South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-12
ENORMOUS TAX FUND
SOUGHT TO Be RAISED
Assessed Valuation of Upwards
of Two Millions Asked BY
Officials on Water Power
and High Priced Land.

II the efforts of Township Assessor
j. o. Enger. and his corps Of tax-as-
sessing assistants. supplemented by
the aid OF the Mishawaka Chamber OF
Progress be successful. considerable
over a million dollars Will be added
TO the tax duplicate in taxes levied
against only two corporations who
own the water power OF the st. JO-
seph river in Penn township. The
above mentioned parties through at
torneys James Hennessey and Isaac
Kane Parks reported to the county
board of review Friday that il is de
sired to assess the local hydraulic
company at 400 thousand dollars,
while the Chamber Of Progress has
asked that the Hen Island dam prop
erty be assessed at a million and d
half dollars.
The latter heretofore has been as
sessed at 100000, while the former
never was assessed for more than $50
600. and this only last year. when the
Chamber of Progress took up the
matter and procured the doubling IN
the amount at that time OF the lOcdl
dam property
Township Assessor Enger has re-
ceived the figures handed 10 him Dy
the Indiana and Michigan company
who operate the Hen Island properly
and set about a personal Inspection
which caused him TO double the Hen
Island assessment fixing 1t at SAW,
600 When the assessor or one OF MS
lieutenants approached the local dy-
draufic company and asked Tor an eS-
innate of the figure of VALUATION Tor
the local dam and race, the tax OH
cial was cOldlv turned down ana IN
formed that the taxing officials would
4 "a -.
So II became necessary for the assessor
10 cast about for definite intorma-
ton as to the probable value In ms
search he discovered evidence that
the local officials of the company OF
those interested in same had testlfleu
under oath that their dam property
was very valuable indeed,-so Nalua-
HE that bv ordinary methods of COM
mutation OF investments II is reasona-
blv worth over a million. Hence the
official nut down the figures at the
usual rate of about one-thlrd OF the
commercial value, and fixed MS Ilg-
ures at the amount above Indicated.
The Michigan and Indiana company
had referred 20 their attorneys the
assessment of 100000 already fixed
upon the Hen Island property, with a
view to having the assessment lower
cd and II was intimated about the
court house that the board has al
ready been a~0roached by some one
and partly persuaded TO reduce even
tbat assessment The Chamber OF
progress insists that the officials fig
ures shall not be disturbed except TO
he raised 20 what they claim is only a
fair figure. ana have prepared Tor a
fight upon this issue. It has not
been given out what the Hydraulic
company will do on the local dam as
soesToont A wear ago officials of that
company appeared before the board
and strenuously resiste7 raise from
$4,000 10 the uresent rate OF tO'OVO
but submitted 10 the assessment after
being confronted by the attorneys Tor
the Chamber Of Progress.
1t is given out that In making TINS
wears assessments and re-valuation OF
real estate. only inside land values
have been boosted by the taxing Off
cials. and that Of the holdings or the
two companies above mentioned,
while improvements have been per
rnittpd 20 remain at previous ugureS,
or in many cases reduced.