The Railroad That Tried to Take Its Tracks Off the Tax Rolls
Northern Pacific receivers tell Thurston County that its right-of-way and stations are federal property—and therefore exempt from local taxes.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Olympia, Aug. 23.—[Special.] The Northern Pacific receivers have filed with the Thurston County commissioners a statement claiming that their right-of-way in this county, including stations and all property whatsoever, is exempt from taxation, and protest against its being taxed. This claim is based on the fact that the United States court having appointed receivers, the property virtually passes to the government. The claim is also made that much of their land is not patented. In accordance with this claim they refuse to pay for acres for which patent has been issued, which leaves 6,584 acres in this county free from the burden of taxation.
“The property virtually passes to the government.”
Then as now, powerful corporations looked for legal ways to keep their property off the local tax rolls, leaving counties to fund roads and schools with what remained. The Northern Pacific's receivership argument is an early Northwest example of the endless fight over who pays for public services.
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