The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-03-01

property valued at $1,7ss.04. Mileage
In this state, 1,1T1.S2. No earnings In
the state given In the report.
Ii the railroads include every item
of cost that enters into the business
actually done in North Dakota they
should credit to the business done in
within the state, all Interstate business
within the state as we'll as local busi-
ness.
The information obtained, though
meagre in some respects, was Of great
value to the last board OF equalization,
the reason for the increase in the as
sessed valuation or railroads of $1,000
per mile. The statements filed as to
the; value of their different properties
Ing one value for rate making and an+
other for assessment and taxation.
The report OF the express companies
doing business in this state are very
unsatisfactory, and indicate little or
no disposition to give the state the in
formation that the legislature desires.
The state will never be able to ac-
quire accurate information, until such
time as someone with special fitness
and training, acting for and by au-
thority of the state, shall make an ex-
haustive physical examination of the
properties of the different public utbi-
ties corporations. - ii
In our judgement the rates charged
by the express companies doing bust
ness within this state are excessive
and unreasonable, and the value of the
property owned by the express COM
panies as reported by them. Is not a
just basis for assessment and taxa
tion considering excessive business and
profits of these companies.
The questions asked tf answereSi ac-
curately would have furnished definate
knowledge of the approximate physical
value Of the property OF hte different
public service corporations and fair
intelligent action in the regulation of
rates and levying of taxes. We would
have obtained information of the value
OF the different properties In North Da-
kota and their proportionate value
considered as part Of system extend
Ing through several states. On ac-
count Of the system Of bookkeeping OF
the several corporations, the claim is
made by some OF the corporations that
it is impossible to estimate the value
OF the property and the answers in
many OF the reports indicates that the
corporations do not know the value of
their property, or that they are ad-
verse to giving this Information and it
IL impossible to estimate from the re-
ports the actual earnings OF the rail-
roads In this state for the reason that
the entire cost OF maintenance and OPP
GRAFTON is charged against business In
North Dakota and when credit Is given
Ii only covers the business originating
and terminating in this state.
The Northern Pacific railway COM
pany, the Great Northern railway COM
pany and the Northwestern railroad
company furnished to this commits
sion the most accurate and reliable re-
ports and there was general dispo-
sition on the part of the officials OF
such roads to be fair.
The law does not require this COM
mission to make a report to the iegis-
iature directly. and this communities
ton was only Intended as notice that
the report filed in the Office Of secre-
tary OF state for your inspection.
The report filed with the secretary
OF state contains the report or all car
companies and steamboat companies
doing business within t1fs state ana
with this report. so filed are the origin
al reports furnished by each az tliese
public service corporations doing busi-
ness In the state.
Tours respectfully,
John Burke,
n. 8. Lewis.
T. Twttchall