The record-union., 1894-09-01
TIE PULLMAN CAR COMPANYS KICK.
San Francisco and San Mateo COM
pany's Protest.
Tulare County Presents It's Plea and
Asks the Equalizers to be az
Lenisnt as Possible.

Yesterday morning w. Clayton, repre-
Eenting the Receiver of the San Francisco
and San Mateo Railway Company, ad-
dressed the State Board of ofEqualization on
the depreciation OF value in the property
of the road. The stock, he said, was not
worth one cent on the dollar. bat last
years assessment of S125,o00 has been
raised by the board this year to $3.50, 200.
The bonds for 81, 600 are first lien
on the property, and capitalist advanced
100000 on them at fifty cents on the dol
lar. The power-houss Is assessed for
S60.000s and only cost $4,000.
THE PULLMAN COMPANY.
]. 2. Meehan, agent for the Pullman
Car Company, took the next turn. He
did not see why the board had raised the
assessment S1S, 600 this year on cars that
were older and more nearly worn out
than they were last year.
The company had expended two and a
half millions IN cars for the anticipated
Worlds Fair travel, and 400 Of the cars
were lying idle in Chicago at the time OF
the strike.
Mr.. Colgan asked If the company had
reduced its prices for sleeping arrange
ments on account of the depreciation in
business and hard times, and Mr. Meshan
did not remember ever hearing that 1t
had.
had ever been reduced to correspond
with the deterioration of property, and
Meehan answered that he did not remem-
Der any such reduction. Rates had been
reduced in the East to meet competition.
There were the tourist cars, he said,
which were q great accommodation to
the travelling public. Before they were
introduced there was no extra charge
made for emigrant cars. The Pullman
Company fitted them up with beds and
bedding and of course charge is now
made for them.
Colgan said the tourist cars are assessed
at 81 900 each, which is about one-fourth
Of their value.
The board then took recess till after
noon.
TULARE COUNTY SPEAKS.
Tulare County had its inning yesterday
afternoon, being represented by Assessor
Alexander Gillem. Supervisor Twaddle
and Philip Baur of Porterville.
Mr.. Gillem stated that while the county
did not want to plead poverty the times
had been so bad that property had depre-
oIsted SO much that the county assess
msnt roll had dropped over $Z, ,000. 900.
Wheat raising has ceased TO be profitable
and many growers have been forced to
abandon it, in some instances having to
ApAuuO4 LnelE IaELlS also.
Beamer pulled out his little note book
and asked about this place and the other.
He found that in some portions OF the
county orchards that were set out in the
alkali land were dying, although they
grow thriftily at first. Gillem had re-
duced the assessment on some places on
account Of the ground being full of alkali.
Morehouse, when arbitrary assess
ments were spoken of, stated that a few
years ago the board ascertained that the
Assessor had assessed the land of nom
residents at s. per acre and that of resi-
dents at 81 so. He thought that such a
proceeding was outrageous and anyone
doing so should be punished.
Gillem gave a description Of various
parcels of land on which Beamer asked
questions, and gave reasons why the as
sessment had been reduced. In some
cases the water for irrigation cost more
than the land was benefited by it. Still
they talk of the advantages of Irrigation.
There is one good thing" said Mr..
Baier. ''A Californian always thinks
that the place where he lives is the best
in the creation"
Except when he comes before this
board" said Mr.. Moorehouse, and the
delegation gracefully acknowledged the
corn.