Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-15

Net increase on new mileage. .$770.7l5
This deduction comes largely from
shortening the lines and is distributed
among eleven lines. The largest items
are s33,S17 on the Burlington, sS2.077
on the Northwestern, and $1S,750 on the
Toledo. Peoria & Western.
Making the deduction OF this as
sessment on new mileage in the two
years period leaves $55.770,79S as the
1908 assessment on the mileage which
was In existence in 1901, and assessed
at that time. This gives the result
that the net increase of 1903 assess
ment over 1901 assessment on the
same mileage is $S,699,54O. This sum is
Is 1-3 per cent increase. The increase,
without deducting the new mileage, Is
over 20 per cent but the anti-republi-
can criticism insists on having the
new mileage deducted.
The original contention Of those who
criticised the republican state admin
stration was that with the deductions
on account OF new mileage the increase
in railroad assessments was not great
er than the increase in farm land as
sessments. But they did not figure that
slider in the way of addition to the ac-
tual property included in the real es-
tate assessments. AS a matter of fact
the assessors reported last year an in
crease in property included in the real
estate assessment, on account of new
buildings and Improvements. Of s1S,-
100000. This was included directly in
the real estate assessment this year
and presumably not less this year than
last. On this basis the improvements
added would be valued at S37,000Oo0.
One fourth Of this should certainly be
deducted from the total Of the real es-
state assessment for 1903, If the de-
duction on account of new mileage is to
be made from the railroad assessment.
But not one Of the critics Of the state
officials suggested such deduction
OF course the increase in real estate
assessment as reported by the several
hundred assessors Of the state, with the
same law before them that they have
had in other years, represents actual
increase in land values, and he would
be indeed a poor advance agent of the
state of Iowa who would deny this
manifest fact.
But the democrats are In no posi-
ton to be super critical An examina-
ton of their record when they had
something to say about affairs is in
teresting Governor Boies was sitting
at the head of the table for four years.
Real estate assessments are made In
the odd numbered years The real es-
tate assessment In the period of Gov
ernor Boies ncumbency was boosted
from s374T52 liz to S40S,05S,626, or an
increase of SIS per cent. In the same
period the railroad assessment of Iowa
was increased a total of 4.6 per cent,
or nearly double as much proportion
ally. Now take the last six years un-
der republican administrations entirely
and the increase in real estate assess
ments for the state amounted to 12.6
per cent, while in the same period the
increase in railroad assessments was
PA per cent.
On the hearing before the executive
council year ago there were figures
given which convinced the executive
council that the real estate assess
ment of the state was not more tnan ~
ger cent of actual values and for this
reason the railroad assessment last
year was permitted to rest at a half
way place This year the evidence
showed that while real estate assess