Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-06-28
. as 6
Land Values Go UP.


Local assessors throughout the
state have increased the assessed
valuation Of land, according to the
reports received at the office OF the
auditor of state.
In only a few cases has there been
reduction. Adams county fell off
$1.52 an acre, to 1920, on the aver.
age, but Polk county shows an in.
crease of S. an acre. Some coun-
ties are increased few cents while
others are advanced almost as much
as Polk County.
over the valuation of the land for
| purposes of taxation the state execu.
. tive council has no power OF control.
1t has only the power of equalization
among counties.
Polk county land is now valued by
the local assessor at $64.50 an acre
for purposes of taxation. Benton,
Cedar, Dallas and other counties are
slightly above the $50 figure. Des
Moines county is S4450. These are
figures fixed by the local assessors
and confirmed by the boards of sup
ervisors of the various counties.
The average value last year was
about $42 an acre. 1t was estimated
that property in Iowa is assessed at
about four-ffths Of Its value. This
would increase the valuation of land
to an average of about $50 an acre.
The railroad men always have ,argu-
ed to the council that land in Iowa is
worth, really, about SOS an acre, on
the average. This view has heen re.
jected.
Hear Railroads on Assessments.
Hearings have been fixed for the
railroads on their assessment before
the state executive council for Mon
day and Tuesday, July 8 and 9.
On Wednesday the telephone COM
panies will be heard. The rest of the
week will be put in on such hearings
as are asked, and in buying supplies
for the state house during the next
two years.
1t is not known whether the rail-
roads expect to be heard on their as.
sessment this year. Their earnings
have shown an increase of about is
per cent
SShhSy NAS
on assessment of property for taxa
tlon, at least among the fifty-eight
which have made reports to the audi
Tor OF state, to date. 1t shows an in
crease In the total assessment (actual
value) of $1,260,000 It's personal
assessments have very largely in
creased also. It's land has been as.
sessed trifle more than it was two
years ago. And, together, 1t makes
an extremely satisfactory showing.
1t is apparent from the abstract of
the assessment returns for this year
that the assessment of 1907 will be
above that Of 1906. The land assess.
ment has shown slight increase in
many counties of the state.
Board Of Parole to Take charqe.
B. W. Garrett. pardon secretary to
the governor, is busy compiling the
necessary blanks and record books
which come into use under the new
method Of granting executive clemen-
cy. In order to post himself on the
conditions existing in other states
where there are similar parole sys.
tens, Mr.. Garrett has secured big
batch of the blanks and formulate in
use from other pardon boards.
July the board of parole authoriz.
ed by the last legislature comes into
existence and the entire pardon sys-
tenn OF the state undergoes change.
Under the provisions of the law the
board of parole becomes an advisory
committee to the governor on all
questions In which the constitution
authorizes the governor to grant exc
cutive clemency.
The system to be used here will
conform in many ways to the Indiana
plan, where complete record of each
applicant with his family history.
must be filed and the most search
ing investigations are made before
the executive is advised to grant par
dons or paroles.
Judges Holding Changes Matters.
The action of Judge Smith McPher.
son In holding that the Missouri 3.
cent fare law should be given a test
to determine whether or not the rate
is remunerative for the railroads will
probably alter the proposed programme
of the corporations in iowa. Z
~ Woo VIC AuIeutlOn OF the Iowa
roads, or at least some of them, to
abide by the outcome OF the Missouri
case, but under Judge McPherson,s
ruling, the Missouri and Iowa cases
will be decidedly different
Judge Mcpherson held in the Mis-.
souri, case that the railroads should
give the 2-cent rate fair test to de.
termine whether or not 1t would ser,-
ously affect their earnings. If it re-
duces the earnings too much, it will
probably be set aside. If the earn.
lngs are not reduced, 1t will probably
be held valid.
AS conditions in Missouri are con.
siderably different than In Iowa. 1t
might be that 2-cent rate would
earn great deal more for the roads
In this state than in Missouri or vice
versa.