The record-union., 1895-08-22
SUFFER-, YUBA AND FRESNO HEARD.
They Explain Their Reduction in
Assessments.
What Hydraulic Mining Has Done
for the First 1wo-Rais1nS Do
Not Produce Wealth.

Not Produce Wealth.
Sutter County was represented yester-
day morning before the State Board OF
Equalization by Assessor A. A. Nc Rae.
Chairman William Hake and l.. D. Nash.
J. Weis, ]. E. Orr and John Burns, Su-
pervisors, George Ohleyer. L. p. Farmer
and A. II. Wilbur, citizens and land
owners.
George Ohleyer said that instead Of
raising Sutter County it should be low
cred at least % per cent. The general
depression had seriously affected the
farmers, and the low prices for products
have run them steadily into debt to an
extent that must ruin many OF them.
There was an important factor in estl-
mating the value of the river lands and
that was sipage from the river. Much OF
the most valuable land, situated west of
Yuba City, is seriously affected by this
cause, in some places the sipage render
ing it almost worthless. Plans have been
formulated for getting rid of the sipage
water, which it was hoped would accom-
plish that end They would entail con-
siderable expense, probably 81 or 50 an
acre, but if it was done the board could
then with justice talk of raising the as
sessment for such lands.
Mr.. Wilbur spoke of the taxes for levee
purposes, amounting IN some districts to
81 90. besides the expense of cutting a
proposed drainage canal for the land. lie
was trustee for five farms in the county,
and if any of the board would pay the
taxes on the property they could have in
return the total receipts of them. The
property has neither income nor prospect
i've value, because there is no outlook for
anything better-in the immediate future,
at least.
There was a farm near Best, he said
that is assessed at $50 an acre, which had
been offered to him lately at $40, and he
would not give $50 for 1t. If he had not
some little property in Santa Cruz, Monte
rey, y olo and San Luis Obispo, beside
some Government bonds and bank stock.
he would not be able TO pay the taxes on
his Sutter County property. One piece
OF his property had been abandoned
for cultivation because the filling up of
the river bed had made the sipage so bad
that no crops could be raised on it. For
merly Cinnamon and others paid $500 or
$500 year rental for it, but no one would
rent it now. 1t was assessed for Sl5 an
acre, which should not be more than 81,
as the land is valueless. In regard to
mortgages, he said that many farms are
heavily mOrtgaged, and as they would not
fetch nearly the face Of the mortgages
the owners are allowed to retain them. as
being better tenants than other persons
would be. They think they are working
for themselves, but they are not, as they
must ultimately lose their places.
Assessor McRae cited a number of
pieces of property to show that his as
sessments had been fully up to value.
The Charles Davids estate was assessed
in 1894 at o23; sold tor $40 and assessed in
1895 for $40. The Whyles estate, west of
YuDa City, sold in i've ana ten-acr tracts
for S64; assessed for $40 and $50. The
Comstock estate was assessed in 1894 at
S24 and $40; ordered sold by the court
and bid of $50 80 made; assessed in 1895
at $40 and S24. Il. b. Pierce was assessed
in 1874 ct $50, in 1888 al S29; sold for So
Fred DAZZLING was assessed in 1894 at So
and $50, in 1895 at S2S and S24; he Will sell
it for SO. The estate of A. K. Boutwell,
was assessed two years ago at 50. 900; its
sale at s., 200 has been confirmed by the
court. Lot 1,760 WAS assessed in 1894 at
s., 420; bid of $1,000 was not confirmed
by the court II was offered again in
1895 and sold for 200. and assessed tor
SS.0S2
Mr.. Wilbur is a director in the City
Commercial Bank of Santa Cruz, and in
answer to question as to the bank as
sessment, he said that he thought the
bank should not be assessed for its de-
posts or capital stock.
Equalizer Arnold took the statement of
the bank to the Bank Commissioners,
which showed that OF all its assets the
bank is assessed for S400 on furniture that
cost s. 6S7 and $50 for a typewriter. There
was over 81, 900 in county bonds that did
not appear on the tax roll as solvent
credits, besides several other items.
Equalizer Cheesborough showed that
Sutter County returned over $4,000 in
money and solvent credits, while Santa
Cruz County returned only about $50, 900,
and asked Mr.. Wilbur ii he thought the
proportion was about right The latter
answered that he thought Sutter County's
returns were about right, but would have
thought that Santa Cruz might have
made a better return.
Mr.. Ohleyer said that the county had
made no exhibit at the Worlds Fair IN
order to advertise ITSELF as other counties
have done. but 1t was because it had used
its surplus money to make an uphill
tight for the preservation of the waters of
the State from being fillad up by the
debris from hydraulic mining. The fight
concerns the whole State, but three or
four counties have been left to make it
alone. Formerly the whole State con-
tributod TO ii, but there was SO much
complaint from the southern people
about paying their share that the law was
changed and these counties now have to
pay the bill alone, While the whole State
is now taxed to build restraining dams
for the miners inlorder that they may still
continue to send down the mountains
into the valleys. Under these conditions
there is no money left to spend in adver
Using, as it has to be kept at home for
self-protection. There are 40 more
thorough, economical farmers in the
State than those of Sutter County, but
they are too heavily Handicapped.
Mr.. Wilbur said there were very few
men in his county to-day who would not
sell their farms for the assessed value
and many of them with 20 per cent. re-
duction from that value. They had no
crop in 1893 and this year, and large
crop last year. They had thus had only
one crop in three years, but had heavy
taxes to pay each year.
Mr.. Ohleyer said that although there
was large crop in 1893, the business de-
probation had set in and it brought very
little income.
Assessor McRae said that the question
had been asked why Yuba County could
not with equal justice ask for a reduction.
Yuba County has two cities-Marysville
and Wheatland-which contained much
good property and that raised its assess
ment-roll. Suffer County has been as
sessed too high for years.
Mr.. MorehOuse said he had always held
that the land in the State had been as
sessed far above its real value. and the