The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-28
ALONG THE COAST,
Tales of Woe Poured
Into the Ears of the
EqualizerS.
DIRE POVERTY EXTANT.
Citizens of Three Counties De-
pIore Their Heavy Tax
alton.
ASSESSOR SHERMAN SCORED.
Men of Solano Declare That He
Classed Unmatched Eggs in the
Poultry List.
ASSESSOR SHERMAN SCORED.

| L
| peared before the State Board of Equaliza-
| ton this morning and told the old, old
story of depreciation in values, owing to
the financial stringency of the times.
! In answer TO the question, why did
you assess the Bank of Woodland building,
which cost $4,000, for $945O?" Chamber
lain stated the building was on the point
of collapse and was positively unsafe-in
fact, the owners were on the point of
tearing it down and erecting new struct-
ure. His reason for assessing the farming
community at per cent reduction was
that land values had deprecated at least
20 per cent, and in reality he should have
assessed at that figure in common justice
to the community.
He had assessed trees IN leading orchards
at but $40 per acre, because the trees were
not bearing. Hopyards and alfalfa, he
said, had been flooded out and Yolo County
| was in q generally demoraliZed condition.
| There was but little livestock. no lumber,
nor anything except fifteen gallons of grape
brandy, and that was assessed at about the
same price slough water would bring in the
| open market.
| George Featherstone of Glenn County
an astounding tale of poverty extant in
that section. The cause he attributed to
the fact that the entire county was wheat
producing district and had been used ex-
clusively for that purpose for such a long
time that it was simply exhausted. and
had so deteriorated in value as to be almost
worthless. Even the celebrated Glenn
ranch of $4,000 acres had produced but
76, 900 sacks of wheat this year, and that
would barely pay expenses, to say nothing
of taxes.
Supervisor Halett of Glenn County stated
that he considered, as did the majority of
the residents OF the county, that they pos
sessed a very careful Assessor, and all
were we'll satisfied with his work. The
1854, pa reduction in the tax levy of 1895
was accounted for by the fact that grain
land was exhausted, and until water could
be procured to assist the farmer and en-
able him to turn his attention to other
crops, it would be impossible to raise
values. A late sale of some of the best
| land in the county, which was assessed for
$40 to $40 per acre, showed that it would
bring but $50 so in open market. Two
thousand acres of land had produced but
2400 sacks of wheat, and would not pay one
| quarter of per cent on the assessed value
of the land.
Crops showed up well during early
spring, but the north wind and continued
dry weather had caused them to turn out
badly He said the Glenn estate, one of
the largest in California, had been endeav-
oring to secure sufficient capital, not only
in this country, but in Europe as well, to
raise the mortgage of 100000, but had
been unable to obtain even $780, He
was sure that there was not a property
owner in the county who would not will
ingly dispose of his property at it's assessed
value, unless it might be some person who
owned a home residence. He was satisfied
that the Willows Bank could stand a
heavier assessment.
I "Now that is just the idea that Equalizer
Arnold desires to present" broke in Equal
izer Colgan. ''Give thefarmer of the State
chance and place increased assessments
on the moneyed men,"
81 understand you have property in
Santa Clara County. now how do assess
ments on that property compare with
Glenn County assessments?" inquired
Equalizer Beamer.
"They are not q quarter as high" waslthe
answer.
This reply was not unexpected, as it had
been clearly demonstrated more than once
during the session of the board that land
owners in the San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento valleys are assessed at a lar higher
rate than those of any other portion OF the
State.
Solano County had very large delege-
ton present, who presented affairs in that
section to be in wocful plight Super
visor McGettigan stated that owing to an
accident in which the Assessor, who was
hunting in Plumas County, had been in
iured that official was unable to put in an
appearance, but it seemed to be the almost
universal idea of the delegation present
that the official had piled up such an
enormous assessment roll that he was
ashamed to face his constituents.
Mr.. McGettigan stated that all farming
land in Solano County had been assessed
far above its real value, and gave as an ex-
ample the McCudden ranch, which was
offered for sale at $6500 and was assessed
for $4,000. He also spoke of a certain
church property which was assessed for
10000, when it was worth nothing for
any other purpose. He acknowledged
that the buildings on it were in excellent
condition and had probably cost twice
that sum. III. K. McKune, the proud lord
of 5000 acres in this county, also claimed
that the land was assessed for more than
it would sell for.
"Why," said he, 'there is not man
who owns a small farm but has his crop
mortgaged for all it is worth and is losing
money even when ne owns 100 acres"
"How do you make out with your 5000
acres ?' inquired Equalizer Morehouse in
q deeply sympathetic manner.
81 am losing like the rest, but l rent all
nv land" was the answer.
"Oh, that's SOL dryly retorted More
house.
IF those parties who mortgage their
crops are tenants of yours how do you get
your rents?' inquired Equalizer Colgan.
''Oh, the rents always come first" re-
piled the Solano land king.
Supervisor Buckingham followed in
much the same strain, and the venerable
Judge Curry plainly showed that the milk
of human kindness had been curdled in
his breast by arbitrary assessments levied
on his country holdings by an official who
he declared counted every chicken on the
ranch and if he discovered eggs under
setting hen squatted on the fence until the
shells broke, so as to include them in the
list"
"But you know that they have reduced
assessments on land in your county this
year." remarked Equalizer Morehouse.
Eyes, 50 or So an acre, but it ought to be