Semi-weekly herald., 1908-09-10
A FEW
FIGURES
Comparisons Should be
Studied by La Plata
County Taxpayers

The Durango Democrat has devoted
| considerable space in attackinr
Messrs. Charlton and Logan In con
nection with the equalization OF the
taxes on the plant of the American
Smelling company in this city. and as
usual. jumps at conclusions instead OF
facts. The Herald is not an apologisi
for the smelling company or its Off
cials, but right is right sand wrong
is wrong. The Herald is not going tc
engage in any defense OF the smeltei
because II is not necessary among
thinking people and those having the
interests of the community at heart
Now let us get down to few facts
that guided the commissioners in re
batting the unjust assessment placed
upon the smelling plant by Demo
cratic assessor who played the game
for all 1t was worth In hopes of max
ing votes for the Democrntic ticket
and perhaps he may succeed. but not
II the subject is given careful con.
sideration. Just look over these fig.
ures:
Globe smelter, Denver, seven fur.
naces, assessment, $367,10
Pueblo smelter, six furnaces, assess.
ment, $S45,345.
Eiler smelter, Pueblo, six furnaces,
s222,Ss
Arkansas Valley smelter,, Leadviile,
ten furnaces, assessment. $33s,695.
Ohio & Colorado smelter at Salida.
Independent, five furnaces, Assessment,
s234.557.
49,. 80. comparison: La FiaIa
county's Democratic assessor placed
a valuation on the Durango plant OF
s69,100 in excess of the valuation
placed upon any plant in the state of
Colorado. There is not smelling
plant in the state operated by the
trust that does not have double the Ca
pacity of the Durango plant. We have
the Pueblo plant with seven furnaces
and employing twice the number Of
men and handling three times the
amount of ore assessed at $90,855 less
than the valuation placed on the Du-
range plant by Mr.. Coston. Again,
take the figures of the Arkansas Val
ley smelter at Leadville. It has ten
furnaces and is the largest plant In
the state and Is treating more ore
each week than the Durango smelter
treats in month and we find 1t as
sessed at only s33S,695. $97,605 less
than the assessment OF the Durango
plant by Mr.. Coston. And, mind you,
the Leadville assessment and that OF
the Pueblo plants are made by Demo
Gratis, but by men who have de-
sire to be Just with corporations the
same as with the common people.
Leadville prizes It's smelter and is not
trying to tax 1t out OF existence.
Now, Mr.. Farmer, Mr.. Business
Man and Mr.. Laboring Man. are you
disgruntled newspaper and endorse the
political aspirations of men who use
their office with only one object In
view-continued feasting at the pub
lie crib? Again, do you think for one
moment the American Smelling com
pany is going to permit itself to be
used as a political football. The COM
pany is not making any threats, but
II will not stand for unjust treatment
and will. II necessary, take the mat
ter to the courts the same as In the
past.
The Herald is not going to say that
the smelter valuation is Just what
of the other smelters are right. but
we do insist and can prove 1t that
the valuation OF the Durango plant is
on as high a basis as that of any
smeiter in the state, and for a news
paper to come out and abuse Messrs.
Charlton and Logan for being honest
is only in line with the policy of Dave
Day and his paper.
Further, the Democratic mem
Der of the board. .tr. Reister, said
the valuation placed on the smelt-
er was out OF all proportion to
that placed on plants In other
parts OF the state and In the dis
cussion offered resolution to the
effect that the valuation be cut to
$275.000. Mr.. Reister wanted to
be somewhere near Just to the
smelter and contended that e276r.
600 was high enough valuation.
Now, Mr.. Farmer. you Will be ap
pealed to with tears to vote agains
the Republican party and commission
ers because the smelter is given thi
same consideration as accorded oths