The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1903-09-25
Land Values and Taxation.

'
The COURIER says the assessment roll
of Douglas county foots up $11 900 less
this year than last and attributes the
loss to the change in the State line by
which Douglas county loses property
valued at $4,000. This is very poor
showing for Douglas county and pre-
sents quite contrast to the ford de-
scription of Douglas county ranches
published by the COURIER few weeks
ago. 1t then stated that Douglas county
had large area of alfalfa land that
could not be bought for 5000 an acre.
If the Independent is not impertinent,
it would ask the COURIER how many
acres of land are assessed at 5000 an
acre? If that is considered impertinent,
the Independent would really like to
know how much that choice alfalfa
land is assessed per acre? 1t is merely
seeking for some basis upon which to
reconcile the assessment roll of Doug
las county with the CoURIER's state
ments. Independent.
Land and improvements are not
assessed separately, nor sold separate
ly. Thus, when we speak of the value
of land, we mean, as general thing,
it's value with the improvements there
on. It's like marrying widow-if
she has three children, you take the
kids, too.
The printed tax list of this county
does not show the number of acres of
land, or the character of land assessed
to each individual, and at this distance
from the county seat it is difficult to
determine the assessed valuation. 1t
is well known that farm lands and all
other classes of property in this State
are assessed far below their real value,
and this is the case in Douglas county,
but to no greater extent than in other
parts of the State. In fact, it was as
certained by comparison few years
ago that farm lands were valued high
en- in this county for purposes of
taxation than in any other county of
the State. We believe our cultivated
lands were then assessed at $50 per
acre. On our next visit to the county
seat we will ascertain their rating for
this year.
Brother Booher, we feel like giving
you lecture for misconstruing our
item of last week. The COURIER said;
'.The county tax-list for 1903 has been
printed and will be distributed to the
taxpayers in day or two. The assess.
ment roll foots up about 81 900 less
| than last year. On account of the
change in the State line, Douglas coun'
ty loses portions of the Bassman and
Panning properties to Alpine county
Cal, and personal property in the
shape of steamers on Lake Tahoe,
amounting to $40, 200, heretofore assess
ed in Douglas county, was assessed in
/ California this year. The tax-list
shows an increased valuation of rea
estate and slight falling off in per,
sonal property
The Bassman and Planning proper
ties are ranches, and very valuable
By the change in the State line Doug
las county loses to Alpine county, Cal.
a strip of territory across Carson Val
ley half mile wide, and still has, ac
cording to the assessment roll, more
land values than last year. The $40
900 steamers referred to were assessed
at Tahoe City, in Placer county, Cal.
Now, few words about our choice
alfalfa lands: A few weeks ago, in call
ing down an Eastern scribe, who stat
ed that wherever there is irrigation
in this State there the plants become
more white with alkalir we said that
our best alfalfa lands are worth 500
per acre. This is true; and there are
80, 900 acres of cultivated land in Car.
Valley, but not quite all of it is in
Douglas county. Besides a portion OF
this land is not good alfalfa land, and
isnot valued so highly.
A few years ago these alfalfa ranches
were valued at 500 per acre, and sold
frequently at that price. Since then
prices of hay and live stock have adj
vanced rapidly and alfalfa land is now
the best property in the country.