Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-31
WILL BE FORCED
ON WARRANT BASIS.


counties will be compelled TO 90 on
a warrant basis in the near future
and all on account OF the policy OF
the fusion legislature. The matter
is brought to a climax by the rail
roads of the state. Heretofore the
roads. especially the Denver q Rio
Grande. have paid their first half of
taxes due prior 20 March nrst This
year La Plata county Is minus this
sum, which In former years, has
amounted to about $4,000, but Under
present assessment 10 about s3s.0OO
The Denver a. Rio GrAndc and other
roads have concluded to fight the as
assessments in the courts on constitu-
tional grounds--that all property must
be equally assessed. and going on this
theory the railroads on the surface
have pretty clear case SO far the
refusal OF the D. & Il q. 10 pay it's
taxes in this county has not compli
Gated matters but will do 80 II MI
cation should be long drawn ont In
Dolores county the money usually paid
by the Rio Ornndc Southern would
come in very handy at this time. but
none OF II Is forthcoming and will not
be until the courts decide that the
road must settle according TO Yaiun
tions placed on the line by the state
board of assessors
And referring TO this question prob
ably no greater outrage was ever per
petrated than when the valuation Of
the Pagosa Northern running from
Pagosa Junction to PagoHa sprinRs
..fa Ia NarRl faf
sas0, 900. According to the valuation
the taxes for 1901 will be more Than
the receipts Of the road. Or equal to
The receipts at least, The road cost
less than $4,000 10 build and the
equipment. II new would not cost
more than 1000. but the equipment
~ borrowed from the u a u O. ana
should hardly be taken In conaiderB
tion as II comes IN Tor taxation on
that road IN case the assessment
stands Mr. Sullonbcrger ana the mnn
associated with him will rue tho day
they built the line into PagoHa
Springs
In this connection the valuation Of
the railroads In Archulota county IA
greater than all property combined ln
1900. A slight rsise wah made in val
uatioD Of other property In 1901 over
1900. making the valuation OF the ooun
,y more than double Notwithstanding
this the levy remained the name
and more than double the taxea here
TO fore collected will be received
provided the roads are compelled 10
pay as nj present assessed While
nj Pagosn a few weeks ago the writer
investigated this matter and asked
why II was that the same levy had
been made with more than double tho
valuation, Tho reply was quite rcas.
enable and satiAfnctory--i the
board Of commissioners did not be
iicva the assessment OF railroad prop
erty would stand and that the lovy
had been left the same In order TO
meet requirements OF county and
school districts Tho officials stated
that II the valuation stands the coun'
~ Will collect almost double what Ia
really necessary for carrying on tho
affairs II win thus be seen that
the situation in Archulota county Is
complicated. But the tax ON the
PaEosa Northern will not stand II
And In the face of this we occasional
iy hear tho fusionistH phttod on the
shoulder.
But the situation Ia Archulota ooun-
~ la mild to what II il In Muntezumn.
In Monteznma the assessor endenyor-
cd TO do his duty In every reapect--
assess ms near u cash basis aa pussi
BILE and by doing so the valuation IN
most oaAes was three times that OF
1900 This with Increased railroad
valuation, brought the total up TO q
pretty good sum. The commissioners
without reference to this greatly la.
creased valuation made the same loyy
as the year previous and an eonue
qaepce not only tho railroad npffera
but every taxpayer in the county, In
MoDteyuma the valuation OF general
property In more nearly equal with
railroad valuations than any county In
the state and II the same general val.
uations prevailed in other countiea We
doubt II the railroads would object 10
their assessments. but Il is the in
equality of other valuations that
makes them take the matter into the
courts. Returning 10 Montozuma
county we hnd all property pgners
paying about three times as much as
heretofore and they are kicking just
about as Justify as the railroad peo-
Pile. The assessment In that county
could have been reduced at least one
half. possibly nearly twothirds. and
sufficient revenue collected II the
railroads win out the general taxpay.
ers OF the county will have the big
load TO carry.
And thus we have fusion again IL
Illustrated in all its glory.