Semi-weekly herald., 1908-10-29
INT Z; 4; q: :::S::;:::s:..T.1ING =! fig
URES FOR FARMERS
Comparisons Showing how our People are
Given the Worst of it in Land and
Cattle Valuations by Coston

grazing land and we give the assess
ment obtaining there:
Baca ................$ .7(
iilhsuale ........ ...........,...... 1.5s
MI carson '''.'. ................ LIE
Lake ................. 3.4s
fhliilps .................. 1.Ss
La Plata county, as given by you
Mr.. Coston, in the Sunday edition OF
the Durango Democrat, agricultural
land $3.50, and grazing land $1.7s.
These figures represent the exact
average figures per acre at which land
was assessed in the foregoing counties
IN 1907, and were furnished by the
auditor of states office, who was also
the authority for Mr. Coston's figures
Look at these figures, Mr.. Taxpayer
and you can very soon answer the
question as to why Mr.. Coston did not
quote them.
Stand up. Mr.. Coston and tell the
taxpayers and voters about your val
ues. Tell them are the figures which
obtain for La Plata county as low as
any of these and do not the people of
La Plata county pay $4,000 every
year, under your assessorship, too
much to the state of Colorado?
Mr.. Hopkins acknowledges that
he has been wrong in 1902, 1903 and
1904 but when he takes office in Jan
uary, 1909, he will go over all assess
ments and make them what they
should be. He sees his error and he
comedies that La Plata county has
paid too much to the state during the
years past but they will not again
when he takes office.
Come out now, Mr.. Coston, from
your sleep and make a manly, honest,
straightforward statement to the tax
payers of La Plata county. What are
you going to do to explain these high
values to the people, voter and tax
payer? What can you say about your
value of s1.7S per acre on grazing
land when any one can buy from the
United States at s1.25 per acre?
Do you still want to make that map
for the county for the small sum of
$4,000? Has not the old map served
all purposes for the past four years
and will you still insist on a new one
in the event that you should barely
slip through in your effort to serve a
third term?
What about that $2,460 deputy hire
to run the business of the La Plata
County Abstracts of Title company? ?
Will, or will you not, pay that tax
of s6O5.57 of back taxes before cleo
ton day?
Is all your campaign to be made on
the smelter or would 1t not be wise to
explain, If you can, about these high
valuations, your unlawful bills against
the county and your tax lodging?
And now let US take up the cat
tie valuations. Mr.. Coston took up
a few favored counties Sunday
morning. Let US explain regard
ing most Of the counties mention
ed. They contain large line Of
fine dairy cows which furnish milk
and cream to Pueblo, Colorado
Springs and Denver, hence the av-
eraae value Of these cows is much
higher than the range stock Of La
Plata and other southwestern
counties. Again, 90 per cent of
the counties mentioned by Mr..
Coston are east Of the divide, al
most within a stones throw Of
Denver and ready market any
time Of the year. Does Mr.. Cos
ton not know that range cattle are
worth several dollars more per
head east Of the mountain divide
than they are in the western part
of the state, owing to the cost OF
shipping. Every sane man knows
this and this difference was ad-
mitted some years ago at meet
ina of state assessors. Below
we give the valuation Of stock In
over one-half of the counties Of the
state as compared with that OF La
Plata. Mr.. Farmer, you must see
you have been getting the worst
Of the deal. The figures present
, ed are offciaI:
J Counties. Value per hea