The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-09
ON TAX MATTERS.
Commissioners Will Try to Ad-
just inequalities. (
Edison Plan to- Be Again Under
Discussion.
AFTER THE BIG MILLS.
Their Valuation May Also Be
Increased.
AFTER THE BIG MILLS
City Railway Assessments Also
Considered Too Low.

The tax questions that have worried
the assessors and the commissioners of
Shawnee county. sitting as board of
equalization, will be revived within a
short time.
Since last year and especially on ac-
count of the flood, there has been a
popular demand that better and more
just basis of assessment be adopted in
Shawnee county. Part of this was ac-
cemplished when the assessments were
made last year. At that time J. G. AL
-lison secured much better statements
from the local banks which brought
their assessed valuation nearer to the
proper figure Mr.. Allison assessed the
surplus undivided profits and the capt.
tai stock of the banks. This greatly in
creased the taxes paid by the local
banks.
The commissioners while sitting as a
board of equalization increased the as
sessed valuation of the Edison company
about $4,000. The valuation of the Edi-
son plant will be under discussion again
this year and there may be another in
crease to the assessed valuation.
There are several properties in the
county that will receive attention. Last
year the Moeser Ice & Cold Storage
plant was assessed at $4,000. Soon
after that assessment was made the
plant was sold to the Continental
Creamery company and the considera-
ton in the transfer was given at
100000.
Another property that seems to have
escaped is the Grand opera house. 1t
was assessed last year at $4,000. Later
in the suit between E. S. Quinton and
J. r. Mulvane the fact was developed
that the Grand was sold for 1000,
which was $4,000 more than it was
assessed.
For several years the Topeka Water
company has paid taxes on its plant at
an assessed valuation of 100000. Now
the company is about to sell the plant
to the city at a price of 500, 900. Ac-
cording to these figures the water COM
pany has escaped paying taxes on about
$500, 900 worth of property.
The Touring mills in the city will re-
ceive especial attention this year when
1t comes to determining the assessed
valuation If the assessors do not raise
the valuations the board of equaliza-
ton will. One Topeka mill worth over
100000 has been assessed at $21, 900,
and other mills worth from 100000 to
5000 900 have been assessed at from
$4,000 to $4,000. This year the assessed
valuation of all the mills will be raised
and new schedule will be adopted.
If the mills are assessed at their real
value this will mean an increased val
uation on the tax rolls of from 100000
to $780, 900.
If the assessed valuation of the flour
mills and other industries is increased
it will mean more or less of an in
the larger institutions in Shawnee
county. If some of the factories and
mills are given an increased assessed
valuation the board of equalization will
have to raise the valuation of other in
dustIies accordingly.
The removal of the Kansas Mutual
Life Insurance company from Topeka,
the burning of the Parkhurst-Davi
and the Mccormick harvester ware
houses VIII mean a large loss on the
assessment list.
The Topeka City railway will be
given some attention. Heretofore the
railway has been assessed at $4,000.
Since the road was assessed last year
it has been improved and rebuilt and
will come in for an increased valuation.
The railway company recently record
ed deed of trust covering the road,
its equipment and buildings for 81, 250,
000 OF this amount $4,000 is to be ex-
pended later. This leaves $7S0,000 rep
resented by the deed. All of this.
however, does not represent taxable
property in Shawnee county, but it
shows that $4,000 does not near repre-
sent the property of the company that
should be taxed.
For several years people in Topeka
who owned horses have escaped taxa
ton by sending their horses to the
country previous to March and re-
porting that they had no horses in the
city on that date. This year such
ruse will not defraud the county, as
the horses will be assessed and placed
on the tax rolls.