The Mankato free press., 1922-07-07
BOARD GRANTED
t. I. c. REQUEST.
REDUCED THE ASSESSMENT
TO Old FIGURE
SEVERAL PLEAS MADE
Citizens Appeal Before Equaliz-
ers; Arguments In Favor
Of Enterprise

plants of the taxpayers were
heard by. the members Of the city
council sitting as board OF equah-
zation Monday night at the city
council chambers. A number OF the
heavy taxpayers appeared before
the board and stated reasons why
they thought that their assesss-
ments should be reduced All OF
these applications for reductions
were taken under consideration
Adolph Mueller, local manager Of
the Mankato Electric Traction COM
pany, was one Of those who pro-
tested against the city's raising the
assessment of the company SIS ,0e0:
Mr.. Mueller and the members OF
the board Of equalization had quite
lengthy and friendly discussion as
Mueller did. not hesitate to state
that the company is In financial
straits, and that this added assess
ment would almost be. prohibitive.
It was brought out by the manager
Of the street car company that while
there is considerable property tied
up IN the company's hands, the aS-
sessments, he said, owing to the TACT
that it is a public utility, should
be based on the earning power OF
the road and not on the property
w. e. Olson and ]. e. Reynolds
following Mr.. Muellers statement
Of the company's conditions spoke
in behalf of the street car COM
pany. These gentlemen said that
the street car com1any is a public
service corporation which is greatly
needed in this city, The street car
company, in the strictest sense OF
the word is not "A money making
proposition, and should be taken
into consideration as an absolute
public necessity. For that reason
those gentlemen, and especially M.
REYNOLDS, said that he did not think
that one property owner would OBJ
ject II the entire burden OF taxes
were taken from the shoulders or
the company until such time as 1t -
on It's feet, and In position to
build extensions into the outskirts
Of the city.
After having the matter put up
to them in clear and concise
manner by Mr.. Mueller. and the
other gentlemen who spoke In De.
half of the company, the board OF
equalization decided to leave the
sssessment where the state tax
Commission placed 1t at $17.500,
which win not be objected to by the
street car company.
Communicates From Mr.. Mueller.
Before launching into his reasons
for asking the city board of eduah :
zation for q reduction in assess
ment, Manager Mueller presented
the following written statement TO
G .:Msnkato. July 9. 1922. city Board
Of Equslization. City Coqncn s SnaTo -
your notice Of July 1st. 1929. which was
received by US at p. m, on SATURDAY
July ist notifying us that on assess.
ment has been raised $z5.ooooo and
Mondsy. Mon sVu july T !. issa. at 7:so , m.
to hear any objections that may be
made. 49,
very short. we have not nae dd,sn the &c ui1e 1e
our objection. to this increase, or 20
prepare any figures.
.sin the whole history Of the company.
the amount on which we have been as
sessed In past years is much less than
what you are now valueing the properly.
This in view of the fact that our net
earning power has been reduced to the
vanishing point, and more during the
past two years, and our equipment and
other property depreciating more and
more each year.
knowing this, 1t seems that under
present conditions our tax burden
should be reduced instead Of Increased.
and we respectfully request that your
honorable body take into consideration
the circumstances we are laborfng un-
der-RAspectfuily yours, Mankato Mec-
trtc Traction company, by A. MueLlcrs
rrrnArinfandenf