The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-08-26

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annually. They were required 10 show
also, the cost of production and the
price received when sold upon the
market From these facts and from
other information required the com.
mission was enabled TO fix, within rea.
sonable limits, from the mines, the
value of the mining property of Mime
sofa. AS a result of this appraisal
1 and reassessment by the state tax
commission, the valuation of the mines
! of that state was increased from $780,
/ 100000 to S194,0000 600, thus bringing
| into the treasury of the state of Mime.
sofa almost three times the revenue
! formerly paid by the mines of that
! state
The appraisal of mining properties
has been highly satisfactory to the
/ state of Minnesota and, in my judg-
ment, would be equally as satisfactory
/ to the people of Michigan.
The state ought TO know, at the
earliest possible moment, the value of
our mines
For many years we grouped in the
dark as to the valuation of our rail
road properties, but finally an expert
appraisal was had by the state tax
commission, assisted by Professor
Cooley of the university, and now our
railroads are assessed at $215,000, 900
and pay in taxes between two and
three millions more annually than was
paid by railroad properties before the
appraisal was made.
Result of One ReappraisaI.
The state tax commission, within
the last few months, completed an
appraisal of the telegraph, telephone
and express properties of the state
and as a result of this appraisal this
class of property will now contribute
in the neighborhood of s366,000 an
nually more than it formerly paid.
We have appraised the railroads, the
telegraphs, telephone and express
companies with most gratifying re-
suits. An appraisal of our mining
property gives promise of being
equally gratifying and important.
Now, am not advocating one policy
here in lower Michigan, where there
are no mines, and something entirely
different in the Upper Peninsula.
where these mines are located. l have
recently visited all the mining Sec
tons of the Upper Peninsula and at
Crystal Falls, Ironwood, Houghton,
Hancock and other mining centers. /
told the people that the time had
come when il was necessary for the
state TO know whether or not the
mining districts are bearing their full
share of the expenses of our state
government.
| said TO them, up there, that II nom
mated and elected governor, ! should
set the wheels in motion TO find out
what the mines are worth by means
of an expert appraisal, and that IL
such an appraisal showed that the
mines were under assessed, it was abb
solutely certain that the valuation of
their property would be increased.
Now, what has this to do with the
present campaign? If this work is to
be understood, ii must be done by the
state tax commission. The state tax
commission is composed of three men.
One of these three retires from office
the first day of January. One of the
others will serve for two years and
the other for four years, Two of
the present commissioners, therefore,
Will be on the board when this work
is undertaken. Both Of these men are
honest, capable officials. One of them,
however, lives in the very heart OF
this mining district. His business is
lueIe, his ClOStSl lileuuS dIe lutIt, lie
is a mining man, the environment of
a lifetime has been mining and it is
only natural TO assume that his SYM
pathies may be with that region. The
other member of the commission
comes from one of the agricultural
counties of the state.
Shall the v. p. Assess the Farms.
The next governor, therefore, will
have the appointment of the third
man on the state tax commission and
he will hold the balance of power.
The Upper Peninsula has a candi-
date for the governorship and it is
claimed by him that he is to receive
the solid support of the entire mining
district His candidacy has been en-
dorsed by the board of supervisors of
Houghton county, a large percentage
of the membership of which are
officers and employees of the mines of
that county. Under such conditions
in the event of his nomination and
election. the state might wake up later
on 10 find that not only one member,
but perhaps two members of the state
tax commission had leanings toward
the mines. And this, too at a time
when it is the purpose of the state to
determine the value OF the mining
property of that region. / leave it TO
YOU TO say whether or not such a
course be wise or prudent
Now, one thing more, Michigan is
great and prosperous largely because
Of the fact that our interests are so
widely diversified. We have these
mines of iron and copper in the Upper
Peninsula; we have coal we have
salt; we have great agricultural in
terests; we have 5000 factories. Civ
ing employment TO 100000 men, whose
daily wages amount to $600,000 we
have great fishing interests, great rail
road interests, great banking interests,
great mercantile interests and every
thing that goes to make a great state
1t has been said OF Michigan that
it is the only state in the Union about
which a wall could be built and still
allow our people 10 enjoy practically
all the necessities of life.
Northern Michigan Power.
We have all these great interests in
our state, and we want them all to
prosper, and we wish to deal fairly
and equitably by them all. 1t has
been our boast all these years that as
yet we have never permitted any one