The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-08-25
ASSESSOR flint EXPLAINS.
To State Board of Equaliza-
ton About Shortage.
HAS A SUBSEQUENT ROLL,
Other Assessors Troubles--Rail-
way Valuations Again.

The state board or equaliZatio on in
session at Boise, Aug. 10, heard the
explanations of six county assessors
where the amounts OF the patented
land rep0r..eea. were less than last year.
Warren Flint, assessor OF KOoteuaf,
county, was the urst to respond to
the crOssfre ST interroeatories by the
members OF the board. He was asked
about the patented land, which show.
ed falaiog of Of over $4,000 acres
on the face OF the returns to the
board. Mr.. Flint said that the sub
scquent roll would embrace large
amount OF patented land, Increasing
the total OF last year fully 100000. He
explained that in assessing patented
land he took the list OF the former
years for his principal roll. After the
rush Of assessment Of other classes of
property was over, he said, he insti-
tuted Il search for the additional pat
ented land and this was placed on the
subsequent roll. He said he under
stoUd that was the plan followed gen.
orally by assessors. He stated that
be had assessed the tlllablc land at
about the same as last year. 1t was
worth from Sl8 to SIPS an acre, the
latter price covering land In l0-acre
tracts near towns. Only per cent
of the patented land Ia the county,
he said, was suitible for farming pur-
poses. Land from which timber had
been cut was assessed at SO cents to
81 an acre. Logs were assessed at 81
and lumber at SIS per thousand feet.
Land with timber on 1t was assessed
So an acre. Considerable trouble, he
added, had been experienced in assess.
ing equities 10 land purchased from
the state. There was no record in
his county OF the greater part Of the
state contracts. Governor Gooding
said that 10 future assessors would be
furnished. free of charge, with rec
ord Of transactions of that character
in their respective counties. Mr..
Flint admitted that town property,
improvements and merchandise were
assessed too low IN his county. In
response, to question by Mr.. john
son he said the assessment Of the
county as u whole was within SO per
cent of tie actual cash value.
A satisfactory explanation was also
made by the Ada county assessor.
The Emore county Official brought
out the fact that there had been fric.
tion among the officials Of that coun-
ty over the assessment. The abstract
furnished the state by the auditor
did not show as much as the assessors
roll by $50, 900. The Oneida assessor
whose county is short $4,000 acres
could not explain. He thought it
must be an error. Statements made
by assessors were to the effect that
the assessed valuation ia their couu-
ties ranged from SO to 65 per cent Of
The actual cash value, while the
chairman OF the Cassiu county COM
missi0ners, who is asking for a reduc.
ton 10 his county, said the percent
age Of assessment to valuation was
IS per cent.
E. w. johnson. member Of the
last legislature from Ada county,
was on hand and on the strength Of
these statements asked that the rail-
way assessment be raised to ut least
40 per cent. On the previous day
tax agents OF the four lines Of rail
ways in the state appeared before the
board and asked that the assessment
rate ON railroads be left as Is. The
present rate is 81, 600 to 50, 600 a mile
of main line. Mr.. johnson was pres.
ent then and asked that the rate be
raised to $50, 200 mile. He read
from the census report and showed
the roads were worth S63 600 a mile