All these great differences are
due to the fact that contiguous coal
lands ar exempt where a mine is in
operation and a tax on the "net
ostput" is levied in lieu of an ad
valorem tax. The Springer interests
pay taxes on a value of .$1,323,531
which exempts 650,000 acres of con
tiguous land from additional taxes.
Thus with some slight additions,
their average tax was .$2.81 an acre.
The Chandler interests hold 2,539
acres but were assessed on a net
output of $335, or about 13 cents
per acre.
It' has been shown repeatedly
that 4,000 to'6,000 acres is as much
coal land as can possibly be ' "con
tiguous" to a shaft, due to the dif
ficulties of bringing coal under
ground a longer distance. The'
Springer interests have six shaf.
