The record-union., 1893-08-30

longing to Haggin.
THE RIVER LANDS.
Returning to river lands, he defended
MS assessment on them, saying that no.
body was willing to lend money on them.
Inc banks have loaned some money on
land which has been overhowed, and the
risk of broken levees and floods is con-
sidered so great that capitalists are afraid
10 make loans. The large owners are
goDDIlng up the small holdings.
NATIONAL BANK PRIVILEGES.
he gave a statement of his assessment
OF prominent business firms in the city
ana also of the banks, showing that d. 0.
Mills q Co. pay on $4,000 for furniture
and nothing else, and that the national
banking law does not allow him the
privilege Of inspecting their books. and
they claim that the money belongs to the
depositors, and the bank pays no taxes
on 1t. The other banks showed him their
books.
The pipe lines and bitches in the county
amount to very little.
Colonel Men asser. DIR. Caples, Thomas
Mcdonnell and others, farmers in the
county, We're present and agreed that
land and stock OF various kinds have de-
preclated in value; that wheat land had
produced only from one to three sacks of
wheat to the acre, which is worth only
ninety cents per Genital. AS land will not
bring expenses of crop it is only worth
what 1t will produce for pasture. They
are unpleasant truths, but it cannot be
helped.
THE HAGGIN GRANT.
In the afternoon the board propounded
some more conundrums to the Assessor,
and he answered them clearly and
plainly, showing himself thoroughly
conVersant with the varieties of land in
question.
Mr.. Irvine said that portions of the
grant claimed as bottom land is really
nothing but stones and willows. He con-
sldered that the land, as whole, was
well assessed. There is one section that
ne would not accept as gift if rendered
him.
In the 10000 acres there are good and
bad spots, and he had assessed the tract
all the way from 81 to $50 an acre. Some
OF 1t that is assessed at from Sl5 to so an
acre Will not produce five sacks of grain
to the acre.
Mr.. Colgan said that when he went
over to inspect the grant he had to ride
through mile OF water on the public
road.
The Sacramento officials were then ex-
cused, and the board called up
ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Assessor Leckie of that county in
formed the board that the tax-rolI Of Ala
media had been increased by him 81 ,OO0,-
600 this year.
UNRELIABLE NEWSPAPERS.
Mr.. Beamer called attention to a state
ment i'll San Francisco paper that one
particular piece of property was assessed
at $4,000 and was worth Sl75, 900.
This, Mr.. Leckie said, was absurd He
knew the property personally, and it is
not worth anything of the kind.
Mr.. Beamer said the Bulletin had
charged that Chairman Morehouse had
been favoring Alameda County, and if
true it was reflection on all the members
OF the board. He desired to know what
the Assessor thought OF these statements.
Mr.. Leckie replied that Mr.. Morehouse
had always pushed him to do his full
duty In the way of assessing property,
and the only differences they had ever
had were on this subject.
Mr.. Swan remarked that no sensible
person paid any attention to the growls
of papers like the Bulletin.
oAKLAND's LOSS.
A loss of some 100000 in the Oakland
assessment Mr.. Leckie said, was caused
by its absorption by Berkeley. Continu-
ing, ne said that another item of loss in
Oakland was accounted for by the fact
that there are now more vacant houses in
Oakland than ever before.
Amt you little short on money, Mr..
LeckieY inquired Mr.. Beamer. "A
hundred thousand dollars is not much
money for Oakland banks and capitalists
to have"
Mr.. Leckie replied that he thought the
banks had given him very fair state
ments.
From Fruitvale to San Leandro, some
four miles, the land was assessed all the
way from $500 to IS, 200 block.
Low-PRICED STOCK.
Have you any sheep in your county?"
asked Mr.. Swan.
Very few," replied Mr.. Leckie; "thev
run them across the line into Santa Clara
before can get to them"
You don't keep up the reputation of
your wines any better than Napa," said
Mr.. Beamer II see wine is assessed at
only eight cents per gallon"
our vineyards don't amount to
mqch," replied the. Alameda Assessor.
We're turning the hogs into them"
Mr. Beamer thought that 81 head was
pretty low for ordinary sheep, and he
also criticised the assessments on bIooded
horses, mules and jacks.
TOWN LOTS AND WATER FRONT.
Going back to real estate assessments.
Mr.. Leckie said the Increase in the vaIue
of city and town lots more than offset the
falling off in outside property.
Members of the board then questioned
NJ A>eShlO COiCeInIng the disputed
waterfront property, and asked to whom
ne assessed it.
Mr.. Leckie replied that he assessed it to
the Water Front Company. 1t is segre-
gated on his maps and bears various val
ues. He considered that it was fairly as
sessed.
The highest assessment on citv prop
erty, he said, was 81, 900 per front foot on
some OF the Broadway property.
'hOW about YOUR cherry orchards ~,
asked Mr.. Beamer. you have some
! fines ones there. Alameda cherries are
large and juicy. like the girls in Georgia. ,
| Mr.. Leckie replied that Alameda cher
ries were no more valuable than those of
| Nacaville and other sections. He had