Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-02-01
ASSESSORS
CONVENTION
The Valuation Of Sheep and Lambs
is Increased at the Meeting
Held in Helena.
oolcRowERs MAKE PROTEST
Changes Agreed Upon on Other
Glasses Of Property-Horses,
Cattle and Swine.

Helena, Jan. 2S.-The meeting of
the county assessors of the state is
at an end, and the result of their &C.
ton with regard to the valuation of
sheep and lambs will be anything but
satisfactory to the woolgrowers of
Fergus and the other sheep counties
The officials got down to work We'd
nesday, when the various committees
appointed to fix valuations for the fol-
lowing year reported. and most of the
reports We're adopted The most i'm
pOrtant changes We're on sheep, which
We're raised so cents head and
lambs 25 cents a head ger last years
valuation. The report was later
adopted.
Sheepmen object.
Several sheepmen gave their views
on the question of sheep valuation and
protested against any increase. arsu-
Ing that until last yea sheep We're
never assessed fairly, and that even
now the list is always made out in
March just before the heaviest losses
OF the sheepmen occur. Among those
who spoke were Charles B Power, j.
f. Bower Representative Burt and
Senator c. H. Martien.
The first committee TO present its
report was that on livestock, but as it
was most important, it was left until
the last. The report of the commit
tee on land and Improvements was
read. 1t recommended that the ap.
praisement of land be left to the dis
erection of the assessors throughout
the state; and further, in view of the
fact that thousands OF acres of land
both surveyed and unsurveyed were
held as script or as lieu land by pri
vate parties and that it was obtained
for money considerations and the own
ers possessed the right 10 dispose of
it, it was recommended that it be
placed on the assessment roll. After
some discussion the report was adopt,
ed with that part referring to the
ilnsurveyed lands discarded.
No action was taken on the report
OF the committee on banks and mer
chandiSe as the assessors desired tC
confer with a cOmmitlee from the
county commissioners. The report
recommended that all assessors ascer
tain the actual cash value of all
stocks of merchandise; if necessary
by demanding the last inventory ant
the necessary books of the owners
whether persons or corporations.
q Of thn INIT n,
lumber, logs and coal WAS laid on the
table, there being some discussion az
to the value of different coal fields
and of logs distant from the railroads
or from driveways.
The report of the committee on
mines and mining Wa, adopted. Ii
provided that the proceeds of mines
must be assessed according to law
with special recommendation that
the assessor use extra efforts to Sc
cure the full valuation of improve
ments and machinery situated under
ground. such as pumps. air drills, pip
ing, steel and timber.
The report of the committee on live
stock was received and placed on file
1t recommended the valuations of live
stock as follows:
Range and stock cattle. per head
$18; coming 2-year-olds. per head
$14; coming yearlings, per head, $40;
3-year-old steers or over of beef cat
tie left to the discretion of assessors
but not less than $25 per head. Mill
cows left to discretion of assessor
but not less than $25 per head. Thor
Oughbred cattle left to discretion o
assessor but not less than $50 pc
head. (The clause providing for thei
valuation at not less than $50 heat
was added this year, Adopted.
Horses, stations saddle, work. com
mon and range horses. left to discre
ton of assessor. Hogs. IS per head
Angora goats left to discretion of as
SCISSORS, but not less than 81 per head
Sheep, 50 so per head. including lambs
when sheep and lambs are punched
together under the ownership. lin
crease of so cents over last year
valuation). Lambs, 50 per head
where herd consists Of lambs only
increase of 25 cents per head owe
last years valuatiOn).
The last action taken by the as
SCISSORS before they adjourned was t.
increase the valuation of the pole
SAAu OAC ilOh WIG w 1fO pei AAbhiS VI
the lines of the Postal Telegraph cor
pany. This is an increase of $40 pc
mile over last years assessment. TIL
convention reconsidered the report q
the committee on insurance and pei
sonal property, and fixed the valua
ton of the Rocky Mountain Bell Tele
phone company and of the Wester
Union Telegraph company at SOS pc
mile for poles and one iron wire, a
increase of SIS over last year.
The assessors finally adopted
schedule of the valuation OF lumbeI
logs and coal, as follows:
Rough lumber, IS to 81 thou
and; clear lumber, $40 a thousand an
upward logs, 50 to So: coal lands
$40 an acre.
The assessment of laths, tOgSthe
with coal in storage, was left to tn
discretion of assessors.
Jerry Sullivan was elected presider
of the association for the ensuin
year and Daniel McQuarries, seer
tary. Missoula was selected as tn
next place of meeting.