The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-07-13
TAXATION.

i TAXATION.
No re asonsble man will deny, but that
most property in the United States be-
longing to individuals, and corporations,
(other than religious) is subject to taxa
ton, and that "a right to tax is q right
to destroy"
IL therefore becomes question OF vital
Importance to man, be he farmer Of linn
tied means or capitalist of practically
boundless resources, as to what proper
ton of the eross earnings derived from
his investment must be deducted there
from, and applied to the payment Of
taxes.
The amount Of tax to be raised 10 gov
erned by the amount to be expended.
The rate OF levy Is governed by the amount
to be raised, and the assessed valuation
Of the property upon which the rate 10
levied.
Therefore where we find economical
administration Of government, together
with great property interests subject to
assessment, we find q low rate of levy,
and proportionately low taxes.
Yakima county possessing such physi-
cal conditions It is reasonable to assume
that the rate OF levy will be diminished
from year to year, until it reaches
minimum that will be merely nominal.
The principal reasons for this are. the
vastness Of the area of its arabic lands.
the extremely low cost of constructing,
and maintaining good roads. and the
minimum of crime, condition which in
variably exists in farming community.
Comparatively few acres Of the broad
domain of this county are under culuva-
ton. One fourth of it being as yet un-
surveyed, and exempt from taxation.
One fourth is withheld from the farmer as
an Indian reservation, not subject to tax
alton. and the remaining half being but
partially cultivated, entails the entire ex-
pense Of operating to that portion not
owned or controlled by the federal gov
eminent.
Consider county containing Eve thous-
and Eve hundred square miles, or three
and one half millions Of acres one third
Of which, under skillful hands, may reach
the highest state Of cultivation known to
man. Land tbat will yield to such an
extent that it viii produce ten per cent
per annum on valuation OF one thous-
and dollars an acre. and this 10 q conser-
yative estimate, for 1t has In some in
stances produced ten per cent on q vslua-
ton Of eight thousand dollars an acre.
To be extremely conservative let rs as
sumo that only one third of the county
win be placed under that high state Of
cultivation Of which it Is capable, we
then have one million acres, which II
valued at its minimum annual producing
capacity would be equal to avaluation Of
sixty dollars an acre, producing an as
sessed valuation Of sixty millions Of dol
lars, which II the levy were at the rate Of
one mill, would give tax greater than
the entire tar OF the county both real and
personal for the year 1892.
This calculation is on basis far below
the probable value OF the property. for
while 1t is an admitted fact that most OF
the land In Yakima county is absolutely
worthless 10 lite natural state, the moment
man takes advantage af the magnificent
water courses which nature has apparently
placed there for his use, and irrigates the
land its value is Immediately established,
and 1t becomes worth what II will pro-
duce.
/ The enormous capital now being ex-
pended in building one Of the most COM
plete systems OF irrigation bitches on the
globe, will on larger scale demonstrate
what has already been accomplished by
the individual, and prove that the land
under cultivation will yield annually,
products to the valae OF two hundred
and fifty dollars per acre. On this val
uation in order to raise tax OF one hun
dred thousand dollars (forty thousand
dollars more than is now necessary would
, require levy Of less than four one-thou-
|. sandths Of one mill, or IL the levy for the
, year 1892 were in force it would produce
; tax Of three and one-half millions Of
dollars, an amount far greater than the
entire tax Of the state.
I These estimates are made without re-
| gard TO personal property which when
considered, would make still greater re-
auctions.
The physical conditions, natural re-
sources, and rapid development Of Yak
ina county are increasing the amount Of
taxable property at u rapid ratio. which
together with . conservative. and honest
administration of county affairs, must
ultimately reduce taxation to rate so
low that 1t cannot be considered in the
, light Of burden. JAY SEDowrcK,
In Fred r. Reeds Yakima County"