The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-06-01
ASSESSMENT OF THE
BRISTOL MINE REDUCED
GREAT WESTERN EXTENSION ALSO
LOWERED BY TAX COMMISSIONERS
8RtAF- RAISE IN CITY ASSM'TS.
Board Of Review Jumped so Per Cent
Above Last YesT and Commission
Will Raise Also

A special session OF the state tax
commission was held at Houghton last
week and complaints from the Bristol
Mining company and the Corngan-
Mckinney company were heard As a
result of the bearing the valuation OF
the Bristol mine, as fixed at the hear
ing here last year was lowered from
$500. 600 to $3.50, 600 and the valuation
81 the Great Western extension was
lowered from $50, 600 to Sis 900. This
makes lowering Of values in the
mining properties of Crystal Falls city
Of about $3.50. 600
La addition the board of review low
cred the Bristol Sl01 600 for ore mined
making a total lowering Of mineral
values of about $3.50 600
The details Of the meeting are not at
hand but it IS understood that the
Bristol people appeared before the
board and complained that their assess
ment was not in proportion TO the
assessment of otner mining property in
the district They produced their
maps and other data TO prove their as.
sertion and rs result of their showing
the assessment was lowered as stated
As we get il the reasons advanced tor
the request for a lower valuation on the
Bristol mine IS that when the original
appraismeDt was made by the tax
commission the price set on that pro.
perty was 81 20 per ton for ore in the
ground The Bristol people. who were
represented by Gen. Mgr. Hopkins and
a Cleveland attorney, advanced the ar
gument that this price was set on two
grades Of ore Bristol and Manganate,
but that the proportion Of the lower to
the higher grade had been reduced in
mining operations during the year and
At the same time the price Of ore had
also materially dropped in the market.
The petitioners asked for a reduction
or ~ per cent on those grounds and the
reduction was granted Dr. Leith, the
expert for the commission was present
ane was impressed with the showin,
made by the two mining companies.
II is stated that the oral opinion Of
the commissioners was TO the effect
that the commission was of the opinion
that the iron mines were paying taxes
on higher general average than other
state property and that they we're
entitled TO a redress and il was limited
that If the local boards of review should
take cognizance Of the market condi-
tions anG the disparity Of values be
tween mining and general property
that there would be no overruling OF
sane reduction in mining valuations
this year
Those conversant with the situation
claim TO recognize in the statement Of
the commissioners the entering wedge
to a general reduction OF niue values.
The Great Western extension was low.
cred because Of the difference in valu.
alton rs compared with the Neely ex
ploration 90 the east OF IT, II was
shown that the Great Western extension
with less ore showing than the Neely !
was assessed at So 600 whereas the 1
extension was put in at S54, 600 The
commissioners concluded that there
WAS Justice in the demand and the
assessment WAS lowered
II Is also understood that the mistake
in location OF the Nicely was corrected
and the assessment placed on the pro.
per description In the hurry-up work
attendant upon the commissions work
last year the Nicely was assessed as lots
and ?, section % whereas they are on
lots / and 2 Of section u. The assess
ment as made last year covers land in
Crystal Falls township wnile the Nicely
is actually located in the City OF Crys
tai Falls.
The city board OF review was in ses.
sion all OF last week and adjourned on
Friday TO neet again on Tuesday, May
2sth II was necessary for Assessor
Brown to make out new roll in the
meantime<s cause OF some difference IN
the description Of property.
AS stated in these columns some time
ago Mr.. Brown raj sed the valuation Of
the general property of the city 40 per
cent The board Of review considered
the raise insufficient and again boosted
the property Of the city 40 per cent so
that asa rule the assessments stand
today 80 per cent above the assessments
of last year.
As sample Of the difference Oh val.
ues we cite few Of the principal busi.