The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-04-20
RAILROADS CAN BE TAXED
FOR LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
Law to Which Councils Attention
Was Called is Still in
Effect.
AN INTERESTING SITUATION

Railroad property such as track,
right of way, depot and grounds, ma
chine shops, rolling stock and all other
property necessary to operate railroads,
may be taxed for local improvements.
The existence of such a law on the
| statute books of Michigan was called
to the attention of the council by AL
derman Scallon at Monday evenings
session, at the request of Louis Stra-
low of Railroad avenue, and was re-
ferred to the city attorney to be looked
into.
City Attorney Kiiskla has found Mr..
Stralow's contention to be correct and
the law to be still i'm effect. The stat
ute I'm question is section 1880. sub
division s, of the compiled laws of the
state OF Michigan for 1897. This law is
as follows:
THE real property of corporations
exempt under the laws of the state. by
reason of paying specific taxes in lieu
OF all other taxes for the support Of
the state Provided. the track, the
right of way. depot grounds and build
ings, machine shop. rolling stock. and
all other property necessarily used i'm
operating any railroad i'm the state. be-
longing to any railroad company, shall
henceforth remain exempt from tax
alton for any purpose, except that the
same shall be subject to special as
sessments for local improvements in
cities and villages and all lands owned
and claimed by such railroad company
not adjoining the tracks Of such COM
pany shall be subject to all taxes"
The question raised is one of great
interest. as the matter OF the railroads
exemption has been one that has re-
ceived n great amount of thought from
Mr.. Stralow during the past two years.
numerous occasions during this period
to protest against the entire cost of
the sewer on Railroad avenue being
assessed against adjacent property
owners, and the railroad being called
upon to pay nothing at all. Mr.. Stral-
was as much benefited as any others
concerned. as the sewer provided
drainage for the right of way and
saved the expense of maintaining Gull
verts. When the sewer district was
laid out. and. the assessments appor-
toned, the Mineral Range right Of way.
which extends for n long distance on
Railroad avenue. was omitted, and tits
omission Mr.. Stralow and some otherS
regarded as unfair. The matter was
not brought TO a focus until the third,
installment OF the special sewer ASSESS
ment fell due. and the time for remon-
strances having long since passed. the
council took no action I'm the matter.
the general impression being that the
was exempt from assessments
for local improvements. The law un-
earthed through the efforts of Mr..
Stralow places the matter in differ
ent light.
The question now arises as to wheth-
er or not steps can be taken to rectify
the omission. To do so will require the
entire re-assessing of the district in
volved. assessing the railroad company
It's share Of the Improvement. and ar
for the RENTING to those pre-
viously assessed. corresponding por- |
ton of the amount assessed against |
them. The council will most likely take |
up the question this evening at the |
adjourned session and consider what |
steps may be taken.