The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-01-11
BELL REPLIES TO MACBETH
Says Increase of the Taxes on Mining
Ground Will Drive Cap
ital Away.

N.
the interview given out by Senator Ravena Macbeth of Cste
county, in which Macbeth favored the plan to- increase the a.
on mining property entitled to than passing notice o,
account OF the TACT that the inspector is probably fine ono
capable OF predicting the disastrous results to that industry
from his intimate and hrsthand KNOWLEDGE Of m;nno ]
tons in all parts of the state N
am surprised that Senator Macbeth singles out the min
ns IA 'lls connection for in addition to the senator's
uouo'eu aoly as legislator, he has also made speciality
OF mnlng ana iii fact knows the mining game from al ts an
ges including that of the pioneer prospecor promoter and
general business manager of wealthy mining corporation
ana fuy appreciates the adverstes that the mining industry
has to overcome. -
Ills home county of Custer one of the best
areas OF the state suffering for lack mining and trans
portaton capital little than any other county ia I'll
state and any additional tax burden will intensity ;t @
vantage in this respect
Ihe senator takes unfair advantage in his article IN
der the suElead OF Cheap Mining Claims in which he com
plans that the patented mining claims of the state are take,
at total valuation of $256OOO which leads to the Inference
by the reader hat this is all the taxes that mnin.
properties pay Nothing could be farther from the facts
the mines taxed where they have anything of taxab
value as fully and completely any other property
in the state.
" As an example, of the prominent producing lead
silver mines of north Idaho paid last year for and cou
y purposes total tax of 000 including corporation tai
OF $3.50 for the privilege of doing business in the state 1h
normal value Of it's patented mining Claims valuation
S4sooo ON It's mechanical equipment and real estate and
full cash valuation it's net proceeds from production
Added to this under the law this year, this COMPANY
IS called upon to pay additional special school and viag
tax that aggregates $685.
Every other successful mine the state pays taxes o.
the same list OF separate Values and to pile additional
valuation to their patented claim area would be radical in
justice AS matter Of fact fully IS per of patented
claims lode claims, and lode claim patent about thu
most uncertain and unsatisfactory land title in this an
other country due to the uncertainty of the aorve fedora
apex extra Lateral right law.
The surface Of most Of these patented lode claim
is absolutely worthless for any other purpose than pro
lection against litigation troubles Most Of these claims
laid out rough rocky mountain slopes that sometimes carr
little timber but usually vaueess for grazing pu
poses and if the absolute surface values Of such titles
confined to the actual outcops Of these claims their presen
ratio of taxation would exceed several hundred dollars
~
''Under the lode mining law, claimant is permitted
follow the dip Of his vein under and beyond the side lines
the eratc vagare and uncertainties of body and it
various dips spurs mad angles compcate this privilege
introduce the most expensive and aggravatng litigation
tThe particular company have reference to has spen
nearly million dollars for litigation costs, due to this unus
land title law and the bulk of patented claims taken
patented for the purpose of protection against such expensv
litigation much for any other purpose and have pre-
viosy stated S. acre is high valuation for 80 per
of such patented mining claim AS have said the min
ing industry taxed from as many angles as any other indus
try in the state its property rights and in addition pays
tax it's net profits where net profits made, which
something that other branch Of industries in the state
called upon to do.
''Io attempt to place cash valuation the bodies
of productive mines would be of the most difficult prob
lens solve in the whole tax question: and would lead to end
less expense and litigation trouble there is nothing
certain variable the value of deposit, which de
ponds entirely the margin of profit that be made from
mining, shipping treating it, and has relation to its
gross value based it's metal contents The value of pro
ducng mine varies from day to day. and always worth les
the value of it's daily production and to arrive at
enable basis for the valuation of such character Of property
would require high kind of expensive talent annual o}
Of ampng OF several months duration in the big mine
with corps Of trained to the work The result nigh
protests expensive checking and uncertainty by
of the fact that such valuation would be subject to the
Stant fluctuations of the meta market which might change
the result arrived at so per cent in 30 days after such eXcn
sive data obtained.
''The principal of mining profits in Idaho is from
smelling ores that shipped out Of the state for treatment
T production subject to excessive obligations in the
of milling losses transportation and treatment charges anf
discounts of various kinds amounting to from Is to IS
cent or more of it's gross value
he recen ruling Of the interior department in the mat