The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-11
TAX ON RAILROADS IN N. OAK.
Gov. Whites Stand May Soften Crit
icism as to the Merger.

o '-h
BISMARCK, N. D.--The total valuations OF
property in the state for purposes of taxation
this year will exceed that Of last year; by
over ten million dollars. Much of this IN
crease is in the normal addition to the valua-
ton of state property. Personal property
also has Increased largely. The railroads Will
be made to bear their share of the burden OF
taxation. Their increase will be about 81 ,OO0,
0O0.- Taking the average OF their taxation for
all purposes at 8 per, cent, the additional val
uation will mean additional taxes Of $50, ,0OO
to be paid by them. Friends OF Governor
White asesrt that in standing for, a fair In
crease of railroad valuation he has, effectual-
ly answered his critics on the. merger ,ques-
tion. 1" 5s s@.}5 - & u
and the bumper crop in sight everywhere
through the state, North Dakota ought to be
on financial easy street another year. The re-
cent statement of the state treasurer shoWeo
good balance of cash on hand and Dllls
paid to date. Taxes at the usual rate. on
a valuation of $135, 900, 900 will give the state
plenty of unds for current expenses. -. \
The number of state banks in the, state
has more than doubled in the past. two, or
three years. New towns have been estab-
lished and it has come to be. the case that a
bank and a newspaper are about the nrst IN
stitutions started. J.! 80 =
With the normal republican majority in the
state, even the most optimistic democrat can
see nothing but defat in sight for the demo
cratic ticket this fall. The principal, hght
will be made upon the merger issue. There is
some feeling on that score. particularly in the
valley where for many years there has been
no competition in transportation With some
active canpaigners there is no question p4t
the democrats will be able to make some capl-
tai out of the merger matter. ResuDmlsslon
does not seem to strike fire so readily as the
,,,f. fha -
party hoped it would. Outside of few :coun-
ties in the western part of the state, it is not
believed the resumption of the open. saloons
would carry majority of the votes, ,.,
There will be several constitutional amend
ments to vote on this fall. One, or them
is to permit the taxation of elevators and
grain therein at a fixed rate. Another is To
permit the sale of state school lands Wnere
the appraisal of value is not over SIS an acre
The present minimum is $40 With the large
increase in real values through the state, 1t
is doubtful if this amendment carries. An
other amendment provides for the location OF
the state school for the feeble-minded at
Grafton, where such an institution is now in
course of erection. The present constitu-
tional provision locates this institution IN con
nection with the hospital for the insane at the
city of Jamestown. Still another amendment
provides for changing the name of the instl-
tuition at Devils Lake to the state school FOL
the deaf.
Deputy Insurance Commissioner Gilbreatt
Is receiving some pleasant mention from the
press of the state for promotion to the com
missionership at the next election - Gilbreatt
is one Of the republican leaders of Morton
county, and is popular and capable in his po-
sition.
Although both tickets are in the field, there
is remarkably little political talk in the state
1t seems to have been tacitly agreed that al
energies shall be expended in gathering the
crop during the early fall, and that the cleo
ton fireworks shall be delayed until as late
q day as possible.