Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-09
RAILROADS HAVE CLUB
WILL USE FARM ASSESSMENTS
AS DEMAND FOR LOWER
RAILWAY TAXATION.
STATE REPORTS FURNISH
AMMUNITION FOR LAWYERS
Executive Council, However, Finds
Ample Reasons for Not Reducing
Railway Assessments-Jersey Cattle
Must Look to Their Laurels-Wrgh
Hear cumnnins' Speech.

Special to s-Republican.
Des Moines, July "a fact Of I'M
usual Importance will be laid before
the executive council this year when
the railroad assessments are made and
farm land values equalized. The rail-
road attorneys will this year have the
reduction in the railroad assessment
or at least against any increase they
have ever had in the fact that reports
10 the executive council show that the
actual sale value of farm land in Iowa
has advanced from s52.62 an acre on
the average to s72.72 in the last six
years, While the assessed value has
fallen from s42.o4 an acre to $40. And
while the assessed value of the farm
lands has remained stationary or been
lowered the assessment Of the rail-
roads has been steadily increased.
Six years ago the executive council
asked the county auditors to report the
price at which all farms in the county
had been sold where such had been
sold and also the price at which such
farms had been assessed for that year.
This was for the purpose of finding
1 out how nearly the assessors were get
! ting at the actual value Of the farm
land. This year the council again
asked the auditors to make such re-
ports. All but three of the counties in
the state have made such reports.
Six years ago the average assessed
value was s42.04, which was so per
cent of sale value. This year the as
sessed value is reported at $40 and this
| is 55 per cent of the sale value The
sale value of farm land is thus shown
to have increased over 80 per cent dur
! ing the last six years While the as
sessed value has decreased slightly.
! While this furnishes ample amuni-
ton for the railroads for reduction
| in their assessment, as a matter OF fact
the executive council can find ample
arguments for not reducing the rail-
road assessment nor for raising the
farm land assessment To the bulk OF
the farmers of the state the change in
I value means nothing. The railroads
ihave been assessed largely on their
gross and net earnings both of Which
have steadily increased with the excep-
ton possibly of the last year. With
the farmer while the value of his land
has steadily increased, due to the
scarcity of good farm land he has not
been able to make a cent more out OF
it when the value is s72.72 an acre,
than he was when the value was only
s5262 an acre. If he rents the land II
rents for no more an acre now than
it did six years ago.
Two or three years ago when a large
number of prominent farmers ap-
peared before the executive council
they argued that they We're not able
to make more than two and half tc
three per cent on the money they hao
Invested in their farms and whether
they had the land rented or operated
= the farms themselves if they allowed
v themselves any compensation for thei
own time on the farm that was abou
F the best they could do They will
. therefore argue that as between thu
farms and the railroads based on tn
e earning capacity the assessment of tn
railroads is none too high and further
more the law as to the assessment o
p railroads directs the executive counci
: to take into consideration the gros
z and net earnings of the railroads a
/. we'll as the actual worth Of the sys
=, tenn and its property.
NJ SO
Jersey CATTLE which have held II
center of the state in Iowa as the or
q milk breed, must look to their laurel
~ There is to be an invasion of the sta
Z. by the Guernseys, Holsteins and AyI
, shires, the other three most prominel
- milk breeds. The associations of ear
of these three breeds has begun car
paign in Iowa to educate the da1ry1n5
E. to the use OF these breeds. For mar
years the Jerseys were about the on
milk breed that was represented at Il
Iowa state fair. This year all fol
. breeds will be represented and that tt
by some of the best herds in Il
i United States.
While not definitely decided it is G:
pected that a $4,000 Holstein bull, ol
of the most valuable bulls of any bre
in the United States, is expected to
at the fair. Letters from promine
- Holstein, Guernsey and Ayrshire bree
ers the country over have been r
ceived by Secretary Simpson engagi1
y barn room and stating that they W
come with their herds. Wilbur Mar
of Waterloo. the wealthy crea
separator manufacturer and newspar
proprietor has recently purchased
herd of about thirty very fine Guer
seys and it Is expected that he W
have some Of them at the state fair.
1t is believed that the organizati
Of the Cow Culture Club by sol
prominent agriculturists and the fs
that the legislature voted $4,000 to
spent encouraging the dairy business
believed to be the direct cause :
the other dairy breed associate
turning their attention to Iowa. TT
will find rich field here for the reas
that Iowa has all the advantages
being q great dairy state and at pr,
ent has but one of the four da
A BEAUTIFUL HEAD Of hair
4 yvoman'o Richest treaSufe. Do n
aeuleet %, let Il become GRAY G