Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-07

PRESENT METHOD is
CONSIDERED UNFAIR
Roads Are Taxed Only on Valuation CT
Main Line-cities Said to Receive
No Compensation for Expense Of
Protection of Railroad Property.

From Tuesdays Daily.
Inc Ottumwa city council last even
Ing took action supporting the League
OF Iowa Municipalities in it's efforts to
secure different system of taxation
tor railroad properties, in the interest
OF the cities which the league feels,
are under the present system most un.
fairly treated.
A letter from the secretary of the
organization, F. G. Plarce of MARSHALL
town, was read to the alderman. In
the letter Mr.. Pierce refers to the de-
clslon reached at the last annual meet
ing OF the league to make an effort to
secure some legislation along the line
OF railroad taxation in the interests of
the cities.
In his letter Mr.. Pierce said:
The legislative committee has in.
structed me to secure the information
necessary to present this matter to the
legislature and therefore ask that
you secure some competent person to
make an investigation of the cost to
your city of protecting railroad prop.
erty within the city limits and other
items of interest that are necessary to
fill out the enclosed blanks.
axes on Main Line Only.
IF you make this investigation you
will readily see that your city is en-
titled to some relief as, under the pres
ent system, the municipality receives
taxes on only the main line of that
road, MI other property such as depots,
shops. roundhouses, etc, being consid-
cred making up the total value of
the main lines. The adjoining town
ship receives taxes on the same valu-
alton as the city. This is plainly I'M
fair and we desire to have all the nee
essary information in order that we
may present the matter intelligently to
the legislature"
On motion of Alderman Keyhoe the
blanks that accompany the letter we're
referred to the city solicitor, the city
engineer and the city clerk, with power
to secure any assistance necessary to
get the information needed The
information desired includes among
other things the value of all the main
tracks, all other tracks all buildings,
all lands, and all other railroad prop
erty owned or operated by the rail
roads within the city limits and the
amount of expense the city is put to
| III lllolllAS llSAes lllC plolCSIlOu dlu
police protection for the several lines.
Demands Land From City.
| A demand from James Hirst was
presented in writing to the council, in
| which Mr.. Hirst requested and de-
manded a deed from the city to a piece
of land. strip 80 feet wide running
north from the corner of Highland ave-
nue. and Benton street twelve rods and
then running west for fifteen rods. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Hirst this property was
given to the city sixteen years ago on
the condition that it should be used
for street purposes. He says it has
never been so used The matter was
referred to the city engineer and the
city solicitor.
Mrs. Stanton Wants $1,000.
| A claim was presented by Mrs. Mary
Stanton for $1,000 damages for per
sonal injuries alleged to have been re-
ceived through the negligence of the
city. She claims that she received the
alleged injuries at the corner of Iowa
avenue and Orchard street on October
8. 1906, through falling into hole in
the street near the crossing. The mat
ter was referred to the city solicitor.
Petition Received.
The council was called to order al
| 8 o'clock by Mayor B. F. SHUTS. with
Aldermen Spry and Wright absent
/ Alderman Spry arrived later. A peti