The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-05-24
TAX RATE AND
HOW IT WORKS.


other Nevada papers, has held that the
greatest stumbling block to the adj
vancement of this State is the low val
uations and high tax rate.
We think we are able to illustrate
just what this means.
The total valuation of Nevada prop
erty for the year is S23, 692, 100. Now
anyone with ordinary common sense
knows that twenty-three millions of
dollars is not one-fourth the valuation
of property in this State. 1t is worth
at the lowest valuation one hundred
millions.
A twenty-three million valuation
means an average tax rate of S3.SO on
the hundred. The valuation is fietic-
ious and indicates to the outside world
that the State is retrograding. The
fictitious rate Of SO 80 indicates that
this is poor place to invest capital.
We cannot explain to the outside world
that three-fourths of our property es-
eapes taxation for they would at once
refer us to our revenue laws and point
to tho clause which says that all prop
erty shall be taxed to its full cash value
Thus we get the reputation of being
a poverty stricken State, that people
must keep away from because poverty
and high taxes rule, when as matter
of fact, il our tax laws were properly
enforced, we would be regarded as a
prosperous State with "A low tax rate.
In every financial center Of the world
where capital lies waiting for chance
to invest, will be found carefully au-
thentieated record of the tax rate OF
every section OF the country.
Last summer the writer secured from
Mr.. Chas. Sain, editor of the Lovelock
Tribune, some Information relative to
the adaptability of land about Love-
lock TO the raising of sugar beets. The
two secured great deal of data regard
ing the land and the available water
for storage purposes. The data showed
that California land for sugar beet rails
ing sold for one hundred dollars an acre
aud the sugar in the beets ranged from
II to 10 per cent, while Nevada land
could be secured at $50 an acre produ-
cling beets which yielded from l8 to %
per cent sugar.
This information was embodied in a
report covering all the ground and for
warded to a promoter in London. All
seemed to be going along very nicely
with a good prospect that London cap
ital would be interested when the fol-
lowing letter was received,
Third Fullwoods Rents,
High Hilborn, w. G.
London, April 18th, 1900.
S. p. Davis, Carson City, New. Dear
Sir:-I have submitted your exhaustive
report of the conditions on which
sugar beet enterprise could be started
near LovelOcks, in Humboldt county,
Nevada. The percentage of sugar in
Nevada beets and the low price of land
offered, are very alluring to capital and
| have conferred with several parties
here who would be glad to invest in
such an enterprise but for the prohib-
tive rate of taxation in your State.
This information is always asked for
aud | am bound to give them the facts
The rate in your State, averaging So. 50
to the hundred is quite sufficient to de-
ter any conservative business man from
investing.
| may also say that the copper prop
position submitted by you was very ia
vorably considered until the question
of your State tax came to be discussed,
after which il was simply impossible to
do any business, although am inclined
to think that the Boer war was an ele-
ment acting adversely to the interests
of the deal.
Very sincerely yours,
f. r. CALDWELL.
This letter speaks for itself and shows
how hard it will be for Nevada to be |
developed either by outside or home
capital until our bungling tax machin-
cry is overhauled by act of the Legisla-
ture.
What we want in Nevada il a hun
dred million valuation and tax rate
of less than one dollar on the hundred |
in every county in the State