The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-17
SURPRISEFOR ATTORNEYS
1T WAS SPRUNG on THEM BY STATE
TAX BOARD.
Representatives of the g., T. & w. Be-
fore the Board-Argument on
l.. T.. & w. Assessment.

General Counsel Stanley and Auditor
Muir. of the Grand Trunk & Western Rail-
way Company probably thought they were
before a branch OF the Spanish inQuisition
when they appeared before the Indiana
Board of State Tax Commissioners yes
terday afternoon TO make an appeal for
the lowering of the assessment on their
road in Indiana When State Auditor Hart,
who by virtue of his Office is member OF
the tax board, asked Auditor Muir If the
G.. T. & W. and the Grand Trunk & Chi
cago are not just the same as transfer
rlng money from one vest pocket to an
other" Mr. Muir's eyes opened TO their
fullest extent, but he managed to explain
that the Grand Trunk & Western is the
daughter" of the Chicago & Grand Trunk
system. reaching from Chicago through
Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, thence
through Canada to the coast. and that the
Canadian division, or the parent road.
had TO pay the delinquency of interest on
the bonds and Improvements in rolling
stock of the Grand Trunk & Western
Auditor Kart elected the information
that the G. T. & W. is making arrange
ments 10 put in more double track and
that while they have at present a sixty
they are arranging TO widen this so as TO
accommodate what would appear to De
an increased demand for their transpor-
tation facilities. Messrs. Stanley and Muir
represented that the road is more
freight than a passenger road. They pre-
scented figures showing that other roads
of similar receipts and traversing the same
general direction are assessed at lower
figures. The Grand Trunk q western was
assessed last year at $30OO per mile Oh
its main track The total assessment, IN
Guiding side-tracks. rolling stock and i'm
provements on right of way amounted 10
s4009S per mile. The road has S0.6I miles
Of track in this state. Messrs. STANLEY
and Muir stated that in their opinion the
assessment ought 10 be reduced 10 S32,OOo
a mile, which was the figure placed on
the road by the tax board two years ago.
The board held a. lengthy executive, or
closed, session. after hearing the repre-
sentatives of the G. T. & w. Railroad Com
pany.
Yesterday morning the tax board listened
TO a spirited argument for the reduction
Of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad Com,
Pa anys ioSn The o aEe Erie
& Western has 9l7l4 miles of main track
IN Indiana. which is assessed at the rate
of 1880 per mile T., bringing n the total as
ments, rolling stock and side tracks the
figures are $5994,017. Mr.. Cockrum said
that $4,000 mile is too high for the Fort
Wayne branch of the road and that $4,000
is fairly reasonable on the main line, but
unreasonable for the part of ii between
Peru and Michigan City. Mr.. Cockrum
ventured the opinion that in the course of
a few years assessments on all roads in
Indiana will be materially reduced.
After hearing Mr.. Cockrum the board
went into executive session and listened
to an argument made by John L. Rupe. a
Richmond attorney, concerning the collec-
lion of about 5000 of taxes due on prop
erty alleged to have been sequestered Mr..
Rupe contended that the taxes should be
assessed and collected in California, where
the owners reside but the attorney general
thinks they should be paid in Indiana. An
agreement was not reached, and il is likely
the matter will get into the Federal Court.