The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-11

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assessment in Griggs county of $685.,
sS4. The assessment is therefore 81
per cent more than it should have
been, according to the claims OF the
Tax Increase $351 ,4s4.
In 1915 the Northern Pacific
paid taxes Of Ss7s,520: for 1917
the county tax rolls charge them
with S1,02S,O O3, an increase OF
1851. 4s4. The company claims
the taxes are excessive and illegal
to the extent Of 3s43,667, which is
approximately the amount they
ask the court to set aside.
The Great Northern taxes OF
they are f1,236, 1855, and they are
asking the court to concel an al
legged illegal excess Of &412,32l
Tax Commission.
In 1915 the old state board Of equal
iZation assessed the Great Northern
company at &20,152,04s, and the
Northern Pacific at SIC, 1S2,s97, The
state tax commission. in 1917, after
an investigation extending over q
long time, held that the Great North.
ern was worth full value. $sS,494,7T2
in North Dakota, and that the North
ern Pacific was worth Ss4,S3s,2 s2.
They recommended to the state board
OF equalization that the roads be as
sessed at Is per cent Of full value,
which would result in an assessment
OF $24, $685. 93 against the Great
Northern and $21, 207,073 against the
Northern Pacific.
Claimed Plan Excessive.
When this recommendation came
before the board OF equalization, the
railroads also appeared and evidence
and data were presented on behalf Of
the railroads, establishing. according
TO their contention, that the valuation
by the tax commission
was in fact excessive to the extent Of
about 90 per cent.
The board Of equalization disre-
garded the claim Of both the tax COM
and the railroad representa-
ives, and increased the valuation Is
Der cent over that recommendation
" the commission.
The Farmers Railroad company re-
.ites about the same cause for COM
llaint as the other roads.
Difference In Cass County.
The difference in taxes in Cass
county as levied by the state board
Is compared with the tax the railroad
insist should have been
ssessed, is $31, $685. in the case Of
he Great Northern, and 25,0OS.4S in
he case Of the Northern Pacific. The
treat Northern tax as fixed by the |
tate board assessment is S94,099.69 |
n Cass county, and the railroad de- |
lares that it should not have ex-
eeded $50, 1914.
In the case Of the Northern Paci- |
c, the tax assessed is $76,025.31. |
nd the company insists that IL |
houldn't have been required to pay |
more than $50.O16.sS.
Ready To Pay Part.
In their papers, filed with Clerk Of |
'ourt ]. A. Montgomery in Fargo |
his morning, the railroads recits !
heir willingness and do tender to tle |
everal counties the amount of tax |
hitch they feel they should be re- |
uired to pay. This step is taken, IL |
! explained, as a measure OF reliev- !
1g the individual counties from the !
that would be created |
v their failure to realize on the rail-
Dad taxation prior to March /. the /
ate that taxes become delinquent, |
nd before which date the railroads |
ave always paid their taxes.
II is proposed that the counties ac-
spt the portion offered as part pay
rent Of the taxes now assessed, the
alance Of the tax to be paid to the
Ounties only in the event that the
ourts decide against the railroads.