Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-01-02
CAN CRAWFORD EXPLAIN.

the record made by his administra-
ton, and having declared in his
manifesto that the record is good
throughout, Gov Crawford can no
doubt explain to the people why it is
that the 1907 assessment Of the
Northwestern road is so much lower
than the assessments of other roads
in the state. The people will not
overlook the fact that for many years
Mr.. Crawford was the paid attorney
of the Northwestern, and they will be
led to wonder whether the charge
is true that some of the old relations
yet remain. 1t can not be overlooked
that Alex johnson was in Huron at
the time the insurgents picked out
their ticket, that he arrived in Huron
on the evening that the ticket was
picked out, and that he left the next
morning for his home in Winona.
Mr.. Crawford was not only the paid
attorney for the Northwestern but he
was the political representative of
the company. He distributed its
passes, he lobbied for its measures.
he helped to beat down its taxes
before the board of equalization, and
he seems today to be just as friendly
as he ever was.
The county auditor Of Brookings
county has prepared some figures on
comparative railroad assessments
which we have no doubt will interest
the people of this state. He
addressed letters to various county
auditors and has collected figures
which ale really surprising. The
figures can be verified at the offices
of the various county auditors of the
state.
If the Northwestern had been
assessed in Elkton at the same rate
per mile as the Rock Island it would
have to pay $3S4.16 more tax in
Elkton than it does.
If the Northwestern in Brookings
had been assessed at the same rate
per mile as the Rock Island in Elk.
ton, its total tax in Brookings city
would be S3,135.7 greater than it is.
If the Northwestern at Bruce had
been assessed at the same rate per
mile as was the Rock Island at Bush
nell, it's total tax in Bruce would be
S644S0 greater than it is.
If the Northwestern at Aberdeen
had been assessed at the same rate
per mile as the Great Northern it
would paw S2,031.24 more tax in the
city of Aberdeen than it does.
If the Northwestern at Watertown
had been assessed at the same rate
per mile as either the Rock Island
or M. & st. Louis it would pay
ST. ,365.1S more in the city of Water
town than it will this year.
If the Northwestern at Sioux Falls
had been assessed at the same rate
per mile as the Rock Island its total
tax in the city of Sioux Falls would
be S2,373.59 greater than it is.
If the Northwestern at Valley
Springs had been assessed at the
same rate per mile as was the Great
Northern at Garretson, it's total tax
in Valley Springs would be $395.05
greater than it is
In Sioux Falls the average assess
ment per mile Of the Rock Island
was S24,216; for the Great Northern
it was 500, 500; for the Illinois Gen.
trail it was $22,223; for the Mil
waukee it was 1890; but for the
Northwestern it was only $15,250.
1t is very manifest that it pays to
stand in with the reform governor
when railroad property is to be
assessed. The saving in taxation
which accrues to the Northwestern
is thus shown to be heavy one.
No doubt Mr. Crawford can explain.
He is quite ingenious. He was even
able to expla in why the bank
assessment was reduced and the
assessment Of farm lands was
increased. No doubt he will be able
to tell the people just how it hap
pened that in every case reported
the Northwestern was given the
lowest assessment per mile Of any
road which was assessed in the state
and how it happens that this is the
road Of which Mr.. Crawford up to
the time he became reformer was