'S, being S45, IT'S on
the real estate and $4,000 on all per-
sona1 property. The owner values the
real estate at 100000, and the va1ua-
ton on the personal property is placed
by competent judges at 5000, 600.
The Chicago Brass company, having
plant covering eight acres and en-
p1oying 185 hands, was assessed in
1898 at valuation of 300 for real
estate and $40, 900 for personal proper
ty. The plant, with its personal prop
erty, is valued at 100000.
The Balm Wagon company, capital
lied for $4OO, 900, employing 400 hands
and covering four acres of ground was
valued by the assessor for the year
1898 at $45, 400 for real estate and $45, 200
for personal property. Competent
| judges place the valuation of this plant
at $15O,OOO and the personal property
is valued at 100000.
The Chicago-Rockford Hosiery COM
pany, capitalized at 100000, it's plant
covering an area Of ten acres and en-
p1oying 600 hands, was assessed at a
valuation of ST., 100 in 1898. The as
sessment was $1,000 on real estate and
So, 100 on personal property. The
owners value the plant at 100000 and
the personal property is also valued at
100000 by the owner. The insurance
on stock and buildings is 100000.
The Sterling Cycle company, en-
p1oying 300 men, it's plant covering an
area of six acres and having capital
of $3.50, 900, was in 1898 assessed by the
assessor at a valuation of $4,000 for
real estate and So, 600 for personal prop
erty. Competent judges value the
plant at $4,000 and the personal prop
erty at $25O,OOO.
The company located in Kenosha
with the understanding that it's prop
erty should not be taxed, and in con-
sideration of this agreement the taxes,
though levied, have not been collected
during the past four years. The laws
of the state have been evaded through
the connivance of public officials.
To any citizen Of Kenosha it is APP
/ parent that the valuation placed upon
the factories of the city are entirely too
| S11d4A. Oul lIAC dOONS uS VI SS dA Z III 1uduy
cases gross Misrepresentation of the
facts. Several of the managers of fac
| tories were seen today and all were
willing to discuss the report. Charles
c. Brown, cashier of the First National
Bank was called upon and stated that
the tax commissioner had not visited
the bank. In the report of this insti-
tuition there is a g1aring error. Surplus
and undivided profits are each placed
at $4,000, while the sworn report of
the bank issued little over month
! 2 nn shows that the S11rnl11S of the ha n L