The record-union., 1893-09-01
Afternoon Session,

Yolo County had her hearing in the
afternoon.
Assessor Chamberlain, Supervisors
Ezra Casselman, William King, John
Shirley and Frank Hawks were on hand
TO explain the situation in that county
and to show that, in addition to the gen
eral depression in agricultural products,
large portion of the most valuable lands
ID the county were even at the present
time flooded by the breaking of levees.
Mr.. Chamberlain read a list of lands
assessed which he had reduced from $50
to 9l5. They had been under water three
years IN succession and the owners had
lost their crops.
But" said Mr.. Morehouse. twas not
that $50 land assessed too low in the first
place? 1t seems to me that is low for
such land"
1t was explained that in 1889 it was as
sessed at $40 to $50 per acre. but that ow-
ing TO three successive years of flood it
had deprecated.
THE RIVER FARMS.
Thesmall places along the river are regu.
lar shoe-strings, with very little river front
where the land is valuable, ana running
away back into the tule, which is covered
with water and was not valuable.
'Dld not the residents of Merritt Island
have TO take their stock and personal
property entirely away in order to save
them when the island was flooded last
wlnter" asked Mr.. Beamer.
YES" Mr.. CasseIman answered. land
as | came down the river TO come here.
some of them were just driving their
cattle back, which they had been forced
to take into Sacramento County in order
to save them from drowning or starva-
tion."
Mr.. Chamberlain went on to explain
about various pieces of property on
Putah Greek and in other localities.
SWAN GETS EVEN.
Mr.. Swan, who, with the San Francisco
delegation, had been under a very hot
fire the day before, seized his opportunity
to roast Mr.. Beamer and his constituents
in turn. He spoke of the falling off in
personal property in y olo, and wished TO
compare 1t with that of other agricultural
counties.
1t was found by comparison that almost
every county had fallen off in its personal
property roll, Sacramento County beinp
one OF the few exceptions.
Mr.. Hebron asked if Mr.. Swan wished
to include San Francisco County in the
comparison.
81 don't care" said Swan, put it in if
you want to-"
SHEEP AND CATTLE.
Sheep, Mr.. Chamberlain said, had been
taken out OF the county into Napa. where
their owners also owned land. and a LARGE
number had also been lost.
Yes. said Mr.. Casselman. land it is
well known that nearly every hoof of
stock for fifty miles along the river was
driven into Sacramento and other couu-
ties when the water broke in"
LITTLE TILT.
At this stage in the proceedings a spir-
tied tilt took place between Messrs. Swan
and Beamer, some sharp things being
said, but good humor was in the ascend
ant and the discussion OF assessments was
resumed.
MIR. King then addressed the board, say
ing that for the causes which had been
explained there had been slight falling
of in the roll, but he thought Justly so.
y olo County did not ask for a reduction
in her assessment, but simply that she
should not be raised. She felt that she
had been fairly and fully assessed. Her
property hal not deprecated, she had
simply met with some heavy losses. The
heavy fire at Woodland and the floods
had given her a setback.
lie believed that the board had enough
experience in these matters to under
stand them, and all he asked was an i'm
partial consideration OF the case. and he
telt 1t might be safely lett in their hands.