The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1906-02-22
CIiftOn'S New Band.

praCticing at the North Clifton
school house. The result has beer
the permanent organization of {
brass band and their practice meet
ings at the school house have become
very interesting and are well at
tended.
This evening at 8 o'clock the fol
lowing program will be rendered or
the balcony of the A. C. general of
fee:
America-( March, Dunlap Commandery". Hal
COMMISSIONING .Czbul kH
| Polka-"The Anvil' ....-.........--........Lo ca
| OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" ............... Bailey
| h-'COmmonwealth" ................. Hal
John J. Birdno, county assessor of
Graham Co., who made quite reputa-
ton last year by his raises of mine
values, is spending a few days in
Clifton this week. Mr.. Birdno was
not exactly pleased with the de-
cision of the supreme court of the
territory in the mine tax cases, but
| like Attorney General Clark, he is
not easily cast down, and seems to
find many "points" in the decision
which afford him much consolation,
and says that he is satisfied the raise
which is to be made this year will
"stick." He did not attend the
meeting of the various assessors of
the territory which was recently held
in Phoenix, and at which it was de-
cided that all property should be as
sessed at as nearly its cash value as
possible. However, he has decided
not to be guided by that decision on
the part of the assessors and the at
torney general. The same plan, he
says, was agreed to last year, and he
was about the only assessor in the
territory who made an effort to live
up to the agreem ent. Therefore he
is of the opinion that the boys are
running another "bluff," and he does
not care to b. party to it. How
ever, he will make au effort to main
tain about the same values as last
year. He will also raise the mining
companies in about the same proper
tion as last year, and make the same
supervisors. He will make an effort
to compel all producing mines,
whether patented or not, to pay tax
in proportion to their output. He
maintains that all mining claims are
property under the law, and should
be taxed regardless of a patent.
However, 1t is not his intention to
bother the prospector, or the COM
panieS that are merely developing
their property, and not shipping ore.
He maintains that if a possessory
right is sufficient to make a sale on,
it is also sufficient to be taxed, where
the property has value worth tax
ing. This is in line with the opinion
of the attorney general of the terri
tory who announced last year that
all mining claims were subject to
taxation, whether patented or other
wise. The ERA does not fully agree
in this matter with the learned at
torney general, except as to the
claims that are actual and steady
shippers. Owners of claims of this
kind can we'll afford to contribute
their share of the expenses of gov
eminent, but if they are taxed it is
only another step to the point where
all locations will be taxed, and then
the day of the prospector will be
over, for no proSpeCtor can afford to
pay a tax on his holdings. 1t is al
ways the prospector who finds the
mines and develops them sufficiently
to make a sale. Without the pros
pector new mines would be few and
far between.