The San Francisco call., 1898-03-11
Auditor Snow Refers to AsseSsm ents and
 Taxes.
Why Oakland Suffers When Compared With San
 Francisco.
All the County to Be Heard in Re- gard to the Proposed Con- solidatiOn.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,

W Last nights discussion of the city and county consolidation matter has led to the expression of general inter- est in the question throughout the county. For the first time the eastern end of the county has been heard from, and to-day Auditor Snow corrected few false impressions that have gone out.
 If the division line as proposed by the Board of Trade be accepted" said Mir. Snow, ''it will leave an assessed value on this side of about $75,000, 000 and the county which would be on the other side of the line would start out with an assessed value of about Sl6,- COG, 900. The population of the city and county of Oakland would be about 95.- GOO, and of the new county about 35.OOO. The legitimate increase of the assess ment of the city and county should be about two millions a year for ten years, and there should not be any in crease over the present expenses. The increase in value of the new county should be very fast, as 1t would nat urally grow on account of governing It. self.
 "A great deal has been said about the difference of taxation between Oakland and San Francisco. At present the diff ference is 42 cents, note cents, as stat ed last night. This is natural. It does not show that government is more eX- pensive on this side of the bay, but it Is simply the result of the difference in size and value of the two places. If 1t costs nearly million a year to run the Oakland government on an assess ment of forty-five millions 1t would net two millions should Oakland's value in crease 100 per cent. San Francisco IS assessed for about $50 millions, and it's total rate of $1 70 is really large as compared with S2 12 in Oakland. l do | not think a consolidated government 1 would prove a very great saving until it's assessed value is 100 millions or up ward The figures I prepared last week are, I believe, comparatively correct. l There is a great deal of work to be done before the proposed changes can l be brought about, but the subject Is an 1 important one and cannot De too care fully considered"
 The amount of territory that will be left out of the consolidation is more 1 than twelve times the area Of the pro posed city and county, and is very rich i country It includes the towns or Hay wards, Niles, Livermore, Sunol, Ava rado, Newark, Mission San Jose and l the ast-developing district around | Corral Hollow Niles is about the cen ] ter of the county, but there Is no doubt that Livermore will make hot fight to be the county seat. One of the most forcible arguments on behalf of con- soIidation in the interior of the county is that Oakland is at the extreme bor- der, and every one having business ir the courts is compelled to come here thus greatly increasing the expense ot
 litigation. Should a prisoner be ar rested on a charge of felony at Tesla
 which Is forty miles from Oakland, g prosecuting attorney has to go up from
 here to the Justices Court, and wher
 the case comes up in the Superior
 Court all the witnesses have to traye to Oakland.
 Before the next county conference, 2 month hence, there will be much data
 both for and against the movement prepared for debate.