Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1901 — President McDoel Breaks a Precedent [ARTICLE]

President McDoel Breaks a Precedent

W- H. McDoe', president of the Monon road, hrofce a precedent of some years standing by appearing in person before the State Board of Tax Commissioners Thursday morning. A railroad president had not addressed the Tax Boprd for several years until that day, Mr. McDoel said that the Michigan City division of the Monon, having a mileage of 59.73 miles, is assessed at $16,000 a mile, when it could be built anew for less than SB,OOO per mile. He said it is a losing road having only one passenger train a day. The main division with a mileage of 361.67 miles between Louisville and Chicago, said the president, is assessed at $17,600 a mile, when it could be built again for less than the assessed valuation, Mr. McDoel also asked a reduction of about one half the assessment of the Bedford and Bloomfield branch, which has been fixed at $5,000 a mile. This road he asserted, is a losing venture.