The record-union., 1891-07-25
THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
Another Days Inquiry Into the Hag-
gin Grant Taxes.
NoIuminous Testimony on Both Sides
What Men Say Who Have Tried
Farming on the Grant.

when the Supervisors met yesterday
1nornlng to resume their inquiry into the
Ihatter OF the complaint by John Rooney
oI the alleged inadequate assessment o.
Ihe entire Haggin Grant on Rancho de-
Paso, Mr.. Black suggested that one per-
son on each side to the controversy
should interrogate the witnesses. He
did not wish to see a repetition of the
squabbling Of the preceding day.
Mr.. Bates made a motion embodying
the suggestion.
William Bowles, an American River
farmer, jumped up and said: "Don't
you know that's unconstitutional"
Mr.. Bates called the gentleman to or
der, reminding him that there was mo-
lion before the board.
Bowles said he would like to suggest
that Supervisor Bates should not prompt
Mr.. Mackey in questioning witnesses.
Mr.. Bates denied any desire to do any
Thing of the kind, His motion was then
carried, and Mr.. Rooney selected j. T..
Camp as his counsel" while John
Mackey said he could manage his side OF
the case.
The first witness called on behalf of the
complainant was j. A. Simons, resident
OF Florln. lie had no particular knowl-
edge Of the American River bottom-land:
ne judged that the upland of the Haggin
Grant was superior to that about Florin.
he had been there but once, and that was
ten or twelve years ago.
To Mr.. Maclley witness said he raised
shout four and a half sacks of wheat to
the acre on his land. The land is assessed
at $50 an acre.
To Supervisor Bates the witness said he
raised alfalfa on his land
MI Bates said he merely wished to
prove that the alleged low-grade land in
that locality would raise alfalfa.
10 Mr. Camp witness admitted that he
Gid not know whether or not alfalfa
could be raised on the Highlands on the
Haggin Grant.
Assessor Irvine asked the witness a
number Of questions relative to assess
;ments in the Florin locality, when Mr..
Camp wished to know if the Assessor was
acting as counsel for Mr.. Mackey.
Assessor Irvine explained that his
questions had nothing to do with the
matter in controversy, but merely
wished to get information relative to the
equality Of assessments about Florin.
Mr.. Mackey asked witness what his
Land would sell for on the market, and he
replied that he did not know.
Abner Burns was the next witness
called. He resides near Oak Hill. When
he first came to the State he herded cattle
on the grant near Dry Greek. Then the
grant was well timbered. Once the opin-
ION prevailed that open land was better
shan oak land, but he believed that view
had changed.
Mr.. Camp asked witness which he
would rather have, the oak-grown land
on the grant or the plain land about
Elorin.
Mr.. Burns replied that he would rather
have the grant land, because of the tim
Der. The wood, he said, is worth more
than the land
laughter through the room, and Mr..
Mackey remarked:
YOU'RE right, Mr.. Burns"
Wltness-Wel, / guess so, / know
what Pm talking about. Laughter.
MIR: Mackey asked witness if he could
now locate the old Norris homestead and
vineyard, and the latter replied that he
could not. The place was all washed
out years ago.
Mr.. Mackey tried to get witness to give
some idea OF The market value of land in
his vicinity; but he could not.
supervisor Bates said an effort was be-
ing made to show that land on the north
side Of the American River is lust as
valuable as that on the south side and
the board would be expected to decide
whether or not such is the case. How
can the board determine what is the value
of these lands, if the owners cannot tell
what they are worth. Claims had been
made that certain property had not been
assessed according to its value, and how
could this be determined unless the land
had some market value. For his part he
wanted TO know.
The witness declared that he could not
say what land in his vicinity is worth.
Mr.. Bates said that when the county
bought piece of land from Mr. Burns
lately for a county road, Mr.. Burns
wanted 500 an acre for it.
Assessor Irvine, in response to q cues
ton by Mr.. Camp, said he had assessed
At SlI an acre land adjoining the grant
which the owners were unable to sell for
$50 an acre.
Daniel Flint testified that there are
places on the grant where the land is bet
ter than on the south side of the river.
The north side land, back from the river,
is better timbered than that on the south
side. There are little spots Of bottom
land on the north side worth from $500 to
$500 an acre. 1t is fine hop land.
To Mr.. Mackey witness said it was
about five years since he visited that por-
tiOn of the grant. He admitted that he
had piece of hop land on the north side
of the river, but could not raise hops
there on account of the quicksand. TThe
land is assessed at 800 an acre
That shows you, gentlemen,n said
Mr.. Mackey, 'what kind of hop land we
have on our side of the river"
Mr.. Flint said he had some high land
along the Consumes; it is assessed at S5
an acre, and he thought it well assessed
at that.
Recess till 2P.M NJ.