Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-07-21
Thomas Reports Lower Assessment
Than Previously.
ALL THE, REST SHOW BIG RAISE
Eight Divisions Missing Will Raise
Total ubstantially.
EDGAR HOWARD BEFORE BOARD
Columbus Man Discusses Railroad
Values Mt Observation-Disclosures
Problem Before Conn
mission.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

CFrom a staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, July 20 Especial with
eight counties missing the increase in
the assessment of lands in Nebraska for
1908 over 1907, reported to the state
board by the county assessors. is S5O,-
0l0,299. The actual increase In land
values is five times this amount, or $780,
051,495. The counties missing are Gus
ter, Gage, Grant Hooker Nance Scotts
Bluff and Valley. When the reports from
these are I'm the total increaee in land
values will probably reach more than
S54, 0OO, 900, as estimated several days ago
The assessment of lands in the coun-
tie mentioned is $iS5,S1S.245, compared
with an assessment in the same counties
of $135,S ,946 In 1907.
Only one county in the state thus far
has shown a decrease In land values.
Thomas county came in short, The as
sessment OF lands in this county last year
was $46,615 and this year S4S.472. The
land under cultivation in this county has
decreased several thousand acres since
last year, which may account for the de-
| crease in value. In 1907 he land under
cultivation numbered 1880 acres and
this year 1925 acres; not under cultlva-
tion in 1907 2s029 acres, and this year
36,305 acres. The total acreage In the
county in 1907 was 45,719 acres and in
1908 49,531 acres.
Howard Before Board.
Judge Edgar Howard Of Columbus oc-
cupied the attention of the State Board OF
Assessment this afternoon in discussing his
protest against the alleged omission OF
100000 worth of material and other prop
erty by the Union Pacific in it's returns to
tine board Mr.. Howard based his COM
plant a statement before the Railway
commission, made by Superintendent Park
| of the Union Pacific. Mr.. Park said the
road had spent {3 900 600 In 1905; 100000 in
| 1907, and had 'in Council Bluffs, Omaha
and along the road 100000 worth of ma
| terial and other stock to be added to this
property" The value OF this class OF prop
erty returned by the road for Nebraska
amounted in round numbers to 100000.
| Superintendent Park, who had been noti-
| fled to appear before the board, was not
present. but Cin his place was A w. scrib-
ner, tax commissioner OF the Union Pacific.
Mr. scrlbner insisted that Mr. Park meant
the S9OOOOOO was scattered all along the
system. He said 100000 Of It was in Ne
braska, S2,OO0,OOO in Kansas and the re-
malnder scattered through the other states
| through which the road operates.
Judge Howard informed the board Mr..
| Park had told him the property was In Ne
braska. 1t is the duty OF the board, he in
sisted. to investigate thoroughly the state
| ment of the superintendent. and II the
| property could be located 1t should be added
| TO the assessment of the company. Mr..
| Scribner was just as insistent that Mr..
Park had told him the property was along
| the system and that was the meaning of
his statement. While the statement Of the
superintendent is suwbject to two interpre-
tations. the board thought enough of the
| complaint OF Mr. Howard to order Mr..
Park TO appear in person at a date to be
fixed later and give his side OF the story.
| Several county assessors were present, but
were not given an opportunity to be heard.
Convict Labor Discussed.
| The state board of public lands and
buildings held another session this after
noon to discuss convict labor. Warden
Beemer secured the meeting to tell the
board members that the prisoners were
| beginning TO suffer from their enforced
! ideness and something should be done.
Il shall never change my vote" said
! Treasurer Brkan. 81 voted to charge the
Lee company 75 cents a day for each
prisoner and I shall not change that vote.
WheD the legislature meets that body can
make a law providing for the employment
| of the prisoners"
Attorney General Thompson and secre.
tary of State Junlin have begun to get
worried over the matter and showed a
disposition to make the Lee company
another proposition. The board decided to
meet tomorrow morning and have Mr.. Lee
present when the question will be discussed
again.
Railroads and Drainage.
mi
executive meeting this morning and the
members refused TO make public what they
were talking about At the meeting some
expense accounts were allowed and It was
decided that Chairman winnett should 20
10 Waverly by train and investigate a
complaint filed against the Burlington for
not providing proper drainage for some Of
its lands. Chairman Wlnnett, Commis-
soner Clarke and Commissioner Williams
were present at the executive meeting.
Antilles Files for Auditor.
George Antilles OF Omaha today filed his
application to have his name placed on
the republican ballot as a candidate for
auditor. Fred Abbott filed his application
TO go on the republican, ticket a candi-
date for railway commissioner and Edgar
Howard Fled as a democratic candidate
for congress in the Fourth district. Fred
Abbotte application was accompanied by
a petition signed by citizens Of Columbus.
Lawson Brian filed as a candidate TO sue
ceed himself as state treasurer. He filed
as a republican, naturally.
The report for Nemaha county is the
| second annual report filed by county su-
perintendents for the year i9O7-OS. Super
intendent Darlington reports 123 teachers
employed in Nemaha county during the last
year, holding certificates as follows:
I professional lie ............................ =
| First grade, state Observation-Disclosures. I
| Second BIade, state observation-disclosures. ]
Elementary, state ......,...........,......... l3
! First grade, county ........................ 8