The San Francisco call., 1897-08-18

the board San Francisco has not vet sent
in her assessment returns. Auditor Brod-
erick was given an extension of week,
which expired yesterday, but he is still in
default.
No decision has yet been reached by the
board as 10 which counties are to be cited
to snow cause why their assessments
should not be raised. 1t is generally be-
Iieved, however. that San Francisco, Sac
ramento and Alameda Will be ON the list,
1t was admitted by member of the
board this evening that Supervisor Jastro
made good showing on behalf of Kern,
and 1T is likely that some concession will
be N ade this county. Jastros argument
was based almost altogether on the fact
that he thought his county was assessed
too high in mparison with the assess
ments placed on the neigh boring countie
OF Fresno, Kings and Tulare. He made
no claim that there had been any over
there had been heavy nts
in the counties named. 1t was further
admitted by this same member that if
Kern was reduced, it was very proba BILE
that Fresno, Kings and Tulare would each
nave 10 Stand raise.
Kern County" he said to the board.
tasks that Is per cent reduction be
made on her assessment. so she NAV be
placed on an equality with the counties
adjacent to her. In Kings County," he
continued. "ali the lands bordering on
Kern were assessed on an average at 50 25
an acre, while the ad jacent and similar
land III Kern was assea at between 81 and
$40 an acre.
''1n Kings County there were n miles
OF irrigation canals and bitches, with a
capacity of 1850 cubic feer, capable of
assessed at $2S $50. In Kern County the re
were 18O miles, with a capacity of 1857
cubic feet, capable OF irrigating 100. 600
! acres These have been assessed at
| $456,O00 Fresno had 20 miles, with ca.
pacitv OF 1850 feet, capable of supplying
! l5O COO acres, ana was a. assessed for the M
only $780, ,000.'
Iu response to question by More
| house he stated that the canals in botb
Kern ana Fresno were dis posing OF all the
i water they carried and he saia he believed
this was true of Kings and Tulare also.
! Iulare, he continued, had canals that
carried 100 cubic feet and these had been
assessed at $1,000 mile.
| r. II. BeaIner of Woodland, the mem
Der from the Third District asked Jastro
! hew he accounted for the reduction of
81 900 900 in Tulare's assessment as COM
pared with last year.
THAT is just what we want to know
about" quickly responded the man from
Kern.
On being further questioned by Beamer
he said tue reduction in Tulare, as he was
informed, was mostly on outside lands,
He added that the owners of lands in
Tulare were unprogressive, while the peo-
pie in Kern were enterprising, and had
| had nerve enough to invest large sums of
| money in irrigation works, by means of
| which the lands were improved and en-.
| HANGED in value.
"Most of the land in Tulare,'' he con-
tinued in tone of evident conviction, ais
owned by fossils and mussbacks.:'
Some first-class funerals are wanted
| there, l suppose" suggested Beamer.
| Yes, SIR" heartily responded Jastro.
| And a smile meandered among those
| present. q
Responding to questions by More
house, Kerns representative stated that
/ the best inside land was assessed at $3.50
| an acre, and the best outside q, $35; that
land that had formerly been assessed at
% cents an acre, was now rated as high as
Sl2 and $l5 This was due to its having
| been reclaimed.
"Do you consider that any of your
lands have been over-assessed ?" asked
Morehouse.
Under ordinary circum stances, would
not think so, but of late the product has
| not been sold to advantage" answered