Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-11-29

FIGURES
Tabu|ation and Compilation Of
Valuations by Travelling Audi.
tor Charles v. Stafford.
STRIKING INEQUALITIES
Much Improvement However is Notice
able and Progress Made Toward
Equalization.

Travelling Auditor Charles " SAT-
ford has completed the work of tabu-
lating and summarizing the assessment
returns from each county for the year
1904. The work has been done in a
thoroughly systematic way in fact,
never before in the history of the Ter
ritory has it been done in such an ac-
curate and satisfactory manner, and
it is now possible not only to general
ize but to draw specific deductions
from the assessment returns and to
place the finger upon every classified
each county return. This tabulation
will be of inestimable value to the
board of equalization as we'll as to each
individual assessor next year.
The total assessment of New Mex
leo for the year 1904 is SAL ,735, ,520.35,
which is only 97,046.26 less than last
year. The taxable valuation is $39,297,-
1888, loss of $299,712.26 since last
year. Considering that the drouth
, caused direct loss of million dollars,
not to speak of the indirect loss, this
showing is very good. The effect of
this improvement Is still more in
creased by the better classification and
the greater equalization in assess
ments, although the anxiety of good
many assessors this year for reelection
prevented the total from being greater
than it is. The effect of the drouth
and the loss from lack of employment
of those who had worked the year pre-
vious upon railroad construction, can
be accurately gagged from the assess
ment returns. Cattle, for instance,
show loss of 1852, ,130.50; sheep of
5000, ,572.25; agricultural lands of ST.
230,095.82, for many acres cultivated
the year before were returned as graz
ing lands this year. There is a de-
crease of $15,203 in the value of goats
and of $147,S62.4O in the amount of
cash on hand The depression in min
ing and its stagnant state in the Ter
ritory, excepting coal mining, of course,
is shown by loss in valuation of sur
face improvements of mines of $685.
704, in tools of $12,S59.50, and in prod
uct of mines of $2,947. Grazing lands,
apparently show a depreciation of
$222,097.98, but that is due to the fact
that thousands of acres returned for
merly as grazing lands, were returned
this year as railroad, mineral, timber
and coal lands, the latter three at
higher valuation. Other slight losses
in valuation are shown by bitches for
manufacturing, $9,S1S; mills $56,426;
notes and accounts $66,79S; engines
$71,776; mules $2O,s63; carriages and
wagons $3.053.50; saddles and harness
$2,2195O; bonds $10,O01; watches and
clocks s2,032 books $1,000; gold and
silver plate $1,639; corn $2,49S; hay
$2,2O5; and unclassified property $243,-
57527.
The following classes show gains:
Railroads and railroad lands $1,017,-
S1576; city lots $5o3,054.75; mineral
lands $3S4,S0S.5O; coal lands $341,99
timber lands $20O,O61.5O; horses $74,-
1856; telephone and telegraph $63,3S1.-
65; banks 1881, ,9S6.SO; reduction works
$37,246; merchandise, $2S,343; narrow
gauge railroads 81, ,49S; reservoirs $8,-
4SO swine $3.455; sewing machines
$314S.50; musical instruments $6,672.-
so; lumber $5,196; bees $4,027; oats
$215; wheat $245; household goods
STA; fixtures $1,621; farm implements
s4,2S5; capital in manufacturing $3,-
24S; burros $297.50; toll bridges $725.
Over one-ffth of the total assess
ment is upon railroads, $S,501, 1896,
s6,5S6,063.7 Cattle come third with
$5,S70,S24.50 They were second the
year before. Grazing lands are fourth
with valuation of $5,669,932.77; agri-
cultural lands fifth with $3,953,822.1S:
sheep holding seventh place with ST.
24,4O5.25, or one-sixteenth Of the en-
tire taxable wealth of the Territory.
The only other item above $1,000, 900,
is that of merchandise, $2,060,368. The
following items bring in valuations
from $1OO 900 to 81, ,0OO, 900, it being no.
ticeable that mining is among the
poorest of the tax paying industries.
Horses, $977,919.50; banks, $Ss5,37O.S0;
unclassified property. $711,15S.5O;
household goods, $617.155; coal lands,
$4O2.O48; mining, including mills, re-
duction works, surface improvements
and production. $392,7s1; mineral
lands 1884. .S08.50; carriages and wag-
ons, $314,553.50, it seeming strange
that the vehicles in New Mexico are
assessed at almost as much as the min
eral lands; goats, $1792S9; notes and
accounts, $147554; telephone and tel
egraph lines, $13S,462; fixtures, $113.-
474.5O; engines. $119,153; saddles and
harness, $113.474.50, which, by the way.
is seven times as much as the capital
CortinueG an Paoo E1oht