The record-union., 1897-07-18
SOME POINTS ON TAXATION.
ARGUMENTS AND TESTIMONY
HEARD YESTERDAY.
The Bailey Property and Street
Railway and Electric Fran
chises.

yesterday.
After some minor business had been
transacted, James Bailey applied 1or
reduction from $4,000 to $50 on the
improvements on the old postoIIlGe
property, on the northwest corner Oh
Fourth and K streets.
Judges Catlin and McKune appeared
on behalf of Mr.. Bailey, and examined
Pike, the we'll known builder, as an
expert. Mr.. Pixies estimate OF the
cost of rebuilding structure
as it now is, so far as the WOODWORK
is concerned, would be S9,241. The
property is very old, but had been re-
modelled some years ago
b. Kreuzberger, a brickmaker ana
contractor testified that an entirely
new building (brick work. could be
erected like the present one for SoSo4-
1t would be a better structure. AS
compared with the Farmers and Me
chanics' bank building, of the same
size, on Fourth and j streets the lat
ter is far more valuable-at least So
600 or $4,000. He had not figured on
the latter building. but judged from ap
pearances. He did not think the re-
modelling of the Bailey building had
improved it greatly. The foundation
is much lighter than those put in nov
adays. The improvements have not in
creased in value the last four years.
James Bailey, owner of the property,
said a portion of the building was
erected in 1853, and the rest the year
following. Some years ago the upper
portion was remodeled, the walls being
rebuilt and made lighter. The walls
below were not changed Within the
last five years the value of the i'm
provements had diminished, especially
since 1893. In the last two years the
rents had decreased % per cent. 1t
now brings in 1915 per month.
To Assessor Berkey Mr. Bailey said
he estimated the value of the building
by what new one of the same kind
would cost-some S17, 900.
Assessor Berkey was sworn and ex-
amined He testified that in 1895 he
assessed the Bailey building at ST..
800.
In response to questions by Judges
Catlin and McKune, Mr.. Berkey said
the property on the opposite corner
known as the Brown House, 40xS0 feet,
was assessed at Sc. 900 for the lot and
$4,000 for the improvements. He was
not certain whether the building is a
two or a three story. ct is the latter)
Mr. Berkey was further examined as
TO the comparative valuation placed on
other property in the vicinity of the
Bailey property. That adjoining on K
'two-story brick) is assessed at 81, 800.
The building on the northeast corner
of Fourth and K, a two-story brick
structure, Z0XS0 feet, is assessed at
$1,000.
The Farmers and Mechanics Bank
building, 60x160, he had assessed at
$4,000, and the real estate at $500.
That property has decreased in value,
but he thought the Bailey property had
increased. Mr.. Berkey explained that
Bailey has 50 feet on the alley, while.
the bank building has but 60.
The St George property, at Fourth
and j, is assessed at 1000 for the
real estate, S0X160, and 500 900 for the
building.
Mr.. Berkey asked to have F. R. Dray,
r. L. Steinman, William Beckman, w.
+. Gerber and f. K. Alsip called to
testify, and subpenas We're issued for
them. Only Mr.. Alsip and Mr. Dray
could be found
+. K. Alsip took the witness chair at
the afternoon session. He did not know
much about the property. but accord
ing to his method of estimating it, the
basis would be its rental returns.
Mr.. Alsip said that when the mort
gage on Bailey's property was given,
three years ago, it was bringing in $500
per month from rents.
F. r. Dray of the Sacramento Bank,
testified that in making loans the bank
aimed to lend not more than fifty per
cent. Of the value of property
To Judge Catlin he said that property
between Front and Fourth streets had
materially deprecated in value As
between the Bailey property and that
of the Merchants and Mechanics Bank
at Fourth and j streets, the latter is
much the more valuable. He thought
ii worth nearly double as much as that
OF Bailey.
Judge Catlin and Judge McKune dis
puted the position taken by the As
SCISSOR regarding the value of the Bal
ley property.
Judge Catlin said the properties on
the east side of Fourth street, from X
to the alley. including the three-story
building of j. Frank Clark are all good
properties and covered the same from
tage on Fourth street as that of Mr.
Bailey, and yet the aggregate assess
ments for the improvements thereon
amounts to but $16,750, as against
$4,000 on the Bailey property.
The fact said Judge Catlin that
three years ago Mr.. Bailey borrowed
$4,000 on his property, does not es-
tablish its value. 1t is notorious that
lots of property is assessed at less than
the sum for which it is mortgaged. Two
years ago Assessor Berlxey assessed the
property at only $1,000, and there is
no doubt it was worth much more
money then than now.
He cited many instances to show
what he claimed to be the INEQUALITIES
between the assessment on the Bal
lev property and others in that neigh
bOrhood.
The matter was taken under advise
ment.
ELECTRIC FRANCHISES.
l. T. Hatfield appeared on behalf of
the Sacramento Gas, Electric and Rail-
way Company with an application for
the reduction of its assessment from
$lSS go to SIG $50.
The Assessor had assessed the com
pany's two franchises-one for the
railway and the other for electric wires
at $4,000 and other property at
$11S250. making a total Of S1SS,2
The company claims that the assess
ment of $4,000 on the franchises Is
unfair, extortionate and not based on
any valuation to which the franchises
are susceptible by any known course of
reasoning.