Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1908-03-06
NEvADA'S FINANCIAL STANDING

many other states they are legion-tbis
state can make a financial showing not
equaled by any other state in the Union
and can put 10 shame many that affect
to desplse Nevada rs the black sheep in
the eisterhood Of stutes.
Nevada ia not a rich state-ricb in
population aud diversified source and
in the total property valuation, rs com
pared with some OF the older states OF
the Union; but there is no state thai has
better financial ere lit; no state that has
go little indebtedness; no state that has
80 large a property valuation per capita,
or Us making such large percentages "f
gain in valuation from year to year, no
state TINT has n larger school fan, md
a lower state tax nte.
Nevada has never r%epudiated Il deb,
nor does che owe Il SINGLE cen to
any How many u her many
critics among the states that can
say Ms much? There is not Il single
dollar OF bonded Indebtedness owed 10y
the state, and on the other hand che
owns bonds OF other states III which
she has invested her SUI plus school
fund.-, to the amount OF hume reds Of
thousands of dollars. Prou'l Nassa
chusetts, That wraps her drauer;cs tight
around her and reaches Tor tie smelling
snlts whenever Nevada is .crntioped,
does not hesitate to borrow money from
this same lie, pissed state mud is in our
debt 10 the amount Of 1850, % o aa evil
denced by !hf bonds held III the school
funds OF this state Al the came time,
during the prudent administration Of
Governor Sparkle, there has always been
abundant money for all state purpcs es.
And il our stato finances have been in
such healthy condition during the lean
and hungry times OF Nevada's past,
what can be anticipated foI the future,
now that the state ID entering into the
perlod OF her greater prosperity?
The total valuation Of al taxable
property in the stHte Of Nevada for 1903,
at the beginning OF the states revival,
was s33, lGl $50. In the succeeding
year, it increased by four million dollars,
or, to s~.7,l72,779. In the following
year, Goldtield and Bullfrog districts
began to figure in a substantial! way in
the tax roll, and the valuation jumped
over six million dollars, or to Si3,239,-
6si. In 1906 there was another big gain.
the total valuation being SIS, 900, 900.
But il remR're cd for the year 1907 to
make the most startling gain of any
year, 10: the total valuation for that
yeLr was al 1856, 28l. Thus, in the five
years irou 1903 to 1896 inclusive, the
property valuation Of the state increased
from s33, lSl ,6S3, to 81 G,2sl, or 100
per cent!
What may We expect in the current
year 1908? The iDcrcase in the total val.
uation for this year will moi be less than
$4,000, 900. This prediction is based
upon the fact that much Of the extens.
i've r%aiIroad building Of the state, begun
Inst year did not figure OH the tax rolls
Of 1907, but will come into this years
total. The Bullirog road, the Cluris
roGd, tue Botax Smith road, the West
ern Pacific road, all finished after the
assessment ~ last year, will add tremnu-
hously to the tax rull OF 1868, aud in adj.
ditioD there are several shorter lipee.
Then, also, Goldiield will contribute
more TO the grand total this ,cnr than
last, for all the principal blocks and
hotels Of this cit, aud many Of the finer
residences were completed too late to be
included IN Inst years roll, but will
come In this year. Esmeralda county
made a gain Of sln,0C0, 600 in taxable
property last year over tho previous.
The gam this year will not be sn large,
perhaps, but II will be very materials;
for, outside the Improvements in the
Goldheld district including town eiruc-
lures and large reduction planis, other
parls ~ the county will contribute more.
Rswhide IL to be rcckoned with; mud
Raw hide has great pOtentialiiies. IN
tho meantime, o:ht countiee with other
camps arc coming along, and IL is not 10
VIE leHbt lUpIODdOle t1Hl tDo tOHl faluH'
ton Of the state for 1903 viii rench
iS5, 00, 900. Figuring The total popula.
ton Of the state at GO ,000-possibly n
low eetimate-this would represent
Tor every man, woman and child
in the state. Tho per capita for 1897
was 81 200.
At the beginning OF the lnst regular
nc ssion OF the Legislature, carly in 1907,
II WIS found that tho state trcnsury held
10 the general fund some s250,00O, be-
various large gums hat had been
get aside for special funds. That session
of the Legislature made large appropria-
lions. These appropriations we're based
lpon what was alrcndy IN sight IN the
Ireasury and upnu the estimated
revenues for tho biennial perioJ. Tie
and means committee studied fhc
gnin Of the previous years, and eeti.
mated that probably Tho total average
ortIs.