The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-10-28
]. H. Fletcher's Vindication.
BATTLE GROUND,
Oct. 23d, 1876.

EDITOR INDEPENDENT:
My attention is called to an article
in the Democrat affecting my official in
tegrity, coming from certain persons
who are ashamed to let their names be
known. The figures my accusers have
used are in some cases correct, but they
have been manipulating to answer their
own selfish purposes.
All the unimproved land in this coun-
ty except that lying adjacent to Van
couver or the rivers, invariably valued
at 1925 per acre. OF the 9lO acres OF
land owned by S. w. Brown, $50 acres
are in the remote settlements, and con-
sequently valued at Sl.25 per acre or
SSl2.5O; this leaves 260 acres lying
north of Vancouver about two miles,
assessed at 81 ,412.20. This land lying
up toward MIR. Tooley's, is generally
considered worthless for farming pur-
poses, while the timber is partially gone.
| valued 30 acres of the southern por-
ton of Mr.. Browns tract at $50 per
acre, so as to make it compare with
that owned by MIR. Whittier and others
in the vicinity. Mr.. Winters ten acre
tract is highly cultivated and lying on
Main Street, while Mr.. Brown has Il
small house with only about ten acres
improved on the entire tract which lies
back from the road. OF this 30 acre
tract, but 10 acres are improved. Now
$40 per acre will be a high valuation
for the 20 acres unimproved, leaving
the 10 acres improved valued at s4OO,
or $40 per acre, clearly showing that it
is valued at least SIS per acre, higher
than MIR. Winters land, or amy other
unplatted land in that vicinity. In
this connection ] wish to state that IL
nursery is not assessed with the land, it
being personal property and valued as
such.
Those lots lying west of Main Street
owned by Messrs. Ranck, Whittier and
others. are known to be the most vaiua-
bic unplatted real estate in the county,
and to contrast this land with the ui-
improved tract owned by Mr.. Brown,
only shows the ignorance or malice OF
those m.king the attempt. The asscr-
ton that land on the Washougal and
Chellatchc is assessed higher than Mr..
Browns is so glarinSly false that it does
not need comment, and one can only
use the boys reflection when kicked by
the mule, 'sconsiler the source"
The orphans referred 10 are, sup
nose mon residents, and in the absence
of an agent to attend to the case | had
to copy from the roll OF my prcdeccs-
-or. VIII the Democrat please inform
the public who it was thai went into the
District Court and made oath that he
was worth certain sum, and when
called for list of his property could
only think of fourth that amount;
or Of the other individual who forgot he
owned threshiug machine, and L had
to interview HIM Il second time. But
then it is only i:l Republicans who seek
to cvadc the law, Oh yes.
! think the people will bear me ont
in the assertion that | did my best to
equalize the taxation in this county;
those who have had experience know
how difficult a task this is. Some of
my political opponents are trying to
make capital out of an assertion that |
made about three years ago, to the at
feet that an assessor should be able to
appraise all the property III this county
in sixty day. At that time was not
aware of the law requiring Assessors to
take the census of their respective coun-
ties biennially. To enumeratc nearly
four thousand people and ask all the
questions required by law, and also to
make out report covering the whole
ground is no light task, and those who
are now ccnsurlng me are either ignor-
ant of the amount OF labor performed,
or are working for party purposes.
am willing my bills should be com
pared with those allowed former Asses
sors ; in that case do not think | will
suffer by the contrast.
l think the people will investigate for
themselves Irrespective Of any mans
accusations.
have many warm personal friends
among the Democrats OF Clarke Coun-
ty, and | am pleased to know that those
noisy individuals are not sample OF
the intelligent men of that party. In
conclusion Mr.. Editor allow fhe to state