The Dolores star., 1902-02-21

push further these experimental taxa
tion schemes that are consuming our
Legislators. The revenue bill tiasco has
unsettled the railroad business of the
state, and it is only n side issue to what
would become of us if the Bucklin bill
would succeed.
Now, the average tax per mile in the
United States is S237 on all kinds Of
railroad. The ordinary tax on narrow
gauge roads runs from $500 to size
per mile. There are one or two little
passenger roads that do more business
in one day than the Rio Grande South
ern does in a month, which pay more;
but for the people of Colorado to at
tempt to tax the Rio Grande Southern
$500 per mile, while i'm Wyoming the
rate on broad gauge roads is only $l3S. As,
and while the Lake Shore railway only
pays S525. 10 per mile, with all its enor-
nous equipment and its millions on
millions of dollars of right of way and
trackage in great cities; while the Lake
Shore earns S6,992.03, net, per mile,
and the Rio Grande Southern but ST.
1890, it not only looks ridiculous, but
1t would create the impression among
eastern investors that we are blamed
idiots. Last year the Rio Grande
Southern paid $115.3l per mile tax,
which is twice what narrow gauge
roads usually pay; and for us to attempt
such robbery as this revenue bill pro
poses would be unheard of before in
taxation.
Another feature of the tax would be
ridiculous were it not such a serious
matter: In Montezuma county the total
taxable property returned amounts to
81, ,609,9 Q, of which 1854, ,s05 is Rio
Grande Southern railroad. There is
but S91, 1920 in agricultural land and
but $50, ,sl7.s0 worth of grazing land re-
turned.
Montezuma county, if it had not been
for the construction of this railroad,
would only amount to certain space
on the map, and now because the road
has been built and is really what has
placed any fair value Oh Montezuma' S
real estate and made it possible for
farmers or stockmen to make good
living, for the assessor of that county
to actually assess "a per cent. of all the
taxes of the county against this Com
pany, who never have made a cent out
Of their venture, is preposterous.
In the county of Dolores it is not
quite so bad, but in that county the
Rio Grande Southern is valued at $685.
10. The mines are taxed on $40, $50,
and everything else in the county, town
lots, cattle, horses, asses and all are only
estimated to be worth S277, ,S56. 90.
While the railroad assessment is nearly
four times what it was in 1894; all other
property in the county is reported less
by S5l7,6ls 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 dis
satisfaction 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 COM
plicates the situation.
1t cannot be possible that our citizens
would do an unjust thing after the facts
are shown, and we leave the subject for
your consideration