Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1901-02-17
NEVADA'S
PROSPERITY.
HOW 1T MAY BE INCREASED
BY REVISION OF TAX
LAWS.
Written by Wells Drury. Form
eriy A Member of the Ne
yada Legislature.

Many Nevadans will remember Col! |
onel kettul Beilei4h Brown, formerly /
Chief Engineer Of the Virginia; City ,
Fire Department, who IN later years |
the Single Tax philosophy, which was |
taught by Henry George. Colonel
Brown was a resident Of Sacramento !
several years ago ANA took occasion
during his sojourn there to do some
missionary work. He appeared before
the County Board OF Equalization and
complained that the vast tract of land
known as the Ranch del PasO, Il Mex
lean land grant Of 40 600 acres; owned
by Haggin 4 Tevis, had not been as
sessed at its true value
Every business man IN Sacramento
has recognized for years that the Hag>
gin. Tevis ranch, though it is stocked
with the best race horses on earth,
stands like Chinese wall between Sac
ramentO and prosperity 50 far as the
country in that direction is concerned;
they know that though trade may be
expanded every other way. when the
boundaries Of the big ranch are reach
ed it is just as well to turn back, since
but little if any goods can be disposed
OF to the handful of men who are en-
ployed to care for the blooded stock
there stabbed. These men consume as
much as similar number Of meh in
any other employment, but because
those acres are used mainly for graz
ing purposes only a few hands are
needed.
Colonel Brown drew attention to this
state Of affairs and urged that the val
uatiOn put on the land be increased /;
pointing out that while Haggin X
Tevis were paying on valuation of
only about $50 an acre, Patrick
Rooney, d nearby neigh Dor, was as
sessed on valuation of something like
800 an acre for land that intriDsicaily
was worth no more than a great deal
of the HagginTeyis tract. This led to
spirited discussion between Colonel
Brown and the County Assessor who
was present, according to the usual
castom, to defend his work in levying
ASSESSMENTS.
Assessor = Colonel Brown seems t,
forget that MIR. Rooney S land is NOR.
highly improved than any of the land
ON the Rancho del PasO and therefore
ought to pay ashigher tax.
Colonel Brown-How does the i'm
provement Justify the raising Of the as
sessment?
Observation-Disclosures MIR Rooney gath
ers a crop Of hops and other product:
every season, and gets a profit fron
the operation.
COlOne, BrOwn-DOesn't Mr.. ROOne,
hire men and women to DO the worh
OF planting and reaping:
AssessOr-Ies.
Colonel Brown-Dosen't he pay GU
large sums Of money for wages eaci
year:
AssessOr-Y.s.
Colonel Brown-Doesn' that none,
come from places outside the Stat,
and county, and doesn't the influx o
that money help to make times better
Doesn It it help to support the bushes
men Of Sacramento: Doesn't it hell
every branch of business in the town
Assessor must admit that that i
true.
Colonel Brown-Doesn't Mr.. Roone
make it possible for men. women an
children to live ia comfort and to rea
respectable families: And wouldn
these families be compelled to leave tn
community and take their trade wit
them and thus depreciate the value c
property and make times duller il NJ,
Rooney's enterprise did not atfor
them remunerative employment in on
midst?
Assessor suppose 50.
Colonel Brown-Now don't yo
know that is true, and that it's Il
plain as the nose on mans face?
Assessor-Yes, to be frank, | mus
confess that you are right.
Colonel BrOwn--Then doesn't it 70
low as u logical conclusion that ROoue
10 a good man for the community?
Assessor-Of course he is. Nobod
disputes that. We would be better 0
if We had more men like Roone,
He's all right.