The record-union., 1895-08-22
assessments reduced to proper amount
the better it would be for the State.


Yuba County's representatives-Su
psrvisors w. B. Atkinson, A. c. Irwin,
Assessor T. Bevin and G. W. Hutchins,
next addressed the board.
Equalizer Beamer said that there had
been falling off in the county assess
ment of S63, 23O. and the board had cited
the county in order to ascertain the
reason.
Mr.. Bevin said that general causes had
caused the decrease mainly, although
there have been local causes, like sipage
from the river, making it impossible to
raise crops on certain lands.
Mr.. Atkinson said that the only reduce
ton in the assessment had been in one or
two places where damage had resulted
from the water in the river. The river,
as had been stated. is filling up, and is a
continual menace to the citizens of the
county.
Mr.. Irwin said that the land that was
reduced was assessed by the Assessor
while it was under water, and even in
July, whom the Supervisors went out
there, it was partially covered. The land
there was covered four or five inches
deep with heavy, black granite sand,
and nobody had been found TO rent it.
although it had been offered rent free.
Mr.. Hutchins' place, he thought. was SO
deeply covered by the debris that it could
never be reclaimed.
Mr.. Hutchins gave description of how
he had struggled for years to raise crops,
aud had been overflowed season after
season by floods and debris. destroying
his alfalfa. trees and other crops. He lost
over 900 trees this year, and If hydraulic
mining continues his whole township
north OF the river Is surely doomed.
One man this year had to build levee
around his haystack to keep it from float
iIlrr hot
before was under water this season. The
upland, too, is deteriorating in produce
ton, and the crop has decreased from fiji
teen sacks to the acre TO only seven, al
though he summer fallows his land and
plows it three times.
The county has continual fight to pre-
serve itself from being ruined by hy-
draulic mining, but must inevitably sue
cumb unless hydraulic mining is
stopped. He has a fine little orange
grove of $50 trees. and there is other
good orange land if it could be mad o
secure. L had always made money
in 1uba county, and could always
do SO if the slickens could be
stopped from coming down. The peo-
pie of the county are hanging on by
the ragged edge III the hopes that some
thing will happen that will wake up the
people OF San Francisco. or that Mare
Island harbor may fill up and wake the
Government up to put stop to it. If a
bar forms In San Francisco Bay and
wrecks steamer. the people of that city
may wake up and help the valley people,
Otherwise there is the inevitable result,
that the county must be swamped by
slickenS.
Sutter County has a great deal of fine
land, but it is suffering from sipage
water. and many have lost their trees
tn n
SO.
Mr.. Irwin said that, taking it all to-
gether, the two counties had this year
raised only enough for seed aud bread.
Equalizer Arnold said that Yuba
County returned in money and solvent
credits $l4l.00O Alameda County, with
all its wealth. returns only $464, 900. AS
SCISSOR Bevln had done well on this point,
but If he would pay little more atten-
ton to the bank assessments, he would
be able to lower the assessments on land
without lowering the total roll of the
county. He could ask them concerning
their statements TO the Bank Examiners
They will not turn in any solvent credits
unless tney are asked questions. but will
turn OH the Assessor with general state
ment.
Assessor Bevin said that Sutter County
was assessed away out OF sight, and had
been for years. 1t was entirely too high,
and he thought that II the Assessor low
cred 1t again about 20 per cent. next year
he would get it about right. The land in
Sutter Is most Of it better than that in his
county, but 1t has some great draw backs
RAIsIN FRESNO.
Assessor J. p. Vincent appeared before
the board to object TO raise in Fresno's S
assessment. he said that last year the
county was assessed at something over
nd at e
Sl5. 900, 900, decrease of s., ,2l7, 900. There
was decrease in property outside
of towns of S2,219095. This was due to
the raisin vineyards, which have become
unproductIve property, as sufficient price
cannot be obtained for raisins to pay the
cost of producing them. Growers are
offered this year two cents in the sweat
boxes.
All the reductions made this year are
on outside property and Improvements,
and the county has suffered loss of I3,-
900 or Ii 900 acres of vines that have been
pulled out because their owners thought
that they were not worth working any
more on account of low prices. All vines
under three years also have been dropped
from the assessment roll this year. The
assessment on these last year was about
100000. lie had also reduced the assess
ment on old vines from $40 an acre to $40
The property sold by L. +. Winchell
short time ago was sold for S17. 800. 1t
was assessed at $l3.S75. That sold by
Mrs. Hughes to George Gray for $50, 900
was assessed for 500, 700. That bought
from the Farmers Bank by Mrs. Ellie
Hogue for 100 is assessed for S2,470.
That sold by +. e. Winchell to the Peo-
ples' Savings Bank for So. 100 assessed
for 81, 80. That sold by II. I. Ashe to
Fresno City for $500 was assessed at
S6,625. That sold by Selinger to Meux
for s., 30 was assessed at s., no. Property
offered for sale by NJ. j. Church for
$500 he assessed for So, 250; offered by S.
Henry for 81, 900. assessed for S3l, 200.
The Chance estate sold for s., 600 and is
assessed at $500. Part of the Villa
Homestead Tract sold for 81, l5O, assessed
at 81, l25. Lots in the Walters Tract sold
by the Peoples Savings Bank to g. S.
West for $3.50 is assessed at s., 055.
MIR. MorehOuse said he owned a mort
gage on land in Fresno County for
$4,000. on which lie was getting no inter-
est, and he would be willing to tax o
5ll, 900 for it. He did not consider the
property worth the amoun. OF the mort
gage.
MIR. Beamer said he also owned a
mortgage for 81 900 in Fresno and did not
consider that the land would fetch the
price Of the mortgage. Assessor Vincent
said the place was assessed for about
S., 100.
The wheat lands he assessed at S., $40
and Sl5 an acre. according to quality. He
thought that if he had made any mistake
high, although he had been very careful
in Mo onit h vol ~,