The record-union., 1897-08-31

as we'll try to make a living from farm
ing in Death Valley, provided he had no
water
Mr.. Martin stated that the uncertain
ty of the ownership of the water for
irrigation purposes, made the value Of
land equally uncertain. Another rea-
son why the assessment ought not TO be
raised, was that during the past few
years there has been no immigration
into that section. Money, too, he said,
had been scarce. One reason for this IS
that Tulare is situated about midway
between San Francisco and Los Angeles
too far from markets to be able to
realize good prices for farm products.
When Mr. Martin had concluded his
statement, the board took the matter
under advisement
FRESNO FURNISHES REASONS.
After the noon recess ]. P. Vincent,
Assessor of Fresno County; w. j.
Hutchinson, ex-Assessor, and Alex Cor
don and 7. c. White, who besides be-
ing extensive vineyardists, are also as
sOciated with Fresno's banks, We're be-
fore the board to explain why Fres-
no County's assessment ought to re-
main as fixed by the County Board of
Equalization.
The return as sent in by Assessor
Vincent showed the following valua-
ton in Fresno County property: Real
estate and improvement, SD, 2SS, ,S7S;
personal property, $2.654,OS9; money,
S106,75S. Total. S25, ,O49, 725, as against
81, 2S6.9 .911 for 1856.
The Auditors return. as fixed by the
Board of Supervisors sitting as a Board
of Equalization. showed an increase
over the Assessors figures and was as
follows: Real estate other than city and
town lots, $14.94S,214; city and town
lots. S3, ,697, 101; improvements on real
estate other than city and town lots,
81, lbs, 5S3; improvements on city and
town lots, 2.224, 100; personal prop
erty other than money and solvent
credits, 81, 707. 100; money and solvent
credits, $117 ,696. Total valuation, $50
923, 531. being an increase over the As
SCISSORS valuation of SS73, ,S06.
The valuation after equalization by
the State Board in 1896. was $26,401,-
449, showing the decrease in valuation,
according to the Auditors return to be
S4S3. .91S.
Assessor J. p. Vincent said that three
things ought to be considered in fixing
valuations in Fresno County. In the
first place Fresno in the past had had
boom which advanced values far in
excess of the actual. AS a natural
consequence assessments followed boom
prices. Then came the financial de-
preston, and selling values dropped
as rapidly as they had risen. Again,
assessed valuations followed actual
values and the result was that the as
sessment Of 1897 fell short of that lev
led in 1886.
To substantiate these statements, the
Assessor produced land sales, showing
that a number of years ago property
which sold at a thousand dollars was
to-day actually worth no more than
two hundred.
Another reason advanced for a reduc-
ton of assessed valuations was the
fact, Assessor Vincent said, that a
tract of high grade land, ten miles long
and from four to six miles wide, has be
come practically worthless from sub
irrigation. A number of years ago the
water level on the land in question was
thirty feet below the surface while to-
day, owing to artificial irrigation, the
level is not more than 200 feet below
the surface. The water of the country
is alkali, and since the level has been
raised to near the surface all vegeta-
ton has been destroyed. The land in
question, several years ago actually
sold for 500 an acre, and would pro-
duce any kind of a crop At the pres
ent time it is worthless. owing to the
alkaH being forced to the surface.
The Assessor. however, said he had
reduced the land which formerly sold
for $50 an acre to SIT 90 and that for
merly valued higher, in proportion
In respect to the valuations fixed on
city property, Assessor Vincent pro-
duced evidence showing that many
sales Of property had been made for
less sums than the property is assessed
for. He also read a list of real prop
erty which he said the owners were
Offering to dispose of for sums ranging
far below the figures for which they are
assessed.
Mr.. Gordon coIToborated most of the
olct tCli1CiilS Iiidut DN Assessor vincent.
/ but complained that the latter had
poured it into him. so far as assess
ments went, at every opportunity.
EX-Assessor Hutchinson, who had
held the Office from 1888 to 1892. ex-
planned that he took Office in the hight
of the boom when values were inflated
to their utmost. Then the reaction
came, and in his nine years of office he
had reduced valuations over S35. 600. =
OO0 The only thing wrong with AS
SCISSOR Vincent's figures, Mr. Hutchn-
son said, was that they are too high.
Mr.. White also addressed the board.
corroborating the statements made by
the gentlemen who preceded him. and
at the conclusion it was seen that the
explanations made by Fresno's citizens
had left an impression The matter
was taken under advisement.
ALAMEDA AND SANTA CLARA.
Representatives from Alameda and
Santa Clara Counties have been cited to
appear before the board to-day and
show cause why their assessments shall
3 l..