The record-union., 1894-08-21
OBJECT TO HIGHER ASSESSMENTS.
Several Counties Heard by the State
Equalizers.
Yuba, CoIusa. Glenn, sutter and Yuba
Explain Why Theirs
Should Stand.

Butte County had the first innings anu
was represented by Supervisor c. l.
Reynolds, J. NJ. Nelson, j. w. Gass. A.
G. Norton and = Smith.
Mr.. Reynolds stated that there had
been general falling off in value. not
only in lands, but in other property. Inc
price of land has fallen and there is no
sale for it. Even the choice lands around
Chico have deprecated with the rest.
Mr.. Nelson said that the value of land
should be based on its productive power.
The land is growing less productive and
the price at which it has been held has
been steadily decreasing. Land around
Durham is assessed in many instances Tor
more than it is worth. There have been
no improvements, III fact improvements
are deterloratlng.
Mr.. REYNOLDS instanced well bred
horses and colts on the ReavlS ranch,
which were taken last spring into Ne
vada and the owner had stated that 1t was
doubtful if he ever went after them, as
horses were worth so little.
Mr.. Norton said there had been de-
crease on realty of 10 per cent. ADOBE
lands had been raised, but some lands
had decreased so that land that had been
assessed at $50 per acre will not bring 30
per acre and could not be mortgaged for
that amount. He knew of a number OF
cases where not half the amount land was
assessed for could be borrowed on it.
In the foothills there is no sale Tor
lands, and the only sale known of was
for 81 % per acre, for grazing purposes.
Supervisor Bell said that the value OF
land in the colonies depends on the water
rights and improvements. Some of them
are short on water and have suffered this
season. Many have gone into fruit-rais-
u ~ of16 how No
money to keep it up with. Some of the
colony promoters cannot supply the
water as agreed, and the producers suffer.
A case was cited where first mortgage
OF 1850 was held on 500 acres near
Palermo. The Bank of Shasta held q
second mortgage, and when the hrst
mortgage was foreclosed had to lose its
mortgage. Several similar cases were
cited, property not fetching the face OF
mortgages. a year ago agents OF San
Francisco firms were going through the
county asking people to borrow money
from them. They do not come any more,
nor are the local money lenders Ioanlng
any money on land.
Assessor Smith gave list of personal
property sold last week for l,500 which
was assessed for s., 800. 1t Included $50
tons of hay, a part ownership of a thrash
ing machine and barley crusher, nine
teen mules, twenty-five horses and
1dIR6 Obu6I DIOp6lbJs IL 10 ll1O
only sale of personal property held Tor
some time. Land that was assessed two
years ago for SO per acre does not now
sell for S25. Land was assessed last year
at S25 which subsequently the court con-
firmed the sale of at SIS. He cited many
instances where land was sold at much
less than the assessment, and also gave
comparisons between this years assess
ment and that of last year. showing how
property had been reduced this year.
coLUsA coUNTY's PLEA.
Colusa County had the next innings.
Supervisor Arnold stated that the main
reason for the reduced assessment in that
county was that large quantities of wheat
which had been assessed the year before
had been shipped out OF the county.
Other property had not as rule, been
assessed lower. There has been no boom
there, but steady increase in the value
of property. The county has a new As
SCISSOR, the old one having resigned, and
he had noticed that a new Assessor al
ways raised the tax-roll
There has not been much difference in
the past two years. In 1892 the outside
realty was assessed at Sl0,05S. $50, and in
1894 at SO, I62, $50. The principal falling
oil was in personal property-largely on
account OF wheat, as before stated-and
also on account of the depreciation in
live stock values. The speaker bought a
uOIS6 1dSb WGoh 1OE gODt w HlCA SdI dRO
would have brought $3.50, and that was
fair indication of the change in values.
Probably four-ffthS of the money owed
in Colusa County is owed to San Fran
cisco banks and persons, and much of the
money last years wheat brought was
sent there.
The assessment this year is as large as
in 1892, the best year the county has ever
had. The Board of Supervisors had at
the last two meetings discussed the prop
Osition of asking the State Board for re-
duction. Money is very scarce there. He
knew parties who are wealthy, who are
paying Is per cent. interest. He thought
that land was assessed in his county up to
its full actual value. 1t has deprecated
greatly in value. and the best is assessed
up to $50 per acre, and he did not think it
should be assessed any higher.
GLENN COUNTY.
Glenn County was next to the bat, and
Hilbron entered the box and pitched
questions at its representatives. Super
visor Hewlett said he was satisfied that
Glenn County was assessed higher than
any of those surrounding it. The new
Assessor had played his part there aso
and whooped up the assessment for 1892
and 1893. The county has been retro
grading for seven years past, but the
county did not know it. Some years ago
there was land craze, and people bought
lauG ana W6nb III QGDb lOT III. 1O6 lali0
will not produce such crops as il did years
ago, the yield having steadily fallen of.
He did not know of mortgage in the
county that If it fell due To-day could be
renewed. Bankers refuse to loan on the
land now who were eager to do so years
ago. The Glenn estate is trying to bor-
row money in Europe now to carry it
along, as it can get none here. as land
does not yield so much, it has fallen in
value. Where there were a thousand
cattle on a hill, there is not a cattle on a
thousand hills now.
While the people were willing to pay
their just share of taxes, they did not
wish TO pay more. lie thought this
county was assessed 10 to 10 per cent
more than Colusa. Butte County's lands
have higher commercial value than
those of Glenn.
Colgan read figures of the assessments
since 1898, showing that those of Colusa
and Glenn had kept pace with each other.
Mr.. Hewlett read figures of sales dur
ing the past year, showing that the prices
realized were only slightly more than the
assessment He instanced an estate that
was appraised at $50 and was assessed at
$50. and said that the administrator was
not able to get an offer of over $40.
Deputy Assessor Featherstone and
Milton French explained the difference
existing between some appraiSelneuts
and their valuations on the Assessors
roll. Parties appraising the land did not
90 to see ii, or had not seen it for years
The hill land which ten or fifteen wears
ago supported many cattle and horses
will do so no longer. The tilaree and
wild oats are gone.
Mr.. Hewlett called attention to the fact
that there was partially completed
ditch. under the Wright bill, for which
the county has $500, ,000 in bonds outstand-
ing, which are virtually mortgage on all