The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1913-06-27
UNTAXD TIMBER LAND
Assessors Want ScTipped
Lands Patented.
GET COMMISSION BUSY
Would Add Many Millions to State
Tax Roll.

The Idaho tax commission has
recently been 10 receipt Of number
OF communications from county as.
SCISSORS Of several northern counties,
calling attention to a vex,ng sItua-
tlon 10 connection with the taxing of
timber lands IN Nez Perce. Lewis,
Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Shoshone
and Kootenai counties. for which, so
far. there seems to be no adequate
remedy. The particular cause Of
complaint is In regard to scripped
lands 10 the forests in the north, saws
the Statesman. These lands, which
are extremely valuable, except 10
rare instances, have never been
patented, and as consequence under
the law are not taxable. The agKre.
gate acreage that is held In this way
by great corporations 10 these coun-
ties is said to be over 1000, 900 acres.
Much Of this land, II is claimed, has
a cash value OF from $50 to $780, an
acre, and IT Is probable that the lands
thus escaping taxation would aggre-
gate 10 value $75, 900, 900 to 81 100, ,OOO,-
900.
In some Of the counties this con
dition OF tax dodging has become so
serious that taxpayers leagues have
been formed to endeavor to secure the
taxing OF the lands before patent. or
II that cannot be done, to expedite
patent SO that the lands may become
taxable. Such league was recently
organized in Clearwater county, and
q number OF meetings have been held.
Through committees appointed, In.
vestigations have been made and
resolutions adopted, dema ndIng that
these unsurveyed scrip lands be at
once surveyed, and either be acce pied
or rejected for patent.
The commission has just received
notification. from the Taxpayers
league OF Clearwater county announc
Ing that at recent meeting held In
Or01no, for the purpose OF discussing
ways and means for most speedily
subjecting the unapproved scrip and
and unsurveyed Northern Pacific rail.
way grant lands OF this state to
taxation the fact was developed that
out OF a total OF approximately 1872.
437 acres OF land. owned aud con.
trolled by this company 10 Clearwater
county, taxes are paid on but 1855
acres, as shown by the company's list
OF lands submitted for taxation for
the year 1913. Other counties, most.
ly 10 the northern part OF the state,
are affected in a similar manner TO
the amount OF more than 1000, 900
acres. A call has been issued for
convention 10 Occur d'Alede, June 80.
to discuss the subject. formulate
plans and devise ways for subjecting
these lands to taxation at the earliest
date possible.
Mr.. Robertson recently returned
from trip through the southeastern
counties, and has reported to the
commission that the work Of the
assessors is decidedly uneven. In
several Of the counties the scale OF
Valuations has been greatly lowered
from last year. In the southeastern
counties reports received Indicate
that the assessors. under the check
ing up system inaugurated by the
commission. are finding and includ.
ing on the fax roll great deal of
property which has hitherto entirely
escaped taxation. This is said To be
true not only Of realestate, but is
especially noticeable Of personal pro.
perty, and particularly OF live stock
cattle aud sheep. In the cas-. of the
assessment on sheep. in many local.
ties the number reported has been
doubled. This Is particularly true OF
the bands that have been ranging
along the Wyoming aud Utah lines.
President Wilson presented brief
message To congress June %. In per.
son, urging what he claims is the
duty OF congress to enact much
needed CT rr.ncy legislation before ad.