The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-07-10
GOVERNOR MAY HALT PLAN
Legislators Who Opposed Passage of
Bill Claim that Expenditure is Not
For Benefit of the Entire State-To
Value the Mineral Lands.

lSldIuIt anu NH1cn VIII SUM NC ~ eHO
hands of the governor is the measure
for the appropriation of $4,000 for a
mineral survey of Wisconsin by the
state geological survey. This bill orig
mated in the senate and is now before
that house for concurrence in the as
sembly amendment. The object of this
bill is two-fold. The first is to give
to the state of Wisconsin some idea as
to the value of its mineral property.
and the second is to arrange basis for
the taxation of mineral property. The
taxation of mineral property has been
the occasion of considerable discussion
before this legislature and a law on the
subject of the taxation of mineral
rights has been adopted by the legis-
lature.
1t is expected that the state will OBJ
tain considerable revenue in the future
from the taxation of these rights and
also from the taxation of royalties from
mining property. The taxation of min
ing property does not contemplate the
taxation alone of properties which are
being worked but also a taxation at a
mineral rate value of tracts of wild
land on which minerals are located and
which it is believed are of more value
because of their mineral rights than
the mere valuation which they obtain
as tracts of wild land. The Laursen
bill which was introduced early in the
session and which received final pas
sage in the senate recently aims at the
taxation of these properties.
Another very important feature of
the mineral survey will, however, be to
give the citizens of Wisconsin some
adequate idea of the real value of the
states mineral property. There is not
much known in regard to the real value
Of the mineral properties OF Wisconsin.
There is an estimated value, it is true,
ON the mineral resources of the state
but it is more on less an estimated val
ue and no definite figures have ever
been obtained as to how long the min
eral resources of Wisconsin are likely
to last or as to how much ore this state
will probably produce from the various
mines that are being worked before the
mineral supply is exhausted
1t is generally believed that the sur
vey will show that the mineral wealth
Of Wisconsin, is much greater than most
people imagine. The ore supply III
Southwestern Wisconsin is of a very
valuable character and is according to
competent figures, much greater than
most people consider. There was little
opposition, however, to the bill prOvid-
ing for the mineral survey of the state.
Among the reasons for this fact is said
to be that it is believed the mine own
ers themselves will generally welcome
an official estimate on the capabilities
of Wisconsin from mineral stand
point. There was an amendment slip
ped over into the bill in the assembly,
however, which many people think
weakens the bill and makes it less
available as working measure.
The original bill provided that the
Wisconsin state geological surveying
corps which is to have the power to
make the survey should have the power
to call upon mine owners for all records
in regard to the value of mines and
their oduciIg power and also the
amount whichit costs to mine the prop
critics. The bill, by reason Of the as
sembly amendment, has been changed
so that the surveying board will not
have the power to compel the produc
ton Of the original books of the mine
owners when the geological survey is
made but will only have the power to
Ib4ulIG tSIdbtjuSHLS W bC p1CpnlVh Wy
the mine owners themselves in regard
to the values of their properties and
the working results which are being
obtained from them.
1t is stated that If these statements
are correctly made they will answer
the purpose, but the opponents of the
amendment believe a mistake was
made in the Incorporation of the amend
ment in the bill and that more would
be accomplished by the measure and
more accurate results obtained if the !
bill had not been amended. IT is said
also the railway commission has the |
power to place experts on the books of
railway companies. to ascertain the cor
rectness of statements made by the
railroads in regard to their business and
that the proposed geological surveying |
corps would be in much better position
to carry out the work as it is planned
if it were given the same power.
The amendment was placed in the
bill when the measure was up for final
no csa na In tho assam bly having hpan