The record-union., 1896-07-16
ASSESSMENT VALUATIONS.
Reductions Asked for by the Electric
Company.
lawyer Hatfield and Manager Hall
Appeal Before the Board Of
Equalization.

L. T. Hatfield appeared before the
supervisors yesterday on behalf OF the
sacramento Electric Light and Power
Company and the Folsom Water Power
Company in advocacy of the petitions
fled for reductions in their assess
ments.
The former is assessed at $3.50, $50 on
its railway and other property, which
the company asks to have reduced to
100000 The Folsom Water Power
Company is assessed at $1,000 on the
dam, canal etc., and 81, 100 on its der
ricks and other implements. That ON
the dam and canal is asked to be re-
duced to $4,000, and on the tools to
$1,1OO
J. w. Hall, Manager for the compan-
les, was placed under oath and exam
ined as to the respective values of the
various branches of the property in
volved, and gave his reasons why the
Assessors figures should be reduced.
Assessor Berkey said one Of his meth
DDS of arriving at the value of the dam
was to ascertain the number Of days
work done on 1T by each man, reckoned
at a dollar day.
Mr.. Hatfield claimed that this would
be unjust to the company, as the labor
was performed by the State, for the
benefit of the State, and that the latter
has a perpetual right to the use OF
the dam. The company's interest
In it. he said, is bound up with that OF
the State and could not be segregated
if it were desired to sell the property.
Besides, the canal was constructed sew
eral feet higher on the bluff than was
necessary simply because the state
wanted it there The dam could have
been built for less money at point
below where it was located for the ben
eft of the State.
Assessor Berkey thought It made no
difference whether the company or the
State put in the labor on the dam 1t
was performed, it represents so much
outlay, and the company has the full
benefit of 1t. In arriving at his estimate
of the value Of the property he had con-
suited number of men Of good Judg-
ment, and had himself inspected the
property.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Hat
field, Assessor Berkey said the persons
whom he had consulted had not been
identified with any similar enterprise.
Manager Hall thought the Oak Park
buildings of the street railway were not
worth more than $500; the mile OF
track outside of the city limits, S1,ooO;
the 1000 poles, $1,000; $50 miles Of cop
per wire, $4,000; car barn property,
$1,000; city sub-station, SO, 100; dyna-
mos, s., $50; railway franchise, $4,000;
thirty cars, S15,550; electric franchise,
$4,000; buildings at Folsom, $4,000
Mr. Hatfield argued THAI the street
railway franchise should not be as
sail fnv~
say $4,000. Any one wishing to go into
the business would prefer to get his own
franchise rather than pay fancy sum
Cor another.
Chairman Morrison said that in his
opinion the Assessor and the company's
representatives were all off the track
He preferred to get at the value Of the
property, for assessment purposes, by
ascertaining its earning capacity. This,
he believed to be the true basis Of value
Of all property devoted to public uses.
He asked Mr. Hatfield If he could not
furnish the board with a statement
showing what the companies properties
were earning.
Mr.. Hatfield replied that he thought
that could be done, if the board de-
qnanded it, and would endeavor to have
II ready by Friday. The further hear
ing of the matter was continued till
then.
The other applications for reductions
fled Yesterday were as follows:
P. S. Driver-From $1,000 on forty
acres Of land in the northern part OF
the county to $500, and from 500 to
nothing on the improvements.
P. F. Sands-Fron $500 on lot Z, .
and P, Eighth and Ninth streets, to
5000. and from 500 on improvements to
$50.
Carrie T. Mooser-From $4,000 on i'm
provements on fraction of lot a, l, J,
Fifth and Sixth streets, to $2OOO; from
$1,000 on improvements on fraction OF
lot 3. I, ], Fifth and Sixth streets, to
$1,000; total reduction asked for on real
estate and Improvements from S16,oOO
TO S13,500.