The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-03-01

by vote OF x to ".
The Senate did notable piece of
work Tuesday, when 1t passed the Gun
nison tunnel bill by a decisive vote.
During the afternoon the measure was
given It's first reading In the House.
and II Is the intention Of its supporters
to press It to an early vote.
The revenue bill is now ready to
emerge from the house committee OF
the whole. That committee Monday
afternoon completed It's consideration
Of the last sections, the amendments
being those necessary in order to trans
form the state board of assessors Sec
lions into a scheme for a state board
Of equalization, The amendments were
ordered printed ~ fast as the clerks
could prepare them for the printers.
There Il strong sentiment growing
In the Legislature in favor Of the Mon
tnna system Of taxing mines. In Mon
tana the full gross production Of each
0ine u taxed, after deducting the cost
OF extracting the same from the mine,
with the cost of transportation and re-
ductlon. This catches the great divi-
dend producers. and yet Is fair to small
mine owners. It will undoubtedly meet
strong opposition from the mining
members. yet may be acceded to as
compromise measure.
At its meeting in Pueblo February
10th, the Retail Grocers and ButcherS
Association of Colorado elected the fol-
lowing named officers: George n. Ord
way of Denver, president; ]. A. Gal
brafth of Fort Collins. first vice presi-
dent: ]. r. Gardner Of Victor, second
vice president; w. F. Hazen of Law
son, tltrd vice president; A. =. Nelson
Of Canon City. fourth vice president;
G. v. Richards Of Denver, secretary;
w, G. Wilson of Greeley, treasurer.
The next meeting will be at Denver, in
January next.
A struggle over the mining section OF
the revenue bill caused an unexpected
delay In the consideration of the meas.
ure Tuesday. The representatives Of
the mining counties were determined
that the Medley amendment should not
he sent to the Senate, and through Mr..
Briscoe they offered a substitute which
assesses producers at one-half the gross
proceeds, providing the latter exceed
5000 per year, and non-prOducers at
not more than the value Of the small
est producer, which would he not more
than $3.50 per acre. The discussion
dragged, and finally when some one at
tempted to secure a recess until morn
ing the solons became confused, and
Speaker Montgomery, in despair, urged
All adjournment, which was carried.
:; Tie following Is the text OF the Nee
ley, amendment for the taxation Of
mines, as adopted by the House: sec-
ton S2-That all mines and mining
claims bearing gold, silver, lead, cop
per or other precious or valuable met
ais, and the gross proceeds OF possess
ing rights In unpatented claims, shall
be listed and valued each year, and
shall be assessed at their full cash val
ne. All surface improvements and all
machinery located upon any mining
claim or claims A1lnll be separately val
ued for taxation. Provided further,
that non-producing mining claim or
claims shall be assessed and taxed like
other property. according to the value
thereof; and In ascertaining such value
the assessor shall, In addition to other
requirements Of this act, take into con-
proximity to other mines or mining
may tend to assist him In arriving at a
fair and equitable valuation of such
property.
In the discussion OF the Montrose
canal bill in the committee of the whole
of the Senate. Senator Buckley took
the floor to explain the measure, which
has for its purpose The diverting of the
water of the Gunnison river Into the
Montrose valley. He gave the history
Of the bill, repudIated the. iden that
there was any politics involved, and
asked that the bill be taken up section
by section, and that as few amend
ments MS possible be made. 1.-The Gun
nison tunnel flows 1000 cubic feet per
second per,day," said Senator Buckley.
..There are now in the Montrose valley
1aO, GOO acre of partially watered land;
this canal will water 5000 acres in
addition to completely irrigating this
partially watered land, and this will
bring practically the whole of the ter
ritory under IRRIGATION and make 1t the