The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-30
INCREASE TO COME
IN VALUATION
CHANGE IN DESIGNATION OF
"MA,N" AND "eRANcA" LINES
OF N. p. THE CAUSE.

Assuming that official action in the
matter is taken by the state board of
equalization Missoula county this year
will gain more than $3.50. 900 in as
sessed valuation through a change to
come about In the assessment of the
Northern Pacific DAD within the coun-
tvs boundaries. This added valuation
will come about not through a higher
tax levy on all of the railroad prop
erty, but on accoun of a change that
has been made by the in the
designation of the two branches now
extending west from Missoula to Para
disc, one known as the main line and
the other as a branch line. Until re-
Gently the original route west, the one
leading over the EVaro hill and across
the southern end OF the reservation.
has been called the main line. But
with the construction of the cutoff
from st. Regis to Paradise the road
between DeSmet and Paradise by way
of st. Regis has come into general
use as the main line and recently has
been officially designated as such. In
assessing the railroads it has been the
practice to place a higher valuation
VII VA AiIS '''tAii hI'ii blalft
lines. AS now designated the portion
of the main line extending from De-
Smet to the county line by way of St.
Regis is considerably longer thar that
portion of the Paradise branch from
DeSmet to the county line by way of
the Evaro hill route.
The assessment of all railroads in
Montana is made by the state board
of equalization at Helena. This assess
ment is made by the mile and includes
all charges. rights-of-way, roadbed,
rails, ties, franchises and rolling stock.
The main line of the Northern Pacific
was fixed at $19,925 per mile through
out the state for 1912 double track
being assessed higher in proportion);
while the Occur d'Alene branch was
assessed at $12,0 900 per mile.
Comparison Of Figures.
A portion Of the 1912 assessment for
Missoula county was as follows:
DeSmet to county line, via
st. Regis, 79.49 miles, at
$4,000 1858, $50. 90
Sidetrack on this line. 1858
miles, at $1,000 .................. 1856. 90
DeSmet to county line, via
Evaro, Bill miles, at s19.-
925 631, s21.75
Sidetracks on this line, HOS
miles, at 1892 ...,...-......... 22.O71.36
Total assessed value Of
these lines in 1912 ....-..... 81 ,639, 369.11
If the st. Regis line is designated as
the main line for 1913 and the
II tyc W 1iy,D no w. ID ,,li,~ l,o ,,I ~
the assessment will u as follows,
assuming that the state board will
assess at the same value in 1913 as
in 1912: } ,iOEt
DeSmet to county line. via
st. Regis, 79.49 miles, at
$40, 925 .......... .............. ....... 81, 5G3, $685.
Sidetracks on this line,
1888 miles, at 1892 ......,.... 4~2,499.3G
DeSmet to county line, via
E%varo,31.71 miles, at $1,000 $50, $50. 90
Sidetracks on this line, 11.0S
miles, at $1,000 ...................... 13,296.0
Il Total assessed value of
these lines for 1913 will
be ..,.,...,.,......, .,,.,........ so. 900, l03.61
Increase over 1912. 1850, 734. so.
AS the levy for 1913 has not been
made, and as the school district tax
varies in the different districts through
which the line runs. it is impossible
to estimate exactly the increase in
taxes that the Northern Pacific rail-
way will pay to Missoula county in
1913 over that Of 1912, but the same
would approximate 2k per cent of
1850. 1880, which would be 500 S.36.
Consequently the other taxpayers OF
the county would have their taxes re-
duced in proportion in 1913, as it
takes a constant amount to run the
county each year and the levy Is so
made by the county commissioners
that the total of the taxes collected
will just reach that mount.
Sanders Loses.
The above does not show that h
Northern Pacific will actually pay
$4,000 more takes than last year, as
a portion Of the line that Sanders
county is getting paid for on the
basis of main line will then be classi-
fled as branch and assessed accord =
ingly, SO that what Sanders loses
Missoula county will gain.