The record-union., 1895-02-11

should not be assessed as high as lands
whose owners have not put up a cent. If
the assessment is to be levied according
to the benefits to be derived from the pro-
posed reclamation work, ne would be in
favor of the bill. If the enterprise would
accomplish results, as stated by the Chair,
the tax would be as nothing compared to
the benefits to be derived.
Continuing, General Sheehan said the
present meeting was of citizens of the
city, and swamp landowners had moth
ing to do with it. but the city committee
should be composed of representative
men. 1t wouldn't do for Sacramento City
to build a wall around itself and refuse to
do anything for the surrounding country.
There is valuable land all around the city
to be reclaimed, and Sacram ento is. inter-
ested in whatever will benefit the sur
rounding country.
He wanted to see a good committee
named to wait on the Legislature, with a
competent lawyer as a mem Der of it to
examine the provisions of the bill and
see that the city's interests are carefully
guarded. If proper law be passed it
would be a grand thing for the city, but
the bill now drawn should not be con-
demned before we know what it is.
RECLAIMED AND UNRECLAIMED LANDS.
Theodore Deming said he owned land
in the Pearson District, also IN Solano
County, and he was in favor of the bill.
He had expended much money on his
Pearson District land for reclamation
purposes, but not on his Solano land.
The latter he would expect to be assessed
higher than the former. If the acreage
in Sacramento should be assessed the
same as land in Yolo, the assessment
would be so low on city lots that no one
would object. He could think of no rea-
son why anyone should be opposed to the
enterprise. However, the meeting was
not representative one.
CITY AND COUNTY SHOULD UNITE.
SIT is a gigantic undertaking." said
City Trustee Lawton, "the greatest of the
kind ever lnaugurated, and should be
Sacramento City should consider it by
themselves, and the swamp land owners
should do likewise" Then, unless they
should unite, Mr.. Lawton said, he was
afraid it would be difficult to carry out the
project without expensive litigation and
delays.
The expenditure of 100000 was a
great undertaking. To be sure, the man
who has Tor thinks he has his land free
from overflow, should not be required to
pay as much as those who have no Sc
curity against floods. Sacramento City
is safe enough, but she should be willing
to do something to help along an under
taking of 30 much importance to the
country about her.
WOULD EQUALIZE EXPENSE.
Mr.. Deming said that if the project
were carried out successfully il would
do away with the frequent heavy assess
ments on lands in the present recIama-
ton districts. The Grand Island reclama-
ton is as good as the best, but really
none of these islands or districts are
really safe, and the owners of land there
do not feel absolutely safe. If they had
to pay SD per acre to be made absolutely
secure they should be willing to pay it.
Mr.. Gett said the people OF the Pearson
and Grand Island Districts were satisfied
with what they had accomplished, and
do not care to throw in all they have
done for the benefit of people up at
Knights Landing.
General Sheehan thought the bill
should protect the owners OF lands al
ready reclaimed against those who have
expended nothing on their lands. If this
were done, and the former were assessed
only according to the benefits to be de-
rived, he would favor the bill.
Mr.. Rose said that Sacramento City
should take action for herself. The dis
cussiou was taking wide range, and the
object Of the meeting had been lost 81 e ht
OF.
THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
Here Mr.. Gett read from Roses report,
and held that it EN- brsced the river lev
ees in the work of the commission.
Mr.. Rose explained his report in that
particular, and claimed that Mr.. Gett did
not understand it. However, it did not
follow that matters suggested in the re-
port were embraced in the bill now be-
before the Legislature.
NOT so GIGANTIC.
Referring to the statements made that
the proposed drainage add reclamation
work was gigantic" undertaking, Mr.
Rose said there had already been eX-
pended in attempts at reclamation nc
less than SlS,O00,0O0, while the ''gigantic''
undertaking proposed involved the eX-
penditure of only one-half that sum.
Mr.. Rose then went on to explain the
provisions of the bill and the manner Of
carrying out the proposed work.
THIS CITY's POSITION.
At the request OF Mr.. Miller, Mr.. Rose
explained how the bill would affect the
city of Sacramento. He said there was
but one legal method OF levying such as
sessment, and that would be on the value
of the real estate, not including the i'm
provements. If the bond system should
be defeated the Commissioners would as.
S6bs Iu0 property W lUS D0Do-
fits derived from the work of reclama.
ton.
Replying to another question of Mr.
Miller, Mr.. Rose said that if the property
in Sacramento City was rated at 50, 900, 900
and the other property of the district at
Sl5, ,O0O, 900, Sacramento would for say
three years pay one-fourth of the taxes
| for interest on the bonds. But as the
work progressed and the rest of the dis
| trict increased in value its proportion o.
| the tax would be increased. If bonds
should not be voted, and property was
assessed according to the benefits de,
rived, Sacramento City's portion of the
tax would be much smaller.
ADJOURNMENT TILL TUESDAY.
After some further discussion, Mr.
Gett moved that the meeting adjourn
| until Tuesday evening at the Courthouse
Mr.. Rose moved to amend by making
it NJ Monday evening.
The amendment was lost, and the
original III otion carried.
Mr.. ToZer moved that the meeting bC
limited to residents of the city alone.
1t was SO ordered, and the meeting ad.
journed.
PARTITION SUIT.