The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1909-12-18
EQUAL TAXATION FOR ALL
SAYS GOVERNOR DICKERSON

~ Y
total mileage, and while the per mile
cost is high, the effect on the total is
not very great; it is only a little over
3 per cent of the total mileage.
1t will thus be seen that the cost
of r~econstructing the Central Pacific,
in Nevada, amounted to nearly $780,
900 per mile, according to the highest
authority obtainable.
Now, as to the valuations fixed, for
taxable purposes, in other states. Ne.
'braska, a prairie state, fixes the val
uation of the Union Pacific, a road
owned and operated by the same in
terests and inferior, if anything, to
the Southern Pacific equipment, at
$4,000 per mile.
Kansas places a valuation on the
same road of $4,000 per mile.
Wyoming taxes on a valuation of
$4,000 per mile.
The valuation in Oregon ranges
from $4,000 to 100000 per mile.
Washington collects taxes on a val
uation of $36,091.7 per mile on the
Northern Pacific road in that state,
a road much inferior in equipment to
the Southern Pacific in this state.
No replies have been received to
letters sent to tax commissioners Of
the states of Utah and California re-
garding the valuations placed ON rail-
roads in those states.
The sworn statement, however, Of
the Southern Pacific company, show
ing the amount Of taxes paid in the
state of California, fled with the rail
road commission of Nevada, shows an
increase of taxes actually paid Of $780,
1886 in three years. On 500 miles Of
that SYSTEMS road in California the
following taxes were paid:
1907 ....---...--$424,5 31.66
1908 ...--.- 5~50,282.63
1909 ...--. 63O,721.52
The facts regarding valuations of
railroad property, as heretofore stated,
will be presented to the state board
of assessors for their consideration, at
the meeting in January, and it will be
for the board to determine whether they
will accept the sworn statements OF the
highest officers of the Southern Pacific
company, as to the value of the prop
erty Of that company, or the verbal
statement of that company's tax ad-
J%uster.
Urged Increase.
At the meeting of the state board OF
assessors, last January l urged that
the valuation Of the Central Pacific
line be placed at $4,000 per mile. !
shall take the same position at the
meeting to be held next month, ana
II expect to see more satisfactory re
suits accomplished than attended my
efforts at the last meeting. No fair
minded man, acquainted with the facts,
can say that such a valuation is un-
reasonably harsh OF that company.
The tax rate in Nevada appalls the
eastern investor. He knows that we
have a statute requiring the assessors
to value property at the actual cash
value of the property, but he does
not know that this is seldom, if ever,
done. The proper thing to do is to
comply with the provisions of that
statute as to valuations and reduce
the tax rate proportionately. With
such a system in operation the prop
crty holder would be required to pay
no more taxes than he does today,
prospective investors would not be
scared away by our rate, n the
state would make a far better show
ing to the outside world. 1t would
be unwise, in my judgment, to raise
the valuations to the actual cash value
ut one swoop. This should be Gone
gradually but aggressively. Under the
method that has been pursued in this
state of raising the valuations Of rail
road property $500 a year it would re-
quire so years at least to bring tht
Central Pacific valuation up to tt,
proper figure"