Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-09-22
TAXATION.

Humboldt county, her Assessor and
assessment rate. The INDEPENDENT
does not dispute the fact that Hum
boldt is the richest county in the
State. As a matter of fact, Elko
must be very close in taxable wealth
to Humboldt county, but Brother
Booher is afraid to call attention to
the fact that Elko county, with her
tax roll Of between four and five
million dollars. has real or actual
valuation in wealth OF SoO,cOO,OOO.
The INDEPENDENT agrees with the
Silver State that taxation lii Nevada
is farce, a bowling farce, and poor
men pay the taxes and rich men es-
cape them to some extent.
Taxation, the solution of it, is the
most important question now con.
fronting the State government. 1t is
an actual fact that the rate is raising
slowly all over the State; that from
year to year the State rate raises;
that while there is decided increase
in property valuation, the rolls Of the
various counties show but few hun
dred thousand dollars increase. What
lie to GO to the world, that Nevada,
already despised, abused and laughed
Mt, ID raising her tax rate. Is there
community on earth in which the
rate is slowly raised in which it 10
not an indication that times are bad
and prices falling?
We venture the assertion that Elko
is as badly assessed as Humboldt
county, that Lincoln county is no
better. Look at the great DeLamar
properties, the greatest gold mining
enterprise in the world, and as sessed
at about 100000, when they have re-
fused five millions. Let US not mince
matters, for If we love the State of
Nevada and her future prosperity,
taxation must be readjusted.
How unw1se and foolhardy is the
policy which would prevent the valu-
ton being raised to double it's pres.
ent amount, with the rate cut in
half. Would anyone pay more taxes?
There are signal instances all over
this State as to the utter absurdity
OF our tax system. Nevada, rich,
growing. prosperous, with immense
herds Of cattle, flocks Of sheep and
bands Of horses growing and increas-
ing yearly.
Let us raise the valuation all over
the State and cut down the rate; no
one will be Gin ched, and Nevada will
present much more favorable as
pect before the industrial world
Silver State.
The INDEPENDENT in it's comments
on the Silver State article, wherein
it bonsted that Humboldt county was
the richest county in the State and
that the cash value OF the property
within its borders was worth over
$23,000,00O, did call attention to the
fact that the assessors valuation of
the same property was less than g..
100000. 1t is true that nothing was
said in regard to the wealth of Elko
county, but tile omission was not
due to fear. The object of the INDIE
PENDENT being merely to call atten-
ton OF the people to the methods pur.
sued by assessor OF Humboldt coun.
ty in fixing the value OF property in
that county for taxation. II the Silver
State is correct in it's figures, then
there is no escape for the assessor
from the charge that he has not done
his duty under his official oath. The
charge that other assessors have done
the same does not justify him for fail
ing to do his duty.
The INDEPENDENT admits that the
valuation Of the property returned by
the assessor Of this county is MANY
millions less than the actual cash val.
ue OF the property. To contend 9TH
erwise would make it the laughing.
stock OF everybody who knows anv-
~. II n