The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-28
LAND VALUES TN.
STA ATECO VERED
BY EVIDENCE In
RAIL TAX ACTION
Interesting and Exhaustive
Information Is Being
Obtained
Competent Witnesses Be-
ing Used in Arriving at
Property Values

The taking OF testimony ,in the
railroad tax cases, which hf s been in
progress in Fargo and Grf nd Forks
for some time, adjourned over
Thanksgiving day, to be resumed on
Tuesday, Dec. 3. After few days
session in Grand Forks at that time,
the hearing will be continued at Dew
lis Lake, then Minot, and finally
Bismarck.
The object of the investigation is
to ascertain the actual value Of vari-
Gus kinds Of property, that is, what
it is worth on a buying or selling
basis, or actual value. The investi-
cation also involves the actual val
lie Of the railroads. This part Of the
case will be taken up later.
It is believed that the investiga-
ton now being made will eliminate
much of the guess work which has
prevailed on the subject of proper
ty values, for the inquiry is all un-
der oath, and actual land values are
being found. AS farm lands are a
larger part OF the states property,
their valuations are being given, most
consideration thus far.
The attorneys for the plaintiff
railroads, who are resisting the as
sessment made Of their property on
the theory that the assessment is
greater than that levied on other
properties of equal value, are pro-
ducing men from each county to
testify to land values in their coun-
ty, and are picking men who from
their business and personal know Z
edge of what lands are selltnT Tor,
can fix an average value.
Without relation to the 's,
yn1ya5 in the SlIit the inv Cd Gt 81
is developing information of eA 5fs,
ttonaI value to- the whole state ss4I
establishing actual values farm
lands, and the relative Wa. IS OF.
lands in the several counties The
values given are given by witnesses
for the plaintiff The testimony OF
fered by the plaintiff railroads, show
ing naked land values in the seyeraA
counties so far covered by evidence
follows: ,rs...,,-
Rfchland countyy-John j. MoVtusi
.S45; r. "A. Burton, sac
s45: R. L. Himebaugh, $40 tolS42;5Oc:
Dickey countyG. E Lane, S32;9o'
d. q. Greer. $S1 to $S2;E. G. Misfeiat'
$s5. 4, ,,;aasn,
ss7ss ES@oEFs %sslss s9gRtE Y $40; S5s 8. e
Temple, $35. xxy,,,ia,,,.
Ransom countN--W after IL w AltlslAh AlltllA
son, $40, Ii. "A. JuOAtHSs
Cass county-John Martin, 40 70
$50: j. p. Martin, $42:50; 3, ", Moore No ls
$3.50 to 500: Geo. ii. Holllster, 35Vi E =.
e. opfer $50 to $51 Morton Pa Page, 9 x5a sS9 e
70 $55; Aadison sEs. teeGsi a Piaf6 fS0 s52sa
Barnes county..-dIernan Winterer'
$40: Lee Combs, $40.
St,1fsman county-Frank A. Lenz,
SGT 81 Andrew BIewett. $2s.
Kfdder county,. G. .Mc.W hlnney'
S22: John Robinson, $40. -
Foster eounty--S. J. Doyle, YSb;
TrTafIl eourlty--E. X Sarles, $54'30:
Steele countyE Taigsy. s5e is1eie to Tsil s4iI.
Griggs county--E ~. ElaciA ssg sSeii'
S35: d. C. Thompson, $34 70 $50. 60
Wells county--E II, Volkman, 800.
Grand Forks county, ohm Fadden,
$3.50; w. j. Forbes, $46 TO $40; C.-s.
Dow. g45.65: j. ID. Bacon $4S.22
Nelson county--Frank Goldammer,
Walsh countc, 2; p;,.LTsoT. Lord. $42.5d; ,sa
Gunder Olson, $40; IJ. 0Brien, $3.50.
Pafnbina county - G. II. Green,
S32.50; j. j. OBrien S31 to S32.
Cavalier county-H. y. Albert, $33;
c. Is. Mcmillan, 1895; J. B. Mooney,