The San Francisco call., 1897-08-18

Jastro. "In the adjoining counties vaiues
have gone down. Land that was previously
rated at l5 cents an acre simply 10 give II
a standing, is now assessed from 5O cents
to 81 so in Kern.
What kind of property do you think is
over-assessed ?" inquired Chairman Moore
house.
"All property" replied Jastro, 'is over
assessed, as compared with other counties
we simply want to be placed on the same
oasis with other counties. None OF our
property would sell for what II is assessed
al, except some of the alfalfa lands. L
thlnk the Iower-priced lands are over
assessed. There are about 3,OO0,0OO acres
assessed IN Kern, ano out OF this be!leve
at least 250, 900 are overassessed. L claim
that we are entitled to reduction, or shat
tne other counties ought to be raised.
several applications were made to the
Supervisors, sitting as q county board of
equahzation, to reduce individual assess
ments, but on motion they were rejected.
we ieit 1T would be an injustice TO reduce
lew and let the others stand. We there
tore Gee ded TO let all stand and go to the
state Board Of Equalization for relief"
Jastro caused "A sickly smile to over
shadow the countenances of the members
OF the board when he explained that
County Assessor Winfield Scott had stated
that he had made the high assessments
under the instructions of the State board
He asked the board to issue subpoena re-
questlng Scott to appear before 1t, but no
action was taken. The case was then SUBJ
mitted.
To-day the Board of Equalization ap-
portoned most of the railroad assess
ments among the various counties. In
several instances i'm portant changes were
made.
Last year the Southern Pacific Railroad
was assessed for SIC 573, 334 on ITO 95
miles, ut the rate OF $9358 a II mile. This
year it is assessed for $l4,664, $50 on
I543.64 miles, at the rate OF $500 mile
The decrease in mileage is due to the TACT
that that portion OF the Southern Pacllc
which is operated by the Atlantic and Ia
chic has been assessed TO the latter COM
pany. The increase in the value per mile
is due to this transfer of the assessment OF
portion of the Southern Pacific road. 1t
is claimed that the portion now assessed
10 the Atlantic and Pacific isa weak por-
ton OF the property, and It's Wlthdrawal
has enhanced the value of The remaining
mileage of the Southern Pacific.
La the case of the South Pacific Coast
railroad its assessment per mile was re-
duced from 1000 to SILL 500 because, as
explained by the board, it is narrow
guage road. The road is now assessed for
81, 105 $40, as against 1853, $50 last year.
The reduction is a li!tle over per cent
and affects Alameda, Santa Clara and
Santa Cruz counties.
A reduction of $500 mile was made on
the Pacific Coast Railway. 1t is now as
sessed at $4,000 mile and an aggregate of
1904, 400. as against $342 $50 last year. This
is equal to an IL per cent reduction erd
falls upon San Luis ODispo and Santa
Bal bara counties.
No changes were made in any of the
other roads apportioned. There yet re-
mains the following TO apportion: San
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Rail-
way. Alameda, San Joaquin, California
and Nevada, Paiaro Valley, San Francisco
and San Mateo, Gualaa River, that por-
tion of the Southern Pacific operated by
the Atlantic and Pacihc, and the rolling
stock OF the Pullman Palace-car Company
USED on the Central Poc,fic, Southern Pa
clhc, Southern California and Atlantic and
Pacific. These will probably be attended
to tomorrow. The apportionment by
counties follows: