The record-union., 1892-09-03
THOSE HEARILESS EQUALIZERS.
They Add Another Day of Misery to
San FranCiscans' Lives,
Some Awkward Queries That Could
Not Well be Answered-Fresno
and Santa Clara.

IcUyubIs IeDIeSGitluB Inc AlldLtlC Si4d
Pacific Railroad Company, submitted
various statements in regard to the rolling
stock which the board considered subject
to taxation in this State, and upon which
the company ask for reduction.
This rolling stock consists of very
limited number of cars and engines
temporarily or permanently in the State,
and does not include that which comes
and goes over the roads. The list OF
rolling stocks given consisted of the fol-
lowing, valued in aggregate at Sl25,OOO:
Nine standard way-cars, seventeen
Water-cars, twelve combination box
cars, one flat car, five passenger engines,
seven freight engines, one switch engine.
a number of the ears were represented as
being used as station, or living, cars.
Mr.. Snyder submitted atfidavits of +.
X. Gable, superintendent of the road,
making these showings. He explained
that nearly all of the business OF the
road was through business, and that
upon about go miles OF its road the in
come did not amount TO y, 600 per month,
aside from the receipts from through
business. He represented that most OF
the rolling stock Of the road was assessed
IN Albuquerque, \. NJ, where the head
quarters of the company are located. The
Pullman sleepers on the road were as
sessed to the Pullman Company in Ill
inois.
a discussion ensued between Mr.. Sny-
der ana the board, in which the latter eX-
planned that the Southern Pacific rolling
stock was divided up in various States in
its assessment. They made number of
pertinent inquiries in regard TO the
values fixed by the Atlantic and Pacific
Railroad Company on its rolling stock,
the impression seeming to prevail that it
was very low.
Mr.. Beamer told Mr.. Snyder that he
thought rolling stock was al home any
where on its tracks, and that if the rule
prevailed Of assessing it all at home this
State would have a good thing III the
Southern Pacific alone.
Mr.. Hebron suggested that the en-
Cines of the road under consideration
We're only valued at tWO-thirdS OF the
Southern Pacific engines. Some of the
cars, too, were not assessed much higher
than vehicles" Were in San Francisco.
Finally, the board took the informa-
ton given by MIR. Snyder under consid-
Grafton, and that gentleman withdrew.
SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS
Was then taken up, Mr.. Siebe, the AS
SCISSOR, being placed, figuratively, on the
rack. On the question OF the assessment
OF bank mortgages, a long discussion of
these valuable documents followed.
Mr.. Siebe was asked if he knew of any
instances where San Francisco property
was assessed above its real value, and he
could cite none. He said, however, that
there were numerous cases where it was
assessed too high, as compared with that
III other counties of the State.
Mr.. Briggs, a Deputy Assessor, stated
that San Francisco property had been de-
preciating for four or five years, and that
business was not more than 70 per cent.
Of being as good as it was five years ago.
lie argued that purchases of property,
such as had been made by Messrs Fair
and De Young, in which they had paid
false value for real estate, under peculiar
circumstances, had caused an unjust ap-
probation Of other property. Fair is said
TO have offered 100000 for the Masonic
Temple, presumably to get the location,
which is 75NlG0 feet, for pet scheme OF
erecting an elegant block thereupon,
Mr.. Briggs instanced this as showing
that prices offered in rare instances like
this cannot be taken as a criterion of
actual values, and that if other property
near by was assessed according to this it
would be manitestly unjust and IRA
tional. In his opinion the actual value of
the property in question was about $780,
600. 1t is assessed for Sl9S, coo. He thought
San Francisco property was assessed high
enough, and held that there was nothing
on Market street assessed for less than 60
per cent. of it's value.
When asked by Mr.. Beamer if he knew
OF any property in the city assessed for
its full cash value, Briggs brought up the
wIll-o'-the-wisp subject of what was
meant by cash value. How was that to
be exactly arrived at?
FLUCTUATING VALUES.
He thought the only way was to predi-
cate upon the assessment OF 1891, to q
great extent and enlarged upon the fine
Tn1finn pAnStantlyy cpintr 10
out that the element of time was init
mately and inseparably connected with
San Francisco values, and there seemed
to be no standard by which the actual
cash value Of the city's realty could be
gauged.
The Deputy Assessor proved himself to
be loaded with figures and information,
and he was versatile and argumeutative.
lie went into a summary Of the work
done this year by his office, and gave a
description of the system of 5O-vara and
lO9-vara arrangements Of property that
would have confused Confucius, but
which never phased
THE sALARATUs BOARD.
According to Mr.. Briggs estimates.
this years assessment was raised to an
increase of Is 32-l00 per cent. on property
throughout the city, and be particular
lied many alleged victories over evasive
values.
When the versatile deputy had stated
the increase or raise of values Mr.. More
house wanted to know how, when and
Where he got his starting point from
which to guage values, and his questions
led 10 long quest after Ineligible ideas
Mr.. Briggs finally said: y on know.
gentlemen, that this is a very knotty
problem, don't you?" and he evoked a
general assent.
The last question asked Mr.. Briggs was
the usual corker:
DO you know of any property in the
city assessed at its actual value?''
''BUTCHERTowN," FOR INSTANCE.
Here Mr.. Briggs arose to the emer-
gency, distinguishing himself as the only
San Franciscan who is thoroughly and
completely wise and. withal, consistent
BE replied with becoming modestv that
he did, and thereupon he said that unfor-
tunate section, burdened with an assess
lnent upon its real true, actual and incou-
troverubie value was bounded by Bernal
Hights and Railroad avenue This
unique and unfortunate part of the city
IS known under the pastoral appellation
Of "Butchertown.'
Here in this little rural and romantic
vale live the only citizens of the Great
city by the Golden Gate who really and
truly are taxed for what they are worth.
STRUCK IT AT LAST.
The State Board has expended two
wearisome days trying to find this spot.
and now, ifthey take Butchertown values
as base, they may be able to az least find
out an approximate standard for valuing
the Palace Hotel, the Chronicle building,
Florence Blythe's possessions and other
spots in San Francisco that are evidently
valuable, but which have no sure and
liked character.
Alessrs. Siebe and Briggs were congrat-
niated by the board upon the good work
they have done in their efforts to
stralghten out the assessment roll of the