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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1907)
THE MORNING OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1907. INCREASE TAXES OF CORPORATIONS Public Service Franchises As sessed Much Higher Than Last Year. BASED ON NET EARNINGS Assessor's Plan Promises to Compel Users of Streets and the Railroad Companies to Pay Their Full Share of the Taxes! HOW ASSESSMENTS " WERE IN CREASED. Additions to 1907 tax valuations of public servioe corporations in Mult nomah County over 1906 valuations: Street franchises $ 1.000,000 Other personal property... 10,000,000 O. R. & N. personal property 17.430,700 P. Ry. L. & Power, per sonal 1,352,605 P. Ry. I & Power, fran- chises, Portland Gas, personal . . Portland Gas. franchises , Home Ttlephone, personal Southern Pacific, personal Southern Pacific, fran- chises Northern Pacific, personal. Northern Pacific Terminal. personal Total new revenue with 15 mill levy. $300,000. OS5.000 278.430 210.000 "J1I7.S60 333,430 1 25.0O0 444.UU0 105,410 'Includes those marked . Taxes of .public-service corporations In Multnomah County will be heavily in creased in the collections to be made next year on the 1907 assessment, which County Assessor Sigler yesterday placed in the hands of the County Board of Equaliza tion. Street franchises in Portland are assessed closely up to net earnings capi talized at 10 per cent, and railroads are assessed in the same way. Were the Multnomah method adopted by other As sessors In the state, the total valuation put on all railroads throughout Oregon would be close to their $70,000,000 commer cial valuation, estimated In 1904 by the late State Tax Commission, and the J75, 000.000 estimated In that same year by the United States Census Bureau. The tPtal assessed valuation in 1904 was $10,815,915. Mr. Sigler has based his assessment on average net earnings for the last five years, in order to even up the most pros-, perous years with others. From gross earnings he deducted operating expense and reasonable repair charges, and the remaining sum he capitalized at 10 per cent to determine the commercial value of the business. To arrive at the commer cial value of street franchises he deducted from that latter sum the value of real estate used In the conduct of the busi ness and of machinery and other improve ments. The final remainder he took as the value of the street, franchise. Based on Net Earnings. In. the caso of railroads he capitalized net earnings to determine the commercial value, Including those of rolling stock, tracks and right of way. in the case of the O. R, & N. he fixed the value per mile In the personal roll at $47,000 Increasing the figure from $20,000 of last year. In-the case of the Southern Pacific main line he raised last year's personal assessment of $20,000 per mile to $33,000. Before fix ing the O. R. & N assessm.. -t per mile he allowed $500,000 from the capitalized value for sidings. In addition to the O. R. & N. mileage assessment is $16,180,000 for money and accounts, ' this being the company's surplus. This method could not apply in every case, and then Mr. Sigler had to make an arbitrary assessment. This he did with the street franchises of the Orejn Water Power A Railway, the East Port land Gas Light Company, the two tele phone companies, the two telegraph com panies, the Portland Hydraulic Elevator Company, the North Pacific Terminal Company, United Railways. Oregon Elec tric Company, Southern Pacific and O. R. and N. As a matter of fact, the method of assessing net earnings worked out successfully as to street franchises, only with those of the Portland Rall-w-ay Company. The capitalized value of franchises was actually less than as sessed value. In the cases of the Port land Gas Company and the Portland General Electric Company. Inasmuch as the complete consolidation of the Portland Railway, the Portland Gen eral Electric and the Oregon Water Power & Railway will not be accom plished until next month, the property of each Is assessed separately. Assessments Are Compared. Street franchise assessments this year, compared with those for 1906 and 1905. are as follows: Company. Tear 1 Tear Tear ' "- 1B0S. I lflOfl. I 1907. Port. Ry Port O. E O. TV". P O. R. N... Port. Gas E. Port Gas. . P. S. Tel Home Tel . . . . to. Pac (Fourth st.).. (Public lease). N. P. Term... V. IT. Tel Postal Tel Port H. Elec. Vnltert Rys... Or. Elec $ 600,0001$ 7.10.0001 Totals 200,0O0 25.0O0I 6.0001 100.000 is. ooo 200.000) 20,000 2,1.000 ls.ono' 3.0no 6.0OO 2."iO.OO(l 50.000 1O.000 12,1.000 25,000! 2S0.00OI 100.000 25,000 83.0OO 1.1. 0OO! 1B.000 5.0001 $1,175,000 aso.ooo 50,000 20.000 290.000 70.000 250,000 100,000 50, 000 100,000 -I- 75.000 15.0O0 ln.ooo .1,000 11. ,100 5.000 $1.655. 000i$2,6U,500 .$1,213.0001 It will be noted that the heaviest In crease is in the franchise assessment of the Portland Railway Company. For the three constituent companies of the Portland Railway. Light & Power Com pany, the franchise increase over last year Is $oo5.000 which means that Com pany will pay about $8000 more taxes next year on franchises than Its three companies paid this year. In addition, that company's other personal assess ment Is Increased about $700,000 for the property which means abou $10,000 more In new taxes next year. These assess ments do not include valuations of real property. Tax on Levee. Property. Another Important additicn is $100,000 to the personal assessment of the Southern Pacific, for Its use of the public levee at the foot of Jefferson street. This prop erty is owned bj the city but the rail road has exclusive use of It and has been paying no taxes' on lti franchise. Other new franchise assessments are those of the Oregon Electric Company and the United Railways Company. The tax assessment shows about $20, 000,000 Increase In assessment of personal property of public service corporations. Of this sum ,16.000,000 represents surplus ur the O. R. & N. as assessment money, notes and accounts, hitherto no taxed. Of the remaining $4,000,000 about $1,000,000 represents additional assessment on fran chises to Portland streets. The other $3,000,000 represents Improvements of var ious sorts in rolling stock and machinery of corporations and also the Increase in assessment of railroads from $20,000 a mile to $47,000 In the case of the O. R. & N. arid Northern Pacific and to $33,000 in the case of the Southern Pacific. Their Personal Assessments. The personal assessments of the 11 leading public service corporations are as follows: 1906. 1807. Portland Railway $3,100,520 $ 4.083.600 Port., Gen. Elec 1.110.000 1,306.500 O. W. P-. 084.980 808.005 O. R. A N 1,447,970 18.878.670 Portland Gas . 812.6O0 1.007.320 East Portland Gas 2.12.7O0 336.410 Pacific States Tel 8S7.00O 886.300 Home Telephone 175,000 472.300 Southern Pacific 307.480 700.920 Northern Pacific 331.600 . 776.5HO N. P. Terminal 93,270 108. 6S0 Total $9,263,120 $29,405,410 The assessment roll for the whole county. Inclusive of all kinds of property, amounts to $232,400,000. which. when equalized, Mr. Sigler thinks, will be re duced to about $231,000,000. This will be $EO,000.000 greater than the equalized as sessment roll of 1906. Of the $50,000,000 Increase, about $28,000,000 will repre sent land and buildings and $32,000,000 will represent personal property. Of the $32,000,000 personal increase, about $20,000,000. as has been pointed out. represents additional assessments of public Bervice corporations. The other SAFEGUARD Ofl FOOD City May Employ Bacteriolo gist to Make Tests. WOULD CHECK DISEASE Committee Prefers Special Official to Employment of State Bacterl- ologist, as Proposed by the Health Board. Within the next few months Port land may have a city bacteriologist to MANY STREETS INVOLVED IN MAYOR'S CHARGE OF TRESPASS AGAINST -NORTH PACIFIC TERMINAL COMPANY ! v N I L I J I J , torpor j . t 1 wjnTii riirnJ i orr - MAP Ob" DISTRICT ALLEGED TO BE! WITHDRAWN FROM PUBLIC USE. The accompanying illustration shows the streets Mayor Lane charges the Norcn Pacific Terminal Company with occupying Illegal ly, either by fencing them In or by obstructing them to the use of the public by constructing buildings on them. The Terminal Com pany has been asiced to explain by what authority it occupies the dif ferent streets enumerated In the complaint of the Mayor, who charges that Fourth street has been closed in with a fence extending entirely across the street at a. point about 94 feet north of Hoyt street, thereby enclosing all that part of Fourth street north to Irving; that Irv ing is also enclosed from the west line of Fourth westerly to a fence which runs from a point in the south line of Irving about 66 feet east of Fifth northwesterly to where the east line of Fifth intersects the north lino of Irving; that on Kearney, between Seventh and Eighth, a building extends' across the street completely obstructing the same; that on the same street between Eighth and Park another building also completely blocks the street and because, of these two obstruc tions Eighth ano. Park streets from Kearney to Marshall are useless to the public; that Ninth from Johnson to Lovejoy is partly obstruct ed; that Seventh from Lovejoy to Northup Is fenced In; that Lovejoy is fenced on the west side of what Is known as new Seventh while Marshall is fenced off on both sides of the new Seventh street and the street east to Seventh and west to Tenth ta blocked; that Park be tween Northup and Overton also has a fence across It. - The Mayor also charges that a small shed has been consctructed in the street between Eighth and Park and Is being used as a yard, office. - The Mayor asserts that the Terminal Company occupies these streets to the exclusion of the public without any authority by fran chise or permission of any kind from the city authorities. He has de manded either the vacation of the premises so occupied or the pay ment by the transgressing corporation of a reasonable rental. $12,000,000 comes from new assessments of various sorts on personal property. The $47,000 per mile assessment on yie O. R. fc N. and Northern Pacific applies to 40.7 miles of O. R. 4 N. and 17.7 miles of Northern Pacific. The $33,000 per mile assessment applies to 19.66 miles of Southern Pacific. TOWNS BURY THE HATCHET Places on Coos Bay Plan Consolida tion, Slaking City of 12,000. The towns around Coos Bay have de cided to stop wasting their efforts and energies trying to get ahead of each other, and hereafter will endeavor to pull together for the common good, according to Walter Lyon, who is in Portland from that section. It Is proposed, and now practically agreed upon, to cover the towns of North Bend, Marshfield, Empire, Bay Park, Coos Bay City, Bunker Hill and Blanco with a blanket charter by means of the initiative. To avoid all local feeling, it Is proposed to adopt an entirely new name for the new city. If the scheme goes through. So far no suitable name has been suggested. If the towns 'all come Into one organ ization the new city will contain over 12,000 inhabitants and Include over 20 miles of water front: which will give it the greatest length of harbor line of any city on the coast except San Fran cisco. A comprehensive plan of water mains, sewers, streets and harbor dredging will be put Into effect just as soon as practical after the new city is organized, . The Legislature will not be appealed to, for the local taxpayers believe that they can carry through the consolida tion more satisfactorily under the Initiative. This will be the first time, at least In the history of this state, that the initiative has been used for this purpose. The consolidation is only being considered at present, and so far no definite legal steps have been taken toward this end. Allege Breach of Contract. OREGON CITY. Or., Oct. 21. (Special.) The Pelton-Armstrong Company has filed a suit against the Willamette Pulp & Paper Company for $5318.75,, alleged to be the balance due on an agreement for the purchase of 7,000,000 feet of hemlock loss and 1,000,000 feet of spruce logs. The plaintiff company states that the de fendant 1s guilty of breach of contract. "Portland the Inland Port." HOOD RIVER, Or.. Oct. 21. (To the Kditor. 1 sufeg-est as a slogan for Port land: "Portland, the Inland Port." By using two small words and transposing the word 'Portland.'" a slogan la evolved that will have a real meaning for the whole world. V A. L. H. Metzaer saves you money on watcb.es. look after the purity of its food eup ply. A movement to create such an office and equip a laboratory in the City Hall was started by the ways and means committee of the Council yesterday. At Its request, the Health Board will ascertain the cost of es tablishing such a department, and will report to the Council. It was proposed to the committee by Health Officer Pohl that the city se cure the services of State Bacteriolo gist Matson. As Dr. Matson is paid by the state, he would not be permitted to accept another salary from the city, but he offered to make such tests as might be desired if the city would pay $50 a month rent for larger quar ters than his present ones in the Mar quam building. - An additional $50 a month for the employment of an as sistant was asked for. Members of the committee believed Jthat the" city could well afford to em ploy a chemist, who should give en tire time to the work. Although it would take about $5000 to equip a laboratory, besides the salary of the bacteriologist, it was thought that this plan would bring the beet results." Dr. Pohl also approved of this plan and said that it would be better than Join ing the work with that of the State Bacteriologist. The appointment of a city bacteri ologist. Dr. Cottel said, would bring about a general inspection of the city milk supply, for which he has been fighting. He believed that much good would result and that the number of cases in which disease is spread by foods would be greatly reduced. Dr. Cottel was willing either to secure the services of the State Bacteriologist or to establish a new position under the Health Board. If a laboratory is established in the City Hall, it is probable that this will be done under the appropriation for next year. For some time the Health Board has desired such equipment, but has hesitated to ask for it because of the expense involved. The sentiment expressed by the committee yesterday was entirely friendly and indicated that the laboratory will be installed the first of the year. ' SAILORS ENJOY CONCERT Fine Programme Given at Seamen's Friend Society Institute. There was an enjoyable time at the Portland Seamen's Friend Society In stitute, corner of Third and Flanders streets, last night. The concert for the week was given by the V. I. A."s of the White Temple, under, the direction of Mrs. O. P. M. Jamleson. There was a large attendance of sailors, and the efforts of the ladles were most en thusiastically appreciated. The pro gramme was bright and entertaining, the sailors themselves taking part In it. The work done among the sailors entering this port by the Portland Sea men's Friend Society, though but re cently begun, is growing greater as the season goes on, and it is much ap preciated by the men who come here. The German sailors of the British ship Tola and the German ship Slam have presented the institute with a German flag as a token of their feelings to ward the Institute. This shows that the Institute is a power among the men. Following is the programme of last night: Piano duet. Miss Maude Belcher and Miss Inez Bushnell. Volcal soio. Miss Angela Macpherson. Readings. Miss Leola Siznor. Song, w.- A. Herald, second engineer British steamship Tymerie. Violin solo. Miss Alda McDanlel. French song A. J. Muller. Piano solo. Miss Isabella Beckwith. Song, J. Carey. British steamship Inveran. Song. Miss Edith Wlckham. Marseillaise, sung by a chorus of 50 French sailors. The concert closed with the National anthems, .then refreshments were served and three hearty sailor cheers given for the women of the White Temple. JURY TRIAL IS DEMANDED Chinese Gamblers Angered by Increase- In Customary Fines. Portland's Chinese gamblers resent the edict of Municipal Judge Cameron, who recently announced from the bench that he would levy heavier fines in gambling cases where guilt was proven, and as a direct result have resorted to trial by jury. Nine alleged fantan play ers, taken at 80 Second street last Fri day night by Detectives Kay and Klen. len, will go to trial today before six of their peers. Great surprise was ex pressed by the court officials when they learned that the Chinese had decided upon a jury trial, as this is the first Instance known in Portland where the gamblers of Chinatown have resorted to such tactics. Though Judge Cameron formerly' as sessed the Chinese gamblers $15, they made no protest; but as so many cases of the kind were brought before him tha court decided that it was time to atte:upt to put a stop to the flagrant violations of the anti-gamlng ordi nances, and as a result announced that he would Increase the fines. The in crease was to taite effect October 15. Acting upon the order of Judge Cam eron, the captains of police who have to deal with Chinese gambling cases, also Increased the amount of bail, from 25 for fantan players to $50, and for "bosses" from $50 to $100. This act was at once the cause o great con sternation among the Chinese gam blers, who sought, by various means to bring about a reduction in the sum of ball demanded but without avail. Last Friday night, when Detectives Kay and Klenlen raided the establish ment at 80 Second street, the nine al leger gamblers strongly resented the demand of Captain Slover for bail of $50 cash for each player. A meeting of. Chinese gamblers was held in a Second-street establishment Sunday, at which it was decided to take the cases to a jury, and accord ingly notice was served upon Judge Cameron yesterday morning to draw a panel for the case. WARNS THEATRICAL MEN District Attorney's Office Calls At tention to Child Labor Law. A circular letter warning all theater managers that they will be prosecuted hereafter for allowing children of tender years to appear on the stage, was Issued yesterday by Deputy District Attorney Galloway. This letter Is in line with the policy of the Juvenile Court, to keep minors away from the theaters during school hours, and to compel the children to attend school, in accordance with the schooj law of the state. The letter fol lows: Dear Sir You are liere-by notified that from and after the date of tMs letter, the Juvenile Court law relative to the employ ment of minors In the giving of entertain ments, will be strictly enforced. You are further notified that all managers and own ers of the theaters so employing minors, will be prosecuted under the contributory delin quency act of this state. ROBERT GALLOWAY. Deputy District Attorney. USE AUTO IN RAILROADING Surveying Crews Find Gasoline Ma chines of Great Service. An automobile has been added to the equipment of the Harrlman system at Portland. The machine was bought re cently for use in taking parties of offi cials about the state when they cannot reach thoir destination by railway. The automobile has come to stay, say rail road men, in practical railroading, for it is. so useful in going over country through which it Is planned to build a Let Reason Talk to Habit Ask Coffee Drinkers if They Are Entirely Well "What's the use to slug oneself every morning and go through life sick and miserable, unable to "do things" and make money T There's a Better Day When Good Old Common Sense Says Change to POSTU It's easy and "There's a Reason" Read "The Road to Wellville." in pkgs. It may show you how to be well and happy. M When it is stated in these adver tisements that Ladd's Addition is a 20-minute walk from the Postoffice, do not confound the statement with the idea that it is a 20-minute ride. The fact of the matter is that the walk from the Postoffice is no longer than from the corner of Second and Wash ington streets to the Multnomah Club. You really have no idea how close Ladd's Addition is to the shopping center and business district of the city until you actually visit the place. You will be surprised at its proxim ity. If you prefer to ride, almost any Oregon Water Power car, boarded at First and Alder, will take you to Ladd's Addition within 5 minutes.' King's Heights, mind you, is further from downtown than Land's Ad dition. It is also true that street cars in abundance are within 3 minutes' walk from almost any part of Ladd's Addition. It is the most convenient part of the City of Portland. Try it and see. LadcFs Add ition F. W. TORGLE SALES AGENT 106 SHERLOCK BUILDING Corner Third and Oak Streets EAST 16TH AND HAWTHORNE Ladd's Addition railroad and to spy out the land that for this purpose alone It is much in demand. When business calls officials to the In terior of the state, where long and tedious stage journeys are necessary If the usual methods of travel are followed, the com pany automobile is loaded into a freight car and sent away to the nearest rail road point. Next to the private car, the automobile is the approved method of travel over the state by officials. At the present time the automobile is being used by Harrl man officials In the interior of the state. LEWIS AND CLARK, MUSKET Only Flintlock With Mahogany Stock Found -In Montana. HELENA, Mont., Oct. 21. (Special.) A. Kogan, of this city, Is refusing very fancy prices for an old flintlock musket which he picked up this Summer along the Yel lowstone River In the county of the earrie name and. according to all accounts, in the trail of Lewis and Clark. The weapon had a stock of mahogany which was badly rotted. Cabinetmakers declare that such a piece of wood should last an even hundred years and Mr. Rogan believes that the musket was owned by a member of the Lewis and Clark party. The weapon was made In Lancaster, Pa., and persons who have examined it declare that no firearms like it have been made for over a century, all of which supports the belief that the gun belonged to some member of the Lewis and Clark party. Metzger saves you money on watches. Elgin watches. Goodman's. 211 Morrison. CrciiiiMMirswMfciZiZiiiIww lifts nt" " - n riiwvm Imf- fcmiinmaisiiiif i -- No man reaches the degree of happiness to which he is entitled, until he builds his own home. It's inspiring to have at least one place on earth that a fellow can really call his own. The cosiest homes in Portland are be ing built in Rose City Park right now. Have one of your own. It's easy. MA n TM A FJcA tsro T tf JI2 f S O AT TELL EVERYBODY! Colonist Rates from Ajll Parts of the East to Oregon Will P r e y a i 1 on the O. R. & N. And Connecting Lines, until' the LAST DAY OF OCTOBER, 1907. FROM CHICAGO, ?33.0O. FROM ST. LOUIS, $30.00. FROM OMAHA OR KANSAS CITY, $25.00. . . C0BEESP0NDINGLY LOW RATES FROM ALL OTHER EASTERN CITIES ' OREGON'S OPPORTUNITY Every department of industry greatly in need of labor. Wages maximum. Crops abilant everywhere. Plenty to eat.' Land cheap. No severe climate. Tell 3'our friends iu the East about it. Encourage them to come. . for relatives, friends, employes or others. Deposit cost of ticket with any O. R. & N. agent and he will telegraph to any part of the United States or Canada immediately. Saves delay and troubtw of corre spondence. Go and see him. He will tell you all about It. Fares Can Be Prepaid : x . -