The record-union., 1896-08-26
SACRAMENTO'S ASSESSMENT.
Assessor Befkey Appears Before the Board
Of Equalization.
He Gives Good Reasons Why the Values
Fixed by Him Should Not
Be Raised.

Yesterday was Sacramento's day and
Assessor Berkey and Deputy Kay were
on hand, fortified by an array OF Dig
books and bigger figures, to answer the
questions put by members OF the State
Board of Equalization.
Chairman Morehouse called the meet
Ing to order and stated that 1t had
been for many years a source of an
noyance to the board
Mr.. Berkey said that the members of
the board had been in the city long
enough to get an idea of values. He
had treated property in the city just
as he had that in the country. He had in
creased the assessment from Fourth to
Eleventh streets. In doing SO. he had
valued each piece of property by itself
and on its own basis, taking into ac-
count mortgages and other circum-
stances He had assessed not the in
dividual but the property, as his judg
ment indicated He had also assessed
the county as if no other county ex-
listed He knew nothing of other coun-
ties or their values.
Equalizer Beamer said that the
board had realized that the country was
well assessed, but it had always been
assessed too low The board would
have long ago increased the assessment
If it could have done so without doing
an injustice to the country. Sacramento
was the most prosperous city in the
State and he had never known it to be
more prosperous than at present. He
had been here a great deal for many
years and was familiar with the city.
Mr.. Berkey had increased the assess
ment of property on certain blocks con-
siderably, but the Assessor of San Di-
ego County had done much better, as he
had doubled up the assessment of GER
tain property in the city. Then. too, the
assessment of Stockton also was much
higher than Sacramentos.
Supervisor Morrison said that it was
very easy to hold up three corners in
Stockton as a criterion, but the COM
parison would not hold. 1t would be
only fair to take into comparison the
whole assessment of both cities. as
Stockton is a good town.
Mr.. Berkey gave the figures at which
he had assessed the portion of the
city between Fourth and Eleventh
streets. The first twenty feet were as
sessed on and K streets at 81 80 per
front foot. the second twenty feet at
$500 and inside lots at S175 per front
foot. There are forty-four blocks thus
assessed.
In answer to a question by Mr. Beam
er he stated that he considered the
property at Fourth and equally valu-
able with that at Seventh and K
Mr.. Beamer said that a few years
ago when one passed beyond Seventh
street it seemed as if he were getting
out into the suburbs, but it was very
different now, and property had be-
come valuable there. How about the
Joseph property-do you think that is
assessed high enough? Was not the
owner offered 5000 front foot for il? ?''
That property has never been for
sale since Mrs. Joseph had it." was the
reply. 1t is very easy for a man who
knows a thing is not for sale to make
big offer for it,
Then Mr.. Morehouse asked Super
visor Morrison if he did not think that
property at Seventh and K was more
valuable than that at Fourth street.
and answered that it might be a little
more valuable. but not much He
thought the property was fairly as
sessed all down the line The owner
OF the Golden Eagle property had made
strong fight to have it's assessment
reduced on the ground that its income
did not justify the assessment.
Controller Colgan asked if income
was the basis of assessment of country
property and was answered that the
country property had been steadily as
sessed lower and lower for several
years past In relation to Stockton.
about which Mr.. Beamer asked. Mr..
Morrison said that he did not think it
fair TO compare one or two corners.
He would like the board to compare
the total assessment of the two cities
and he did not fear the comparison
Then Mr.. Arnold opened his batteries
and produced figures to prove that
Sacramento was not assessed in COM
parison with San Joaquin. He met a
continual complaint from other places
throughout the State that Sacramento
was underassessed.
Mr.. Berkey said that wherever he had
gone through the State he found that
jealousy induced the inhabitants to
combine to run il down and influence
strangers against it. The city was un-
htAidbiH d prosperous one, DQI II was
so in spite of the efforts of the other
counties.
He instituted a comparison of the
land in the New Hope country, in San
Joaquin County, with the Pearson dis
trict in this county, the two districts
being equal in productive capacity,
and showed that the latter was as
sessed much the higher Of, the two. He
would admit that there were two or
three corners in Stockton that were
assessed higher than any property in
Sacramento. but he wished. If any COM
parison was made it should include the
whole county. The best land below this
city on the river is assessed at $3.50
an acre, and some small pieces at $500
II would average S20C an acre The
Lovdal place is assessed at that and
Daniel Flint's place VIII go above that
figure The reductions made last year
were made on the plains land.
Then Mr.. Beamer questioned Super
visor Curtis about the values Of farm
ing lands and city property. Mr.. Cur