The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-12-18
INJUSTICE TO
THE IRON MINES
100000 Cut In Assessment OF
Property Is Asked

Lansing. Mich, Dee. Represent
atives of the iron mines of Michigan
appeared before the state tax commits
sion this week for "a conference and
as result the commission will look
into some points advanced by the mine
owners who say they ere assessed too
high and that the plan of assessment
Is wrong. state Geologist Alien. who
is employed by the tax commission in
assisting to assess the mines. was also
attendance.
one Of the most important matters
advanced By the mine owners and
which will be given consideration by
The commission is an alleged double
taxation Of ore in stock piles, ore that
is accumulated during the period
from January To May.
The mine owners claim the present
valuation Of stock piles by the method
now used. produces results which are
ineQuitahle and tends TO discourage
he building IN of stock piles during
the slack winter season, when work
is so necessary for the people OF that
community.
Under the present method of APP
nraisal just as soon as the ore is
brought to the surface. no matter how
undesirable the grade or how din
| cult To sell. OF how long IT. may be
held, il is given a cash value consid-
cradle in excess of ore left in the
ground.
Reduction Of $4,000, 900.
Tho non-assessing OF stock piles
would reduce the assessment of the
| ron mines alone mora than $4,000. 600.
| The iron mines are valued at approx
| imatclv $50 10000 according to state
| Goologist Allen.
The companies represented said they
| conld avoid the stock pile taxation by
not accommodating the stock, but that
IL would throw Thousands of men OH!
| of employment during the winter. That
| the present method Of arriving AZ thu
| valuation Of the mines was unfair and
| discoura ged The iron mining industry
was the chief contention advanced.
The mine owners said they recogni2-
ed the lax commission had sincerely
lions of the iron mines. that the meth
dds used have Oh the whole been rea
| sOnable. and that when obvious mis-
takes have been made. the commission
has shown q disposition to rectif'
them. They further contended, how
ever. that their Judgment was that
some of the mines have been valued a
Ggures above actual cash value.
Mine Dividends Uncertain.
This statement was made in the bre
filed with the commission today:
1T is q fact we must face, that mei
viii not invest money in mining On
terprises of any kind at less than II
or u per cent Not only is capita
tied up for long ana uncertain pc
riod bat tho dividends. even if the!
laVeraGe well. suffer wide fluctuations
from year Ia year. There are available
lplcnty of six per cent investments il
well established, less hazardous indus
ries. Such investments can he liquid
ated N any time ana returns from
them suffer a minimum Of fuctua
tons"
Commissioner Barnes admitted tina
The stock pile assessment really looke'
like double taxation. and the commits
sion will go carefully into the argu
ments advanced by the mine owners
Millions are involved, and the commits
sion desires to be fair. GeologiSt Allel
said the appraisal must preserve hi
independence of judgment, but the de
nartment was willing TO rectify an,