Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-02-24

The Northern Pacific and Great Northern were each as
essed at $4,000 mile in Idaho Just the line in Was
ing ton the Northern Pacific assessed 3S 800 and tn
Great Northern at $48220 The following figures will be sig
niicant
4 Selected Statistics of Railway Taxation for 1909
Average tax paid mile of road in the u. S. $401 OF
Average tax paid mile of road in Oregon 446 O
Average tax paid mile of road in Washington OF
Average tax paid mile of Northern Pacific in
Average tax paid mile of Great Northern in Wash
Average tax paid mile of all roads in Idaho 288O
1910 Idaho had 1924 miles oil
The 1910 by $500
mile in 1909 Disregardng this difference the
Washington had been applied to the railroads of
Idaho ooud their ares s574656 1t is not
difficult to understanding the railroads using every
to defeat the railroad commission idea The
fer would all the of the
many years.
The assessments in Washington yet nat
ura result OF the work of the commission The have
said that be sufficient to Weld reasonable return
the value OF the railroad In every the value
the railroad the most important question be
and all Of the evidence tine hands of the The
Washington Commission set out to find that value for
determining the reasonabeness of rates Their engineers
nted yard OF excavation and yard of grade fill
They took not of bridge and uer They counted
rail- every tie every spike locomotive and every
examined every station every freight depot and all yards
They made allowances for for proe They computed
the original cost made allowances for depreciation and
caon and for increase and decrease in the of labor
material They took into consideration the volume
and probable permanency of the traffic They figured closely
and gave the railroads full hearing They the value of
mile of line in the state Their findings made little
farmer shipper wishes to question the reas
onabeness of rate he need employ attorneys engn
GERS experts to prove the value upon which the rail
roads entitled to dividends He introduces in evidence
the little hookthe statute makes prima faca proof Then
bright idea flashed upon the Board of Equalization If
railroad has certain value which the people,
not have the value when the people the raroad
what sauce Tor the goose sauce for the gander They adj
opted the valuation of the railroad commission and thereby in
creased the of the railroads from $780,
O000O0 and increased their taxes 100000 year yet
tax is not higher than on other property.
Another important service awaiting the creation public
service commission securing better accommodation for the v
cling public Shohone of the best and busiest little cities
Of Idaho 1t the junction point for the Wood River branch
There is but small waiting which for train
and passengers,men and children alike The is
frequently crowded to sufocaon Women and children suffer
every discomfort while waiting for trains often many
ate There toilet not the kind
ommodatons The said to be true of every station be
Pocaelo and Nampa except at GoodiGg toilet
provided but this kept locked the key only
obtained by application ut the Office window. toilet
he O. S L. such convenience that there
pprehend that it might be carried away to be exhibited
uriosty.
In every phase of both freight passenger service we
ind the nsoent disregard for the rights of the public
The Washington Commission visited every station the state
urng additional station facilities waiting running
ate toilet rooms electric lights and other Accommodations
"a cent of the the orders promptly complied
nth by the railroads. and the remainder receiving aggess
We attention at the hands of the commission. !
Besides all of this the greatest and the principal
state railroad commission in Idaho would be
nabe interstate rates VIII you explain how state rail
@d commission regulate affect interstate business?
ill be pleasure Interstate under the control of the
ded that state railway commissioners may file complaints be
this body touching interstate Many of the
expressly provided that their railway commissions shall
vesgae Interstate rates and found unreasonable shall
proper complaints before the Federal Commission Such
ovsons found in Arkansas Florida Georgia Iowa. Louis
Missouri Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota Other
admissions have fled such complaints acting upon their
al authority The Nevada rate before the Interstate
Commission filed by Nevadas Railway Commits
and fought and saving to her citizens
traffic 100000 year The Oregon Commission has "
ed complaints touching the west bound
Willamette Valley points and the east bound wool from
Oregon and has rendered valuable assistance in the
of lumber rates besides securing valuable
cal traffic. Numerous other instances might be named