The record-union., 1894-08-24
SAN MA4EO'S ASSESSOR EXPLAINS.
How She is Handicapped in Ocean
Freights.
Her Assessment Increases 81 Per
Cent. While San Francisco
Only Increases 40.

San Mateo County had its turn before
the State Board of Equalization yester-
day, being represented by Assessor
George w. LOWE and Supervisors G. H.
Rice, G. G. Ross and w. B. Lawrence,
who presented their explanation of the
falling off in the assessment roll of over
81. 100000.
Assessor LOWE said the greater part OF
the fall was on outside lands, which
amounted to $4,000. In the first place.
1t was assessed too high last year. and, in
the second place, it is not worth so much
as it was last year. The assessments in
that portion of the county along the cleo
tric road were raised on the prospects
ahead for the property. 1t has fattened
out. however. and Baden, from which
great things were expected, has gone
down. Much land will not sell for
enough to pay the mortgage. and in some
cases the second mortgage is worth moth
ing. lie had reduced the assessments on
account OF the depreciation. The land on
the San Mateo side of San FrancisQuita
Creek. the boundary line between San
Mateo and Santa Clara, is assessed for
double what that on the Santa Clara side
Clara, and the quality of the land is the
same in both counties. The main reduc-
ton WAS on the coast, the rough lands
and along the border of Santa Clara
County. In these localities there had
been reduction of 10 per cent, shading
1t Oft as 1t approached better lands. There
Is one vineyard of seven acres in the
county OFT which the owner makes liv-
ing. With this exception, there is not an
orchard or vineyard in the county that
pays expenses. 1t is not fruit county,
as Santa Clara is. He did not think the
most valuable lands in his county were
eq uai in value to the most valuable lands
in Santa Clara. He did not think that it
made any difference what land was
worth in other counties. He had assessed
on the basis of what land would sell for
in his county and what could be Dor-
roWed on it. He believed that, notwith-
standing the falling off, the assessment is
too high and should be lowered
For instance, the Timothy Hopkins
place was bought in 1887 Tor SlS9.000;
with 100000 in improvements on it, is
assessed for $3.50 per acre. San Mateo
buys shingles from Humboldt County
for 81 10 per hundred-cheaper than she
can manufacture them from her own
redwood timber-haYlnP no railroad to
haul lumber on and having TO pay 81 per
thousand for hauling. The timber land
was sold for Sl2 per acre. and is assessed
for 50. There is no road by which lum-
Der can be hauled from much of it.
Mr.. Rice says that it has been estimated
that railroad built into the timber belt
would cost S250,000 and when that was
done the timber would become valuable
and the land could be assessed at $40.
Until such a road is built the timber is
practically valueless.
MIR. Ross stated that in Humboldt
(N~,,r - o11rn l,,.N -
cent. of the whole cut. In San Mateo the
percentage of clear lumber is only about
30. mill was started there and the
proprietor abandoned it. finding he could
buy Humboldt lumber cheaper than he
could manufacture his own.
Mr.. Rice said the assessed valuation of
the county had increased in the past
eight or ten years so to s. per cent, while
its population has increased very little
No county except Los Angeles can show
such an increase. From 1880 to 1890
there was only an increase OF forty-six in
the population of the county.
Mr.. Hebron said he could not under
stand why there was no sale for land in
San Mateo. He knew it was a fact, for
he had examined the record.
MIR. Ross said that Marin County, with
good facilities for shipping, has only in
creased its assessment y per cent. since
1886. while San Mateo, which has To pay
So 81 per ton for ocean freight charges.
and has only one good port. has increased
hers 81 per cent; San Francisco, 40 per
cent; Santa Clara, Do per cent; Santa
Cruz 40 per cent; Alameda, 63 per cent;
Sonoma, only per cent; Contra Costa
II per cent; Sacramento, 81 per cent. In
1856 Marin was assessed for more than
San Mateo, now ii is assessed for about
IS, 30000
Mr.. LOWE said that very strong
effort was on foot by the residents to have
the northern part of the county joined
to San Francisco, in order that it might
escape such heavy assessments They
say they would not have such burden
of taxation to bear. He hoped the board
would see that it would not be lust to
raise county already assessed higher
than it should be.