The record-union., 1894-09-22
ARRAY OF FACTS AND FIGURES.
Controller CoIgan Talks About Rail-
road Assessments.
He Gives the Different Rates Fixed
Since 1850. That People May
Draw Comparisons.

The San Francisco papers, in their con-
slant effort to divert attention from the
fact that San Francisco has for years
evaded the payment of its just proportion
of taxes, have persistently viIitied the
State Board of Equalization, charging
that by the reassessment of the Southern
Pacific Railroad it has robbed the tax
payers of the State. They have been
very careful not TO answer the statements
made as to the amount of the assess
ments on their own property, preferring
to turn the eyes of the people in another
direction, that their own shortcomings
might go unnoticed.
They have charged us with greatly
lowering the railroad assessment" said
Controller Colgan, in conversation with
RECORD UNION reporter yesterday,
"but the facts do not bear out their state
ments. Here are the figures from 1888.
The Central Pacific is assessed for 746 rs
miles each year from that time. The
present board has been in existence
nearly four years. In 1888 the road was
assessed for Sl5,000.000; in 1859 for Sl3,-
600, 900; since that time it has been as
sessed each year Sl3,00O,000. The Califor-
MIA Pacific road was assessed from 1883 to
was out Of proportion to the other roads,
and in 1892 it was reduced to S2,000,000 To
eQuaIlZe its assessment with that of other
roads, and for 1893 and 1894 it was assessed
at the same figures. The road has 1880
miles.
The Northern Railway Company had
in 1888. l4S.40 miles, and was assessed at
2,2Z5, 900. In 1889 and each year there
after the mileage was 3o5.25. In 1889 it
was assessed at S3, 800 900, IN 1880 and 1881
at $4,000 900, in 1892 at s., ,052, 900, and in
1898 and 1894 at s., 100, 600.
I'm 1888, 1889 ana 1890 the South Pa
citic Coast Railroad Company had 81 So
miles of road, and was assessed at 81, ,275,-
600. In 1891 it had 1886 miles, and was
raised to $l,300,0O0 In 1892, 1888 and
1894 it had decreased to So 10 miles, but
was still assessed al 81, 300, 900 for each OF
those years. In 1888 the Southern Pacific
Company had l,022.34 miles of road, as
sessed AT Sl4, ,000, 900; in 1889 it had !, ,493.T
miles, assessed at $4,000, 600; in 1890 it
had l,522.50, and was assessed al Sl5, ,000,-
600; in 1891 it had 1.654.S7 miles, and was
raised 10 Sl5, 900, 900; in 1892 it had l,70l. 40
miles, and was assessed at S15. 800 900; in
1898 and 1894 in had 1870, and was as
sessed sic, 900 tor each year.
The papers L have spoken of harp on
the reassessment up TO and including
1887, but are careful not to say a word
about the asSessmen on these roads for
1888, 1889 and 1890, which was made by
the preceding board. If you will notice
the figures you will see that the present
board has either taken the assessment of
the former board and kept it at the same
figure, or has raised it, with the excep-
ton of the California Pacific, which, as |
said, was lowered to eQualize it with the
others.
''In 1888 the Northern Railway Com
pany was assessed at SD, 993 70 per mile.
In 1889 it was reduced to S9,555, and in
| 1890 TO S7.7S7 10. This board has raised it
so that 1t is now assessed at SS,046 73 per
mile.
"The paper which has been most per-
sistent in its attacks is Democratic. The
majority OF the board from 1880 to 1890
were Democrats, while the board for the
last four years has been Republican. See
how the assessments have jumped up
and down between 1880 and 1890, and
give some good reason for it if you can.
In 1880 the Southern Pacific was assessed
for Sl0 4S3. .5lS in 1881, Sll, ,739 9l5; in 1882,
SI8 226, 1856; in 1888, Sl3 600 900; in 1884, 1885
and 1886, Sl7, zoo, ,O00 in 1887, Sic, 800 900; in
1883, Sl4, 900, coo; and in 1889 and 1880, $I5,-
100000.
"The Central Pacific was assessed for
$12. 239, 456 in 1880; in 1881, Sl5, ,055, 800; in
1882, $1,000, $50; in 1883, SIS, 100000; in
1884, S24, ,000,0 900; in 1885, 50, 000.0 900; in
1856, $4,000, 900; in 1889, 5000, 900; in
1855 S15 900, 000 in 1889 and 1890, SI3, ,000 900.
The Northern Railway Company was as
sessed in 1880 for 81, ,492, 1853; in 1881, ST.
543, ,050; in 1882, 81 l43, ,OOO in 1883, 81, ,OO0,-
600; in 1884, $2, 300, 900; in 1886, 81, zoo, ,000
in 1887, S3,000,00O; in 1888. 81, ,225, 900; in
1889, S3, 900, 900, and in 1890. S3,000,000. Is
not that lively iumDing?O