Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-06-25
Arbitration Hearing Had
With Owner and
Lessees Present
INCREASED FROM
$500 TO $1O0,O 900
Pays Owner Minimum
Rental of $4,000
Per Year.

Some idea of the profits accruing
from the mining of bauxite ore in
Sumter county came out today before
a board of arbitrators, and before
the county board of equalizers yes
terday when the owners and opera
tors of the Hatton property of 240
acres near Andersonville, appeared
to protest the increasing of the as
sessed valuation of the property from
$4,000, the amount returned to $100-
900.
After refusing compromise late
yesterday as suggested by one mem
Der of the board of equalization, who
agreed to place proposal before the
other two members of the board in an
effort to reach an agreement, the
representative of the property claim
ed their right of arbitration and the
hearing was held today in the court
room at the court house. c. G. Haw-
kins was chosen to represent the
county as arbitrator, Macon Dudley
was chosen by the Hatton interests
and ]. l.. Sparks was agreed upon
as the third man. County Attorney
Maynard represented the board Of
equalizers and conducted the inquiry
for the county, being assisted by
Chairman E. T. Mathis, of the board
of equalizers. Col. Denny and Mr.
Wright conducted the inquiry for the
property interests. This afternoon the
inquiry had not been completed,
and there was no indication as t.,
when a decision might be expected.
Raised Last Year
The property, which is owned BY
Richard D. Hatton, of st. Louis, and
operated under lease by the Repub-
lie Mining and Manufacturing COM
pany, was returned for taxation at
$4,000 last year, but was raised to
100000 by the equalizers and the
raise went unprotected until expira-
ton of the statuatory time limit. AT
ter which suitwas brought in Superior
court by W. w. Dykes, local repre-
sentative of Mr.. Hatton and the min
ing company, attacking the legality of
the levy. This suit is now pending
The property was returned again this
year at $6,800, and the new board
after spending day on the property
inspecting it and consulting records
of ore shipments at Oglethorpe and
other records, proposed to raise il
again this year to 100000. However
desiring to be absolutely fair in the
matter and to assure no injustice be-
ing done, Mr.. Hatton and other in
terested parties were notified and
they appeared before the board yes
terday, where after extended argu-
ments and consultations a compro-
mise was proposed to place the valua-
ton for this year at $4,000, with
the company agreeing to pay without
further contest the $4,000 taxes lev
led on the property last year on the
valuation of 100000. This the com
pany refused to accept and arbitra-
ton was resorted ito.
The board of equalizers found by
investigation and it was shown at the
hearing today, that the property is
leased by Mr.. Hatton to the mining
company at minimum rental of SO
600 per year, or at 81 per ton roy
atty if the amount of ore removed
amounts to more than 10000 tons in
year. The mining company has
been shipping 80 tons per day, worth
So per ton or $640 for days out
put, the board found from shippinc
records.
How Value Was Fixed
They also found material on the
ground apparently for extending the
operations of the mining company
and increasing its output. The board
took the position in fixing the valu-
alton that guaranteed return c