The record-union., 1897-09-03
EXTREMES MET YESTERDAY.
STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZA- :
TION'S TRAVELS.
They Examined the Lands of the
State From Santa Barbara
to Siskiyou.


reduction on the county's assessment.
Assessor Frank Smith, Supervisors
E De La Cuesta and Walter Elliott and
William Mayo Newhall, a property
owner, composed the delegation.
Assessor Smith informed the board
that valuations on city property had
not been materially changed from the
figures submitted in 1896, and that in
some instances values had been raised.
The Assessors roll for the present
year .ixed the assessable values of all
property, exclusive of railroads, at
S13. .5S4, go as against $14, 127 ,694 in
1896 The County Supervisors, sitting
as a Board Of Equalization, however,
raised the Assessors valuation TO $13,-
60S.571.
In 1896 the County Board fixed the
valuation at $14 1875 127, and that val
uation was accepted by the State
Board These figures show a decrease
in values in 1897 from 1896 of 1886, 800.
Chairman Morehouse called attention
to the L. and F. Newhall ranches, ag-
gregat:ng 10000 acres, the valuation
Of which had been fixed by Assessor
Smith at from So 10 to So SO per acre,
and asked Mr.. Newhall how those val
uations compared with similar adjoin-
ing lands in other counties. The latter
replied that the figures fixed by the
Assessor, would be high in any coun-
ty, and that 81 per acre would be
heavy assessment.
Continuing, Mr.. Newhan stated that
throughout the county the Assessors
valuation on grazing land had been
fixed at exceptionally high figures, and
that his values on grain lands compar-
ed favorably with those of other coun-
ties in the southern part Of the State.
In answer to a question, Mr.. Newhall
stated that the land in Los Angeles
County was assessed lower in proper
ton to its actual value than similar
land in Santa Barbara County. In this
connection he read a letter signed by
a number of the heaviest property own
ers to the effect that the assessments
on property in Santa Barbara. and high
er in proportion to actual value than
those IN most other counties in the
State, and that the reaction of the re-
cent boom valuations must necessarily
call for a gradual reduction in assessed
valuations.
Mr.. NewhalI stated that the dairy
lands in the county are worn out, and
are not worth more than one-half what
they were a number Of years ago.
This state of things, he said, is due to
the fact that the land has been over
fed and trampled to death Not only
that, but the dairymen had allowed
their herds to run down until at the
present time $14 per head would be
high value for assessment on dairy cat
tie.
Supervisor Cuesta of Santa Ynez
stated that assessments on property in
and about the latter place are prac-
ticalIy the same as in 1896. Much of
the property, he said, is heavily plas-
tered with mortgages.
In answer to a question by Equalizer
Beamcr Mr.. Newhall said he could not
say whether or not his holdings in
San Francisco were valued higher than
those in Santa Barbara Neither could
he tell off-hand whether his San Fran
cisco property was worth more than
that in Santa Barbara He said there
might be a difference in actual values
of $4,000 or $4,000, but he could not
state to certainty without a great
amount of calculation
Assessor Smith said that for the last
two or three years he had carefully
graded the lands in the county, and
found that in making up the books the
figures of previous years had fallen
short This being the case, a decrease
in values had been necessarily shown
in his returns.
Chairman Morehouse and Equalizer
Beamer sprung the question of party
pledges, respecting the tax rate, on Mr..
NewhaIl although at a previous meet
ing of the board Mr.. Morehouse had
declared that the State Board had
nothing to do, and and wanted moth
ing to do, with the tax rate estimated
by the Governor, the Controller or the
Legislature.
Mr.. NewhaT said that party pledges
to keep the tax rate at a, certain figure
could not be kept without either
wholesale increase or reduction in
property values. His idea seemed to
be that such pledges We're really only
the Idle vaporings of politicians who
wished to leave a favorable impression
with the dear people"
After Mr.. Elliott had been heard, his
statement corroborating those who had
preceded him, the matter was taken
under advisement.
WHAT SISKIYOU WANTS.
Allen Newton, County Clerk, County
Auditor and County Recorder, and j.
A Julien, Supervisor of Siskiyou Coun-
ty. were before the board in the af-
ternoon to explain why the returns of
the officials Of that county ought not
to be raised.
Nj Newton explained that the entire
decrease of the property valuations
from the figures of 1896 is S793, ,703.
OF this sum S636,045 was on real es-
tate. and S157, ,65S on personal proper
ty. He explained that much of the de-
crease was on timber land, the value of
which had materially deprecated. An
other reason for the falling off in the
rolls. was. he said, the fact that here
tofora land valued at S134 900 had been
assessed TO the railroad company,
which had never been listed to it, and
which properly belonged to the United
States Government, and was there
fore not assessable. The taxes on the
property in question have never been
collected.
Messrs, Newton and Julien thought
fair valuation had been fixed by the
County Board, and stated that they
should object to any further reduction
by the State Board, for the reason that
1T would be hard to raise the roll in
the future in the face of any further
reduction. They asked to be left alone,
and felt satisfied that while the coun-
tvs property valuation is not too low,
1t is not too high.
Mr.. Newton's statement was clear
accounting for the shortage in the val
10 Ff,r, I