The record-union., 1897-08-31
DOWN IN THE SAN JOAQUIN.
PLAINTIVE Walls FROM TU-
LARE AND FRESNO.
County Officials Tell Why Those
Counties Taxes Should
Not be Raised.


Not be Raised.
All the members Of the State Board of
Equalization were present at yester-
days session. at which time Assessor j.
+. Gibson, District Attorney f. B. How
ard and Supervisors J. H. Grimsley, J.
w. Holmes and J. w. Martin of Tulare
County appeared to show cause, if posi-
bic, why Tulare's assessment roll, as
prepared by the County Board Of Equal
ization, shou d not be raised by the state
board
The Assessors return Of the assess
able valuation Of Tulare County for 1897
showed the following figures: Real es-
tate and improvements, S12,364, 25J;
personal property, $1,126,309; money,
$77, $50; solvent credits, S41, $50. Total,
S13, ,610,619 Total valuation returned
by the Assessor in 1896, $14, ,S33, ,4SS.
The Auditors return, as fixed bv the
County Board Of Supervisors. showed
the following figures: Real estate other
than city and town lots, S9S39,5l3:
city and town lots, S714,199;
improvements on real estate other
than city and town lots, $500.
5S2; improvements on city and
town lots, 1927, 1872: personal property
other than money and solvent credits.
S1,127 IA; money and solvent credits,
$119,755. Total, S13, ,621 ,2S6, or an in
crease over the Assessors return of
$10,667.
The assessable value Of the property
within the county, exclusive of railroad
assessments, after equalization by the
State board in 1896. was Sl4, 1880,
showing a decrease in values as fixed by
the Board of Supervisors this year of
$1,112,564
This was the shortage the Tulare
County men were called on to explain
The board, without an explanation, was
hardly able to grapple with the fact
that within one year, the property valu-
alton of Tulare County should have de-
creased $1.112. .564.
Assessor Gibson was armed with his
tax rolls and by numerous affidavits
from prOperty-owners showing that in
many cases their property had been as
sessed far in excess of the mortgages
held against it. and further showing
that in a number of instances fore
closures had been made and property
turned over for a less sum than the as
sessment had been fixed at.
Assessor Gibson stated that all the
land in the irrigation districts in Tulare
County. over 100000 acres, is in itiga-
ton. and the uncertainty of the out
come makes actual values equally un-
certain. Under the present condition Of
things, he said, the banks Will not loan
a dollar upon the land, and the owners
cannot sell it. There is, he said, no
question as to the title of the land, and
no question respecting the right of the
State to levy tax, but there is queS-
ton as to the value of the property.
Since the assessment of 1896 was lev
led Assessor Gibson said, the San Fran
cisco Savings Union and the Sacramento
Bank have foreclosed mortgages held
on over $1,000 acres of land, and Sc
cured the property at less than its actual
value. for the reason that the property
was tied up so closely in litigation
that it is considered unsafe to make
further advances. He explained that the
valuation on low grade land-that val
ued at SO an acre and Iess-had been
decreased Is per cent The land IN
question was of very little value for ag-
ricuItural or any other purposes.
He believed that when the Valley
Road shall have been completed through
the county. that values will advance
but the good to be derived is future
consideration The road, ne said, will
not reach Tulare until September 9th,
on which day it is proposed to celebrate
the event in an appropriate manner.
Assessor Gibson produced plats OF
townships to prove that land in town
ships adjoining Kern County is assessed
another time as high as in the latter
county.
John W. Martin, Supervisor of Tulare
County, and the Democratic Presiden-
tial elector who in 1896 outran his ticket
and landed an electoral vote for Bryan,
also addressed the board.
Much Of the land in the Tulare irriga-
ton districts, Supervisor Martin said,
is of the variety known as alkai, and
water to il. is a curse instead OF a
benefit Water, he said, merely brought
the alkali to the surface and the latter
killed all vegetation which dared try to
spring up. The people objected to haV-
ing their land mortgaged for irrigation
purposes. when to irrigate means dam
age instead of good
Mr. Martin said the land from the
Kings County line back to the foothills
is, as a rule of but little value, particu-
larry that portion which does not lie
under irrigation canals. In that sec
-------------------- ----------- ---