Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-05

IHO Htht CODNIfbS HEARD FROM.
In order 70 carry out the plan Of am
paign for which the allied railroad cor.
porations have set apart $4,000 for dis.
tribution among Nebraska newspapers,
the railroad tax bureau has favored Us
with comparative exhibits Of taxation
and valuation OF two more counties.
One Of these Is the fairly settled and
fertile county Of Saline. the other the
sDarsely populated county Of Deuel.. 10
Gated In the aemi-arid region. In both
instances the magic figures Of 1893. cen
tennial OF the French reign Of terror,
have been taken as the basis for com
parison with the census year 1900 in
stead OF the present year 1902.
The point sought to be made in the
Saline county exhibit is.thet the railroad
taxes for 1900 were considerably higher
in that county than the railroad taxes
imposed in 1893. Conceding that to be
true. IL simply proves that the tax levy
in Saline county was higher in the year
1900 than 1t was seven years previous.
but in no shape or manner does It refute
the charge that the valuation Of rail-
roads in Saline county has increased ma
t%erially, II o doubled. within the past
ten years, while the assessment has been
steadily decreasing.
For example. the Burlington 4 Mis-
souri, railroad in Saline county was as
sessed s2e7.ss2 In 1891. TWAS aNsessed
$267.0S9 in 1901 and at about the same
figures this year. The Omaha q South
western was assessed $116.O76 In 1891
and s112.149 in 1901. The Kansas City
& Omaha was assessed s34.4sO in 1891
and only $30.170 In 1901. The Nebraska
& Colorado was assessed for $09.44O in
1891. and for only $S3,032 ia 1901 The
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. which
did not exist in Saline county In 1891,
was assessed in 1901 for $1,000. This
amount represents two and two-thirds
miles. which is just being recapitalized
for 100000 per mile. and the ratio of
assessment would be to the market
value in Saline county as one-eighteenth,
whereas the bulk Of all property in
Saline county is assessed, according to
the tax bureaus figures. which are pur-
posely stilted, at one-tenth to one
twelfth.
In holding up Deuel. county as a horS
rible example of railroad over-taxation,
the tax bureau has overshot the mark
altogether. There is only n railroad In
Deuel. county--the Union Pacific. In
1891 It was assessed for $308, 500 and in
1902 It was assessed for $262.24s, a
shrinkage Of $41,25b. or 1874 per cent, In
spite Of the alleged distribution Of the
$15.0O0,OOo terminals at Omaha and
South Omaha and the Union Pacific
bridge. What made the Union Pacific
shrink in value more than 10 per cent
within the past ten years when every
Dody KnOws Us market -=.:s e be three
or four times as much as It vas eleven
years ago7
The most startling revelation Of the
Deuel. county exhibit is that in 1893 agri-
cultural implements were returned for
8 1878 and in 1900 there was no return.
In view Of the fact that even the INDIE
fatigable census taker found only $92,.
$40 worth Of farm Implements, appraised
at their full value In Deuel. county in
1902, the omission is not so remarkable,
especially when 1t is borne In mind that
Deuel. county has been remanded to
stock raising and what little land is
under cultivation has to be- irrigated.
Had Deuel. county remained a bowling
wilderness as barren as the desert of
sahara the Union Pacific railroad stu
should pay taxes in proportion to the
value Of its mileage. Under our system
of taxation all property except railroads
Is appraised by precinct assessors and
FAXED by che county. The railroads are
appraised by the state board, regardless
Of local improvements and local value,
and each county is credited with it's pro
portion according to the number Of
miles. Deuel. county IL credited with
twenty-six and two-thirds miles Of
Union Pacific road, which at the lowest
estimate has a market value Of 100000
per mile, so that its proportion for Deuel.
county would be S~2.875.000. Ten years
ago II was assessed for $11.440 per mile.
This year 1t Is assessed for $1,000 per
mile. II still remains for the tax bureau
To explain why It should be assessed for
49, 49, A. - e~on. 4 aO0 m