The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-28
THEIR TAXES
ARE RAISED
INCREASE ORDERED IN vALUA-
TloN OF RAILROADS.
is ADVISED BY GOVERNOR

SIat6 6oard ACtS UNANIMOUSLY OF
Recommendation Made by
Executive Message.
Last Friday the state board OF
equalization took action at Helena in
matter of more than passing interest
to the people OF the state, and more
particularly to taxpayers. A horizontal
raise of 10 per cent was ordered in
practically all railroad assessments OF
Montana, resulting in an increase OF
over $3,OO0,OOO.
The increase was made in accord
ance with recommendation by the
governor and in Its concurrence the
board was unanimous.
Next Thursday, July 80, is the date
fixed by the BOARD when they may
enter any protests AS the increase
made last year was strongly fought by
them, it is believed that the companies
will exert every possible effort at their
command to induce the board to re-
consider it's action OF this year.
Several o. the roads are excepted
from the increase. They are the
Montana & Great Northern, which
comprises what was formerly the Jen-
nings branch OF the Great Falls &
Canada, which is increased 60 per
cent over last years assessment, or
from $4,000 to $4,000 per mile; the
Big Horn Southern, the Elkhorn
branch of the Montana railroad and
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. The
valuation of the last four named is
permitted to remain at the old figures.
Governors Message.
Following is the message OF Gov
ernor Toole to the board:
ITO the State Board OF Equalization:
A review OF the various assessment
rolls of the state shows clearly that
upon the whole better assessment OF
property has been made this year
than last.
In my opinion the railroads have
not heretofore been assessed in pro-
portion to other property.
THE assessment of railroads year
ago, as you will recall, did not reflect
the unanimous opinion OF the board,
nor did it reflect the Individual opin-
| ion of those constituting a, majority OF
! the board, but was the result OF a
compromise after much discussion and
j consideration.
with the view OF increasing the
! assessment of the railroads from time
/ to time to an amount apprOXimatinS
their value, have the honor to recon-
mend a horizontal increase OF IL per
cent upon all railroad property in the
state, under the jurisdiction OF the
board, except the Big Horn Southern,
the Elkhorn branch, the Montana raal-
road and the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy. The Big Horn Southern in
this state being entirely in the Grow
reservation, and having little or no
local traffic, while the Elkhorn
branch, the Montana railroad and the
Chicago, Buslington & Quincy's busl-
ness on March /, in my opinion, did
not justify an increase
Except, also, the following roads,
which recommend to be increased as
follows: The Montana & Great
Northern railroad, 60 per cent, or
$4,000 per mile. This road represents
the Jennings branch, which was last
year incomplete, and the Great Falls
& Canada, which was last year a
narrow gauge, but which has been
changed to broad gauge, and both
are now operated and the Montana
| & Great Northern.
81 further recommend that the in
crease herein named be made upon
each item constituting the property
of such railroads required by law to
be assessed by the state board OF
Il equalization"