Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-31
COUNTY TREAsuRER's FIGURES.

seem. to be the one star of hope to
which the democrats have pinned their
faith in this campaign. No matter
how often republican newspapers and
speakers explain that it is unfair and
dishonest in discussing tax assess
ments. to compare a one years In
crease on railroads with a two years
change on lands, the democrats seem
determined to stick to the lie. at least
till the close OF the campaign. In or
der to get concrete example of just
what has been done and what effect 1t
Will have on a mans taxes the T.-R.
has called upon the county treasurer
for some figures.
The present executive council has
been in office two years. 1t has raised
railroad assessments twice during that
time and the two years raise on old
mileage alone is ten times as much as
the raise of the two previous years and
seventeen times as much as the same
raise during the whole ten-year period
Just before the Cummins administra
ton took office. What has been the
result?
Taking LeGrand township as an ex-
ample, because 1t has the greatest
mileage of two railroads, the North
western road paid on the last assess
n
ment before Cummins became gov
ernor s1.346.93 taxes on 4.72 miles VAL
ued at $3.50 per mile and assessed at
one fourth. with total state, county
and township levy of "a mills. The
Cumnins executive council has raised
the valuation twice, while the to,ai
levy has been reduced. and next year
the Northwestern road in LeGrand
township on the same number of miles
will pay S1,590.20 taxes on a valuation
of S5S,592 per mile and tax levy OF
% mills on a onefourth assessment.
Here is an increase of sa45.27 taxes or
1872 per cent on levy one mill less.
The road tax of 21a mills amounting
to $172.S4, has not been figured be-
Into effect the same tax was paid out
lide the general levy. When demo-
.rat says railroads will pay less taxes
lnder' the Cummins administration as
easements he lies because the figures
ire public property.
The Iowa Central road has &C. miles
In LeGrand township and paid under
the last assessment before Cummins
$S66.67 taxes on a valuation of $780,,
240 per mile and Imills levy on a
one-fourth assessment. Next year the
reduction OF the levy by one mill will
iowa Central is the one road that has
received a very small increase in valu
alton being $22.Oi4 per mile now as
compared to $20,240 two years ago.
Had the levy remained the same as
two years ago. this road would have
paid in LeGrand township 1851 more
taxes.
Looking to lands in LeGrand town.
ship we find that two years ago the
This year owing to the unprecedented
rise in the value of farm lands the To-
cal assessor returned lands in LeGrand
township at an average Of $54 per acrs
and the Cunmins executive council In
its work OF equalizing as between
counties reduced this average to $52.92
per acre. For purposes of comparison
the treasurer has been requested TO
compute the taxes on two LeGrand
township farms invidual valuations OF
which are as near the township aver
age as possible.
S. o. Tow. living two miles and a
half southwest of LeGrand. on a quar-
ter section somewhat hilly, with Il
creek running thru it and only aver
age improvements. paid in 1901, on the
old assessment. s4l.14 taxes for the
whole farm on valuation of $4420 per
acre and a levy of "a mills on one
fourth assessment The year before ha
bought the farm for $50 per acre. Next
year under the new valuation he will
pay on the whole quarter section just
1918 more taxes. His valuation has
;. been raised to $51.97 per acre, but he
could get SIS per acre for the farm to-
day very easily. His road tax next
year will be $50. where formerly he
worked it out.
Two years ago w. Y. Craig, living
three miles south of I.eGrand, had a
Quarter section farm Of beautiful land
assessed at $50 per acre. Counting out
four acres for road he paid total OF
mills on one-fourth assessment. Last
year he sold the farm to S. NJ Knud-
son and brothers for an even 500 pei
acre and this year his assessment Is
s5S.79 per acre, but his taxes have been
raised only s4.73 on the whole quarter
the levy being only % mills on a one
fourth assessment. HIS road tax will
be $3.50 when formerly he worked 1:
out.
This is all there Is to the assessmen,