Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-13


$50 that is the dividing line. is t.?
A.-Tbst is what the law says.
Q.-That Is your idea OF what the law
says7 A.-No. sir; that Is what the law
says. You read the schedule; that is what
l present every taxpayer.
OIL read II occasionally in my bedroom.
A whole lot Of them do not read II.
Excused.)
George e. Bennett. being sworn, testi-
ned as follows:
Examined by Mr.. Harrington-Mr. Ben
nett, you are employed here in the audi
tors ofhce7 Ayes, sir.
Q.-Have the returns been received
showing the aggregate assessments this
year in the state? A.-No, sir.
Q.-About what percentage Of them have
already been received7 A.-Received
about two-thirds, perhaps.
Q.-And In addition to that, have you
ascertained from inquiry the assessed
valuation Of Douglas county for this year?
A.-Well, l heard in a way, yes, sir.
Mr.. Prout-Have you the returns from
that county, A.-No, sir; l have not got
II from Douglas.
Mr.. Harrlngton-Have you made an esti-
mate from what returns and Information
you now have as to whether or not the
aggregate assessment OF the state outside
Of railroad property will be increased or
decreased for 1902?
Mr.. Kelby-I object to that unless he
furnishes the elements on which he basis
his judgment and stimate
Mr.. White-I make the further objection
that it is incompetent, irrelevant and inn
material, and not tending to establish any
basis.
Chief Justice S~ullivan-This objection
should be overruled.
A.-Well, judging from the returns al
ready made, and taking into consideration
the fact that Mr.. Rosewater claims that
Douglas county will be raised $4,000, 900, 1
conclude that the raise in the assessed
valuation throughout the state should
reach between $4,000. 900 and $4,000, 900.
Q.-Over last year? A.-Over last year:
yes, sir. Mind you, that that takes into
consideration the raise in railroad prop
erty as well, and that helps to make up
the aggregate.
Q.-That is a raise OF about $175, 900 on
the aggregate railroad property in the
state7 Ayes, sir.
(Bxcusedl
Edward Rosewater, being first sworn,
testified as follows, examined by Mr.. Har-
rington: Q.-You live In the city or Omaha d!
Al do.
Q.-For how long have you lived there!
Al have lived there nearly thirty mine
years.
Q.-Are you somewhat familiar with the
depots and terminal facilities OF the trans
portation companies there? Al am.
Q.-You may describe in a general way
from observation the extent and character
Of the improvements and terminal facilities
Of the railway companies at that point.
A.-The terminals OF the two principal sys.
TENS In the city of Omaha begin practically
within perhaps 500 yards OF the Missouri
river bridge and extend for nearly threS
miles along the banks of the river and In
the eastern part Of the city up to the East
Omaha bridge. Those terminals that arr
credited to the Burlington system begir
somewhat south OF the bridge, perhaps 50I
yards from the main track OF the Unior
Pacific and extend through the city o
Omaha and through the city OF Soutl
Omaha; they extend to the stock yards ant
packing houses at South Omaha. 1 speal
of the sldetracks and terminal facilities o
the Burlington now. They include OF cours,
the depot grounds at Omaha, the passenger
station on those grounds, the freight hous,
and depot grounds UP In the eastern par
of the city and the trackage through quite
q number Of streets and alleys connecting
with warehouses and with warehouses II
the Wholesale part Of the city. The termi-
nails Of the Union Pacific are very muci
larger. They cover something like between
} 800 or 400 acres of ground within the cit!
Of Omaha, extending to the Union Pacific
shops In the north part and up to the con
nection with the Missouri Pacific belt line.
they extend up to Tenth street and the via.
duct that crosses the street on Tenth street
and include also considerable trackage IA
%cilities connecting with the warehouses AM
store buildings and various manufacturing
concerns within the city, and they include
also, as I said, the depot grounds and thu
Union depot at Omaha, and the Union Pa
cihc freight house north OF that, with al
the trackage, sidetracks covering hundred
Of lots and a vast area Of city property
originally which was conveyed to tn,
Union Pacific railroad by ordinances Of tn
council, and Is now practically owned b!
l them through streets and alleys within tn,
city. and they extend, as 1 said originally
! also to South Omaha and connecting will
the stock yards and packing houses, an
, AFFORD not only facilities for the Union Pa
cihc railroad, but also for the various road
that center In Omaha that have no terminus
I facilities In the state of Nebraska and ar,
not known as occupying any lands within
the city, and use the facilities of the Uniol
I Pacific and pay for them q fixed charge pc
annum. That is about as far as l can state
Q.-NOW, nave any OF these railway com
{ panies a bridge at Omaha? A,-The UnioI
> Pacific bridge is used jointly by the ST
railways or i've that cross from Iowa int
Nebraska. connecting at Omaha with tn,
, Union Pacific railroad and extending from
there with their freight trafhc into South
= Omaha to a connection with the stock yards
and packing houses.
Q.--Can you name, Mr.. Rosewater, the
different railway companies that use tbs
Union Pacific bridge for transportation o.
persons and property A.-The companies
that are using the Union Pacific bridge ar,
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. tn,
Chicago. Rock leland & Pacific railroad, tbs
Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul railroad
the Burlington railroad in part, the Bur.
lington uses the tracks across the bridg,
for some Of its trafic. but not for all
Then. incidentally the Sioux City & Pacific
railroad trains go over the Union Pacific
bridge, and, OF course, the Union Pacific
railroad trafne for such connections al
they make east OF the river. particular,
for mail trafac.
Q.-Mr. Rosswater. did you appear before
the State Board Of Equalization and cal
their attention to the value per mile Of the
Union Pacific railroad2 Al appeared be.
fore the state board, I think on May 18th
and called attention to the inadequate valu.