Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-14

equalization in that it had not secur-
ed the same ratio of reduction that
the board had granted to other clas-
sifications Of property.
| The representative of the Short Line
finally summed up his argument with
plea for a reduction of $4,000, 900 in
the total valuation placed on that
roads property in Idaho. 1t was shown
that the branch or subsidiary lines OF
the Short Line are not paying and
that in order to carry on its work in
building into new territory In this
state that road does not want to be
blocked from doing so by high valua-
tons and high taxes.
Echo of Wer Heard.
Even an echo of the war was heard
in the arguments OF common carrier
representatives. In placing the plea
of the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul
before the board the representative Of
that road stated that the outbreak of
war in Europe had crippled that line
as it had done others in this country
through the stagnation OF business
along the Atlantic seaboard. It was
said that within comparatively
short time 5000 men had been laid of
! by the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul
on that part OF the road west of the
! Missouri river. Many OF these men it
was claimed were engaged on con-
struction work in Idaho and as they
could do no other work they would
soon be in a starving condition, but II
the road could secure a reasonable re-
duction in taxes it might be able to
go ahead with future work.
For every 81 that the Chicago.
Milwaukee & ST. Paul earns that road
during the past year spent $1.10 was
the claim laid before the board. 1t
was also cited that the expense for
construction work Of this corporation
in this state is 200 per cent greater
than the income; that the name OF
the Chicago. Milwaukee & Puget Sound
Railway company, organized by the
Chicago, Milwaukee 6 ST Paul has
passed into oblivion: that the loss
for that part of the system in Idaho
for the last fiscal year was $507.-
600; that the tax bill last year paid
by that road Is over seven times great
er than the tax bill OF 1909; that the
! Idaho taxes are five per cent OF the
earnings OF the road; that under the
assessment of the board OF property
, OF public service corporations and
, combined they paid 81 OF every S422
J taxes collected; that the railroads
paid 81 taxes out OF every $40 taxes
, collected in the state The Chicago,
. Milwaukee & st. Paul asked that this
} year the board do not assess its
! branch line properties for more than
! S11.0 600 per mile or its main line for
J more than $4,000.
Demonstrates Economy Praotieed.
AS an example OF extravaganza on
, the part o; county officials and econ
omy on the part Of railroad officials.
two samples OF bond paper letterheads
. were laid before the board by the re-
preventative OF the Chicago. Milwaukee
& St Paul Railway company who de-
clared that the president of that road
down TO the smallest official allowed
! to use railroad stationary used paper
J to write on with brief uniform head
!. ing containing the name Of the road
! and which cost 50 per 1000. while the
Z other sample OF county official in
Idaho contained the names OF Il coun-
ty officers, was the finest kind OF
!. bond paper and cost $40 per 1000.
. I read a notice posted in the Owy-
! hee hotel here today warning people
! not to expect hotel Accommodations at
y Great Falls because people were be-
ing turned away" said the Chicago
Milwaukee's representative. Il do
! not notice anything like that here or
: anywhere else in Idaho. over in Mon
: tana our railroad is assessed $17.5OO a
: mile. Here in Idaho il is assessed $50,
600 per mile. over in Montana they
are celebrating the opening OF part OF
= the electrified system"