The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-08-30
TAX ON POWER PLANTS
Committee to Investigate
Assessed Values.
TAYLOR PUSHES MATTER
Says Some Companies Are Assessed
Far Too Low.

l
The state board of equalization, on
motion OF State Auditor S. D. Taylor,
has appointed committee to thor.
oughly investigate the assessments on
power plants In the state. Mr.. Tay.
lor declared that assessments on elec.
trio power plants and power lines are
far too low, and he believed that
since electrical power Is one OF the
great natural resources Of the state
and belongs primarily to the state,
the state should derive an equitable
revenue from them. He said power
sites had been alienated to corpora
tions and private individuals for the
mere asking, whereas II the state had
exacted royalties the treasury would
have been enriched several millions
OF dollars, and the burden OF taxation
would have been relieved proportion
ately.
Mr.. Taylor said be deprecated the
tendency to attack large business
interests, saying the state wants to
invite capital, but he said the state
has made the power companies an
outright gift OF the water resources
and 1t is only fair and right that they
should pay the state just proportion
of revenue.
Referring to some of the companies,
Mr.. Taylor said:
Zone of the largest companies 10
the state is the Washington Water
Power company, whose plant is locat.
ed at Post Falls. This company gen.
crates 900 horse power, and Is the
only plant in the state that is asses.
sed at anything like its real value.
The assessor OF Kootenai county has
placed valuation of So, ,654, 84l upon
this plant.
"The Telluride company has a
plant of equal capacity located In
Bannock county. The assessment on
this property is only S673.447. l am
| informed that the cost of this plant
was 100000 to say nothing OF
their valuable franchises.
"The Idaho Consolidated Power
company has plant at American
Falls assessed for $50,600 including
81 miles of power line. This CON.
/ pany owns power lines In other coun.
ties, the assessed valuation of which
| is not at hand. but does not amount
to any great sum. ! am reliably In
formed that 81, 900, 600 has heen re-
fused for this plant.
1.-The Great Shoshone Falls Power
and Light company has two plants;
one at Shoshone Falls and the other
at the Lower Salmon Falls. The
combined production of electrical
energy at these two plants Is 600(
horse power. The combined assess
ment on these two plants Is onl,
$239, 900. l doubt II these plant.
could be purchased for ST., 100000
1.-The Idaho Oregon Light & Power
company and allied interests hav,
their power plants at Horseshoe Bend
and Swan Falls. 1t is roughly esti
mated that they produce 1000 horse
power at Horseshoe Bend and 10000
at Swan Falls. By comparing th'
horsepower production with the fg
ures as given above for other plants
it will be observed that this compaD.
owns valuable property, ranking VI
close with the Washington Waite
Power company and the Tellurid
company.
"Some idea of the value Of thi
plant can be gained from the fac
that they purchased the Dewey fran
chise at Nampa for $247, 200, and tn
Sebree franchise at Caldwell for 5000,
600. They were already furnishin
the electricity for these plants, ant
the amount OF electricity required 70
Nampa and Caldwell is a mere frac
tion of their full capacity used 10 or
Grating their various electric railwa
lines.
"For the past two years." Nj
Taylor stated further. "there ha
been process OF consolidation Of th
water power companies going on |