Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-27
CONCERNS THE PUBLIC.
The Coast Land & Live Stock Co. Asks Be n
toR Coarty TO Settle $4,000 of Over
due Taxes for $3.50.

Tbefe aie some things which the pub
lie ought to know. Anything which {
takes, or keeps, money from the public t
treasury is OF interest to all taxpayers. as
wells as other citizens of a community. l
have been told that an effort is being
male to obtain reduction OF taxes
which are charged up against the "Hogg
lands, more particularly known as the
Cos Lands" and now sail to be owned
by an Albany Corporation. In order 10
have correct information on this matter
have lad the County reoris exsmln-
ed. and my information from the records
Is to the effe,i Inst, On May ssh' lasi' NJ,
M. Davis. Agent. for the Coast Land q
Live Stock Company. hled petition
with the County Clerk, for the Benton
County Court, in ~hieh peetefoa the
C,urtv Court Is asked to accept StooV w
in full payment for taxes due behteh
county, against the Coe Lands, tor years
from 1895 TO 1850 ineluslSe, and assre-
gti g 1861 is. This petition states ihat
there las been paid on this amount
1872 81 and about SliS W more, paid OF
assumed by purchasers. That the prop
e,ty has been assessed for 1901 to the
present owners, and this tax paid IN iuil.
Th 1t the taxes charged for the years un-
uaid. are not valid lien, and to make
settlement of the whole matter, and avoid
litigation the company is "illing to pay
$45O. 80 in full settlement. thereof. That
the petitioners have no expectation Oh
collecting any of the tax from former
owners, Coe Estate, or Masten Receiver,
and endorsed on the petition. MIR. DAVIS
says he paid the $s22.sl individually,
and if the above proposition is accepted
he will waive any claim for rebate or re-
turn of the same.
That is the gist of the petition as given
to me.
The County Cou:t made an order in the
journal, referring this petition to the
prosecuting attorney, for his opinion on
the legality of the assessments. That is
a, far as the records show on the peti-
tioa, according to my infoi imation.
Bat in order to have better idea OF
had the records examined to find out
how this property has been assessed, In
comparison with other like property, and
learned that the IIogg or Coe Lands,
had been assessed for those six years at
$I.25 per acre on an aggregate of some
thing over 10000 acres.
That the Oregon & California Railroad
lands, of similar character, were assessed
at the same rate, per acre, and that the
o. & C. R. R. Co has regularly paid Its
tax, and is assessed for 1901 also, at the
same rate, $I.25 per acre, and paid this
tax.
That the Oregon Agricultural Compa-
ny, with about 10000 acres, has been as
sessed at the same rate, and the Oregon
Development Company also assessed, al
the same or higher rate, and all the
same kind OF lands.
But the Hogg- Coe-C Coast, Land & Live
Stock Co.'S. lands, for 1901, are assessed
at an average of 80 cents per acre, and
have also dropped down to I64OI acrei
valued at $I3OI7 90 on which this company
paid SASS. "A tax for 1901.
These lands. of the Coast Land Co..
are part OF the Wagon Road grant, made
many years ago, running from Philo
math to Yaquina Bay. The grant took
In six miles, odd sections, on each side
of the wagon road; in all something over
10000 or $4,000 acres. Part of it finally
drifted into the Oregon Agricultural Co.
which has an agent in Portland. Par
of it went to the Oregon Development
Co, Zone of Col. Hogg's side Companies)
and the bulk of the remainder, about 40,
900 acres drifted somehow to Geo. S
Coe, as Trustee. And he died. A New
York Court took charge of this property
back in the COS, and appointed Re-
ceiver, A. II. Masten, to whom the heiri
of Mr.. Coe made deed.
While the property was with this Re
cever, the Sheriff of Benton county sole
the Corvallis Depot Grounds, valued al
$500, and the Hoag residence property
70 II lots, house, etc. valued at $1,000. to
N, NJ. Davis, (for 1896 taxes, on the
whole trust property, and his bid was
$s22.sl. That is the payment mentioned
in the petition. In 1900. April nth, il
seems the Receiver sold the entire prop
erty to the Astoria Company, subject te
all tax liens, encumberances, etc, against
the property for & 90 and other consider
ations. This Company, by A. B. Ham
mond, President, and w. T. Goslyn
Sec, sold the entire property, except the
Depot property, and the Hoag Davis res
ideuce property, to the Coast Land &
Live Stock Co., for 81 90 and other con-
siderations.
1t seems that when the Astoria Co.
bought the Coe Trust property, DIR. Davis
had tax title of record, for the 1896
taxes, 1922 81. There is another deed on
Al n q