The record-union., 1891-07-24
THE MORRIS GRANT"
Farmers Disputing the Assessors
Valuation Thereof.
"A Lively Session of the Board of Equal
1zation-More Testimony to
be Given To-day.

Yesterday was the day fixed by the Su-
pervisors to hear testimony on the pro-
tests filed by J. E. Camp and John
Rooney against the assessments made
upon certain portions of the Haggin
Grant. The complainants own and cult
vate bottom lands on the south side of
the American River, east of Brighton, the
Haggin property being on the north side
of the river and opposite to theirs.
On the Haggin ranch there are several
pieces of bottom or bench land along the
river and below the high bluffs, these
benches having been formed chiefly by
changes in the course of the river chan
mel. The lands on the south side are all
in high state of cultivation, while only
small portions Of the benches and
islands" on the other side are put to
more important use than pasturing stock.
NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE FIGURES.
The south siders are assessed from SIS
to 500 for their orchard, hop, vineyard
and alfalfa-growing lands, while on the
north side 100 acres have been assessed at
S66 per acre, 321 acres at $l5, and another
$40 acres at SIS. All except the 100 acres are
high uplands. Messrs. Camp, Rooney
and others on the south side object to
Iu0SG uSuTGS DIS DSlllR 10 Il6Il.
They say they are satisfied with their as
sessments, but not with those placed on
the Haggin land, hence the protests filed.
Both sides were present in force yester-
day, the Haggin interests being repre-
sented by superintendent John Mackey.
Considerable time was lost during the
two hours of the morning session by
wrangling between the contending
parties relative to the method of proceed
ure, and on several occasions some very
sharp personal remarks and rejoinders
passed between Messrs. Camp, Rooney
and BOwles on the one side, and Mr..
Mackey on the other. At times it looked
as if personal collisions would result but
better judgment prevailed and anything
like violence was averted.
JOHN MACKEY ON THE STAND.
1t was decided that Mr.. Mackey should
first be sworn and catechised relative to
the character of the Haggin land. He re-
ferred to the recent visit by the members
of the. board TO the grant and their in
spection OF the portions under dispute,
and said there were thirty-one acres which
he was willing to have raised, and he was
also willing to have such land as was
growing hops assessed at Sl50 per acre.
When asked by Camp if there were not
300 acres of bottom land below Section 90,
Mackey referred his questioner to the
map on the wall.
THREATENED SQUALL.
A number of questions were asked by
Camp which Supervisor Jenkins did not
like, and Supervisor Bates also objected,
declaring that there was too much dilly-
dallying.
Here a sharp passage occurred between
William Bowles and Mr.. Bates, the
former declaring that the latter had no
right to dictate TO ia aIpayers what line of
questioning they should pursue.
Camp intimated that when the men,
bers of the board visited the grant the
other day they had been purposely de-
ceived regarding the location of certain
portions of the land.
This brought Mackey to his feet. His
customary smile had flown, and there
was war pictured IN its place, but Chair
man Greer managed to restore order.
Then Mackey said that if the board had
any doubt on the subject he would escort
them over the ranch again and pay for
the services of an engineer to accompany
them.
THE CHAIRMAN GETS IN.
Various irrelevant matters were debated
between the complainants and Mackey,
when Chairman Greer rose and declared
that it must stop, Supervisor Bates back
ing him up.
Before Mackey left the witness-chair he
incidentally remarked that he was in the
East when the Assessor visited and as
sessed the property, which induced Mr.
Bates TO add that he was glad to know
this, as it would settle the stories that the
Assessor had been wined and dined by
Mackey until he was quite disposed to
place the assessments at figure agreea-
bic to his host.
JOHN ROONEY TESTIFIEs.
John Rooney then gave his view of the
situation. under oath He regarded the
north side land as good as that on the
south side. Most of the questions asked
him were by Messrs. Camp and Bowles,
who drew from the witness a number of
statements that seemed to be satisfactory
to Mackey.