The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-16

GEORGE r. MCULLOCH TALKS FOR
UNION TRACTION COMPANY.
Representatives of Twenty-Three
Companies Have Already Appeared
Before the State Tax Board.

Union Traction Company, told the State
Board of Tax Commissioners yesterday
afternoon that his company will not object
10 an increase of S250,0o0 or 10000 over it's
taxation of last year. He said the Union
Traction Companys property Is the best
electric or interurban railway property in
Indiana, and that an increase of $1,000 per
mile on the assessment of it's 100 miles Of
track will not be deemed unjust.
Last year the track was assessed at $4,000
a mile, and the company's total assessment
amounted TO s2097, 100. If the board increases
the assessment on the track 5000 mile the
total assessment, If that on other property
is not increased. will amount to a little
more than 81. 357, 80 this year.
Representatives OF other large taxpaying
institutions have talked fair to the Tax
Board. as John G. Wingate says, but it is
far from the usual run of things for a COM
pany to tell the board it will not object to
an increase of a quarter of a million dol
lars in it's assessment. This is not a usual
occurrence, to say the least" said Mr.. Win
gate.
The board has practically completed the
work of hearing representatives of street,
electric, traction and interurban railroads.
Beginning this morning the sessions for six
days will be devoted to hearing the repre-
sentatives OF steam railroads. The Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern and the Lake
Erie e. Western are the first on the pro-
gramme.
INDIANAPOLIS STREET-RA1LWAY.
Ferdinand A. Winter was before the board
yesterday afternoon and asked that the as
sessment of the Indianapolis Street-railway
Company be placed at the figures of last
year. The 1903 assessment, including all
property, amounted to s2,097,730. Mr.. Win
ter also represented the interests of the In
danapolis Terminal and Traction Company,
and he told the board that the only tangible
property the company owns is the track
built by the street-railway company since it
was taken over by the former concern. The
assessment of the Terminal and Traction
Company should be very nominal, Mr.. Win
ter said.
The other companies heard were the Lake
City Electric Railway Company, of Michi-
gan getty, represented by Col. Russell B.
Harrison; the Fort Wayne & Southwestern
Duffman, of Fort Wayne; the Wabash
River Traction Company, the Wabash d
Logansport Company, the Logansport
mort Rochester e. Nortbern ~ rraction coro-
pany, represented by j. T. McNary, of Lo-
gansport; the kokomo Street-railway and
Light Company, represented by Attorney
McReynolds, of Kokomo; the Crumps Elec-
trio Railway, Columbus, represented by r.
f. Gottschalk; the Muncie, Hartford City
& Fort Wayne Electric Railway Company,
ford City; the New Albany Street-railway
Company and the Southern Indiana Inter-
urban Company
Mr.. McCulloch thought the board should
Mace Assessment
erty of the Wabash River the Wabash q
Logansport, the Logansport Street-railway
Company the the Logansport, Rochester
q Northern Company for the reason that
they all new companies. The four
roads are to be absorbed, ii is understood
by the Fort Wayne, Logansport, Lafay-
a holding concern of which Mr.. McCulloch
is said to be large stakeholder. James
T. McNary argued for low assessments
only five miles of track in operation April
/, and the Wabash & Logansport had only
sixteen miles in operation at that date
The Wabash River Company owns 1876
miles of track, which was assessed s., 900
mile last year. The Logansport City
Company operates five miles of track
which was assessed 5000 a mile in 1902
Mr.. McNary asked that the assessments
remain the same
The property of the Kokomo Street-rail-
way and Light Company Is deteriorating in
value. Attorney McReynolds told the tax
sessment be reduced. The assessment last
year on the company's trackage amounted
to $4,000. Mr.. Gottschalk asked that the
assessment of the Crumps Electric Railway
and Light Company be reduced for the
same reason.
Mr. Cantwell thought the board should
make low assessment on the property of
the Muncie, Hartford City & Fort Wayne
Company. The road is now in operation
between Muncie and Montpelier, distance
of twenty-eight miles.
The Fort Wayne & Southwestern Company
objects to an increase of its assessment.
Last year Ii paid $1,000 mile on twenty
seven miles of track.
THIRTY-FOUR COMPANIES.
There are thirty-four electric. traction,
interurban and street-railways in Indiana
and representatives of twenty-three of the
companies have been heard by the board
during the past two days. The board has
not yet taken any action in the way Of de-
creasing or increasing the assessments of
any of the lines whose claims are in. An
executive session may be held this week,
but 1t is thought unlikely that any decision
will be announced by the board until the
end of the month, when an adjournment
for two days will be taken. Before the
final adjournment in September any COM
pany which is not satisfied with the treat
ment il is accorded by the board will be
given another opportunity to be heard.
The Lake Erie & Westerns claims will
be presented to the board this morning by
the company's general counsel. John 3.
Cockrum, of this city. Mr.. Cockrum and
Attorney Jaeger. tax agent for the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern. will also pre-
sent that roads claims this morning. This
afternoon the Pittsburg a. Fort Wayne. the
p, c.. c. & st. L., and other Pennsylvania
interests in Indiana will be represented he
fore the board by S. o. Pickens, of this
city. Other roads on to-day's programme
are the Evansville & Terre Haute. and the
Evansville & Indianapolis to be represented
by the general manager of both lines, II.
p Jeffries: the Louisville & Nashville to
be represented by the tax agent, Mr.. Brad
ford, of Louisville: the Central Indiana to
be represented by Joseph Robinson and V.