The San Francisco call., 1909-09-10
SOUTHERN THREATS
CAUSE NO WORRY
Talk of State Division AS Re-
suit of Assessments Not
Taken Seriously
San Francisco Shows a Re-
markabIe Recovery in Prop
erty Valuations

bitterness This sentiment has found
violent expression in threats TO divide
the state. but IL is not believed that
/ any serious effort will result. 1t is
about as easy to amend the federal
constitution as ii is TO cut a state
in twain. The cry for division has
come only from those quarters that
personally opposed the state board Of
equalization.
There will be time for analysis and
calm reflection Then it Will be under
stood that 40 per cent increase is
not such an ogre as Imagination has
pictured it, San Francisco has time
and again witnessed flights of its as
sessment roll Always it paid and went
about its business. That the southern
counties have been under assessed is
not a dicovery of recent date 1t has
been known for several years by the
state officials. Never before was there
opportunity to correct the evil This
year the state board of equalization
was enabled to make a thorough and
consistent inquiry. 1t gathered the
data on which to predicate intelligent
action. Then it went ahead.
NOT A PLEASANT DUTY
1T was not pleasant duty for us."
said J. Harry Scott yesterday, but our
course was plain after we had the
facts before us. / regret that an an
ia gonistic spirit has been shown here
and there. but I believe that sober re-
fiection will show the wisdom OF our
action
This view was emphasized by Chair
man Alexander Brown and Richard Col
lins of the state board.
The work thus brought to completion
has covered practically eight months.
During that time the members of the
board have visited almost every coun-
ty of the state and have been rein
forced by independent appraisements.
A feature of particular moment TO
this city is embraced in the report
on property valuations in San Fra n
cisco. The board found that the city
had practically regained its losses. A
summary calling attention to the COZ
dition which confronted this city was
prepared by ]. Harry Scott.
SAN FRANCISCO'S RECOVERY
In part it set forth the following
facts:
Viewing the city as it now appears
few people realize how great was the
calamity San Francisco suffered The
obstacles that had to be overcome have
mostly disappeared, and the nonresi-
dent hardly appreciates the magnitude
Of the work already accomplished
The confagration which reduced
San Francisco to ashes lasted three
days. During that time more area was
covered and more property destroyed
than in the great fires of Chicago, Bos-
ton and Baltimore combined. About
$50 blocks, comprising the business
district and a large part of the resi-
dence section, were entirely wiped out
The value of the 2S,0 900 buildings and
their contents destroyed was approxi-
mateiy s350.0o0,000. An estimate of
the population made soon after the
fire and disaster placed the figures at
l75.000-
1T was at this time the tax payers
were anxiously awaiting the 1906 as
sessment, not knowing just how nor
where to raise the necessary money
to meet tax obligations The uncom-
pleted 1906 roll was destroyed in the
great fire, but notwithstanding the
fact that the Office of the assessor
with all records and papers was de-
stroyed, Doctor Dodge, within the limit
ed time OF two and half months
prepared and completed the new as
sessment roll for that year.
REMARKABLE SHOWING
This roll gave San Francisco a
valuation of over s375. 900 00O-a loss of
only 2S per cent over the preceding
year. / call your attention to the fact
that this assessment of $375,o00o 600
was the largest assessment returned
by any county for that year. This was
remarkable showing, considering the
amount of damage done, the preca rious
condition of San Francisco at the time
and the uncertainty of the future.
Three years have elapsed since
then and We now have the 1909 as
sessment before US. The returns show
a valuation of over 1892 900. .eoo-an
year preceding the fire.
As you are aware, the value of i'm
provements for this year shows the
largest assessment ever presented on
this class of property. l want to more
particularly impress upon you what
1885 new buildings mean, this figure
being the number of building permits
issued from the year 1906 to January
1, 1909, and / also desire in the same
manner to illustrate what an outlay of
sl23,O00,00o represents in the cost of
these structures. To borrow an ex-
ample once shown by Marsden Manson.
II shows that one new building has
been erected and completed every hour
and a quarter since the date of the
fire, and that an actual expenditure
of more than sS5 each minute of time
elapsed has been made during the same
period. San Francisco has cause to
feel proud over this great record.
With the exception of about ss.000.-
600 advanced by eastern financial in
stitutions this vast sum of money has
been raised in San Francisco and Vi
cinity through the banks and private
individuals.
RECORD UNPARALLELED
San Francisco is to be conrrat,,-
lated on her showing in the contents
of the 1909 assessment roll, and as to
her great accomplishments and prog
ress since the disaster. nothing in an
cient or modern history can be com
pared to it,"
Even the remarkable figures of the
assessor fell short of the computation
of the state board The sum Of s4e.-
225,S44 was added to the San Fran
cisco roll, making the total 353s,485,-
315- The local rate has been fixed at
s1.e0. making the state and municipal
levy for San Francisco $780,