Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-27


tors that we are blamed idiots. Last
year the Rio Grande Southern paid
$175.31 per mile tax, which is twice
what narrow guage roads usually pay;
and for us to attempt such a robbery
as this revenue bill proposes would
be unheard of before in taxation.
Another feature of the tax would he
ridiculous were it not such a seri.
Gus matter; In Montezuma county
the total taxable property returned
amounts to 81 1,609,9O2, OF which $s64.-
COS is Rio Grande Southern railroad.
There is but $97.495.20 in agricultural
land but $S3.S17.SO worth of grazing
land returned.
Montezuma county. If it had not
been for the construction of this rail
road. would only amount to a certain
space on the map. and now because
the road has been built and Is really
what has placed any fair value ON
MontezImas real estate and made 1t
possible for farmers or stockmen to
make n good living, for the assessor
of that county to actually assess 54
per cent of all the taxes of the county
against this company. VINO never have
made a cent out of their venture. is
preposterous.
In the county OF Dolores 1t is not
quite so bad. but in that county the
Rio Grande Southern is valued at$32S.-
ITO. The mines are taxed on $17O.-
$50, an everything else in the county,
town lots. cattle. horses, asses and all
are only estimated to be worth $277.
$500. While the railroad assess.
ment is nearly four times what 1t was
in 1894; all other property in the coun-
ty is reported less by s517,617 than
it was in that year.
An assessor should be ashamed to
send in such a report, but it appears
in these cases he has only followed
the lead of other assessors in the
state.
What recourse can the stockholders
of the Rio Grande Southern have in
case this unjust tax is imposed, other
than to make a material advance in
rates?
Under the present tariffs there is
dissatisfaction and complaint but
these figures should show plainly that
on the tariffs charged the road barely
paid fixed charges and expenses; and
now to impose this further burden
only complexities the situation.
1t cannot be possible that our citi-
zens would do an unjust thing after
the facts are shown, and we leave the
subject for your consideration.
----------
From Wednesdays Daily,
Neil Campbell of Bayfield, tarried
over night in Durango
A dozen members of the Miners
union at Telluride are in the hospital.
M. b. Holt of Silverton was a
through Denver passenger this morn
ing.
Durango-Silverton tourists in Cali
fornia are evidently enjoying them
selves.
Durango realty is advancing, but
investments at present prices will
double inside of year.
Covering treasury looting by roast
ing railroads and tax-dodgers works
for time, but sooner or later the
deal will be exposed.
If you fail to get in on the ground
floor in this oil business you are GO
ing to miss it, sure enough One dol
lar is liable to make you ten.
The Herald has not worried over
loss of moisture, believing that the
things would even up before crop
planting time arrived. With frost
out of the ground late SHOWS will melt
and soak in and do a power of good.
word to the public. Hereafter all
performances at the opera house will
begin promptly at $3.50 If half the re-
served seats are vacant. All patrons
should govern themselves accordingly.
This will obviate long and tiresome
WHAT'S.
The Cincinnati man who had to pay
one thousand dollars for kiss has
not announced If it was worth the
money, or If it was bargain even at
one thousand OF course in Durango
it would not be necessary to ask the
question because a man gets the
the worth of his money every time.
no matter what the price.
Hank Damschroeder came down
from Silverton this morning. en-
route to the old home in Ohio, where
he is taking his two children, which
will be left with his sister. Mr.
Damschroeder will be east six weeks
or two months, and will undoubtedly
interest people in mining and oil
propositions.
An equitable arrangement has been
entered into between La Plata count
ty and San Juan county, N. NJ, con-
cering range stock, each county col
Ia,tfpg npa balf the fay Tho stock