The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-12
S1O0,363 INCREASE
 IN STATES REVENUE
S15,44O,5O3.O5 Raise in Pulp
 lie Carriers Values
ASSESSMENT REASONABLE
All Is Railroad Save About a Million. Which Applies to Long Distance Phones and Telegraph.
 Athens May Lose.

Montgomery, May 11.-(Special.)-As a result of the increase in values placed upon the holdings of the railroad, long distance telephone and telegraph lines by the state board of assessment, the state will receive in revenue next year s10O,S6S more from this source than this year. It must be remembered, at the same time. that this tax is on only the tracks. roll ing stock and right of way, and leaves for the county assessors the section houses, depots and other such property, which will bring the final total far above what 1t is now. The figures, quoted at length in another part of the paper show that the valuations just made up by the board for the next year are $7S,s66,575, taxes at 61a mills, S4SO, ,1S2; this year. $5S,- 426O72, taxes. $S79 769; increase of valua- ton over the year closing, $15,44O, ,503; in crease in taxes, $100,363.
 The members of the tax assessment board all say that these values have been reached after carefully going over the tax grounds and taking the evidence that was presented by the railroad people and others before the board It is not thought by any of the members that the fig ures are unreasonable, all agreeing that the returns have not been nearly what they should be, and that the new values are in line with what is now being placed on property of all kinds. Auditor Will | liam w. Brandon member of the board, said that he regarded the raises as en- tirely just as compared to other holdings and the general increase in values over the state. Secretary of State Julian took the same view, going further and saying | that when the taxes are more than the | state actually needs to carry on the busi- ness the rate should be lowered. There was general agreement in the statement that no attention wan paid to | the valuations placed upon railroad prop | erty in the litigation filed in the United | States court and now pending, in which the railroads are resisting the operations | of the recently passed rate and regula- | tion laws. Governor Conner said that a i careful analysis of all the values pre- sented would show that no attention was | given these papers, and that the con- | clusions were reached after a study of the | rights of all concerned. The next move will be by the tax commission, which will have a right to lay tax on the in- | tangible franchises This plan will largely raise the returns from this as well as 1 other sources.
 Athens May Lose.
 There is an impression at the capitol ! that Athens stands a good chapce to lose | the Eighth District Agricultural school | as a result of factional differences that | are reported to exist. There is no one to ! say yea or nay about the reports but It 1 is known that there is all but jolly row up at the capitol of Limestone, where the 1 school is located.
 From what can be gathered the trouble | began last week at a meeting of the board of control when a man not pleasing to one | of the local members was chosen. He and his friends are said to have been very much chagrned at the action of the board and to have remained dissatisfied after the selection is made. Governor Conner would not say much about it, other than to suggest that the people seemed to have the idea that the school belonged to the town rather than the state.
 The school at Athens is, with that at Abbevlle, the oldest of the agricultural schools For some reason it has never been as much of a success as others or like character, though good work seems to have been done. It was established m 1887, and is, therefore, twenty years old. 1t has an annual appropriation now of $450O and the present legislature gave 1t $6000 with which to rebuild property de- stroyed by storm in September Through the influence of Senator Hayes it gained many friends in the legislature and there are many who regret to hear that there is anything but harmony in the town.
 It is reported that one or two Madison county men have intimated that If there is moving done they desire the school and will give liberally of money to se- cure the institution. One man has said also that Scottsboro would be glad to get it and another that Gurley and an other that Huntsville even would be glad of the location. However 1t is not ex- pected that there is any prospect of the nlafa aurin the part of the authorities approached be- ing that all differences will be adjusted and the work go along to the best re- suits. Athens is warned by a man who has heard member of the legislature say that he would introduce a bill to move the school that the school be- longs to the state and the Eighth dis trict not alone to the town in which it is located.
 Library Association.
 The second annual meeting of the Ala bama Library association will be held here Monday evening at the Carnegie li- brary, when the annual reports of officers will be heard, the election of officers takes place and several talks made.
 This is deferred meeting, as the an- nual meeting was to have been held at the close of last year. The reports of the officers are expected to show much progress during the past year and the committee reports will show that the committees have been doing diligent work. The meeting will only be "one day. session. There will be an address on "The Use of Books and several other short talks. The officers of the association are: Dr. Thomas M. Owen, Montgomery. president; A. c. Harte, secretary of the Y. M. c. A.. Mobile c. c. Thach, presi- dent of the Alabama Polytechnic institute, Auburn, and Herbert A. Sayre, professor of physics and astronomy, University. vice presidents; Miss Laura M. Fillmore, libra rian of the Montgomery Carnegie library, treasurer.
 The members of the executive council are J. H. Phillips. superintendent of the Birmingham public schools; Miss Sara Callan librarian, Alabama Girls Indus- trial school. Montevallo; D. P. Christen- berry. professor of English. Southern university, Greensboro; w. F. Strplin, superintendent public schools at Gads- den, and Miss Francis Higgins, of the ] public schools of Selma >~~~-~~~~-~~~-~~~~~~~~~ there Is one case pending m the chan l cery court of Birmingham filed by tl.e railroad people looking to an accounting | of the stewardship of the major corpora tion and a judgment of custer depriving | the larger road of the right to hold and l run the smaller, which judgment Is be- |