Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-15
RAILROADS CLAIM PROPERTY 10
ASSESSED ON EXCESSIVE
VALUATION.
OTHER PROPERTY 10 HELD
HIGH ENOUGH, Is CLAIM
Adjustment Of Valuations Gives Rise
to Problem Of Determining Where
Burden Of Taxation Shall Rest
Therns to Attack Claims Of Roads-
Road and Land Values Compared.
,ecial to imes-Republican.

Des Moines. July 15.-Railroad as
sessments and adjustment of real estate
and other land valuations, present a
phase entirely different from that OF
old. Now 1t is square fight between
classes of property. Which shall bear
the heavy end Of the bunch-railroads.
real estate, personal property or town
lots?
The first days presentation Of the
railroad side to the executive council
developed that the railroads intend to
rely largely on the fact that farm
property is assessed low, hence the
low assessment on railroad property is
justified.
For instance. T. A. Pollys. of the
Omaha road, presented his annual COM
pilation Of figures regarding land values
in six counties of northwestern Iowa
thru which the Omaha road passes. He
had compiled facts regarding 5000
transfers. From this he showed that
the estimated average true value OF
Sioux, OBrien, Osceola and Lyon coun-
ties as Of Jan. 1 was $127.a9 per acre.
The average value in six and half
years, as worked out from the same
transfers was 1864 an acre. The av-
erage actual assessed value per acre
under the 1911 assessment. for the land
in the six counties was $47.07 which
Is $685. per cent of the estimated true
value. The ratio as worked out from
the reports of county officials to the
state officials was 1856 for the same
counties.
Mr.. Pollys also showed that. as indi-
;; Gated by over 1000 transfers of lots in
the six counties during two years. the
1911. actual assessed value of urban
real estate in those counties represents
only 47.79 per cent a estimated true
value.
Claims Taxation Unfair.
In other words. according to the rail-
road men, real estate and town lots are
assessed below actual values. Mr.. Pol
| ly,s admitted that the assessment on
his railroad was only about 81 per cent
Of actual value; but commended that in
view Of the showing as to other proper.
| ty railroad values are too high.
This is the line Of argument that the
railroads will follow thru 70 the end.
Tomorrow the other side of the ques-
ton will be presented. The fact that
railroad property is not assessed at
/ anyway near It's real value will be
shown. The estimates of so or 70 pei
| cent valuation will all disappear: fol
! the council intends going into the ques-
4 ton of actual value in the markets OF
\ the world as shown by actual sale OF
railroads in the sale Of the railroad
stocks.
4 Roads Estimates Unfair.
4 Clifford Thorne will speak for the
people on this subject tomorrow. He
will invite the council to the consider
alton of some very pertinent statistics
that have been gathered for the pur-
pose and will to some extent offset the
/ showing of the railroad attorneys thai
they are terribly abused people. Frank
Pierce, representing the league OF
municipalities is present at the hear
lings, but the matter Of presenting the
other side of the property owners has
been turned over to Mr.. Thorne and an
nouncement to that effect was made
yesterday:
w. w. Baldwin and A. e. Patten are
here for the Burlington road: James c
Dawson !. and Fred Crandon for the
Northwestern; w. L. Tarbet for the
Illinois Central; A. s. Dudley for thu
Milwaukee; Fred Sargent for the Rocl
Island: Casey Hamilton for the Santa
Fe; George Wright for the Union Pa
cific; William Bremner for the Mime
apolis; and Claude r. Porter for thu
Southern Iowa traction.
1t is expected the governor will b.
able to be present at most of the res
Of the hearings.