Bisbee daily review., 1909-03-31
REAL ESTATE
 EXCELS MINES
 IN VALUES
Report of Territorial Auditor Shows That Nine Industries Fall Behind in Taxable Prop erty, Realty Leading

PHOENIX. Arizona. March 30.-- In the annual report of Territorial Auditor Ely the popular opinion in Arizona that the greatest source of its wealth are the mines is dispelled, the actual figures showing that taxes are paid on over sI0,000, 900 more real estate and improvements than mines. These facts together with others are found in the following sec. ton of Ely's report:
 Tho territoT al tax roll this year is far greater than ever before .n our history The final valuation fixed at our August meeting made the roll foot up the sum of SS1. .342. .20359. De- ductions from this valuation of the property exemtp from taxation (prop- erty of widows, etc.,) the aggregate value of taxed property is Sso,637,- 541.4e.
 Last year the total valuation of tax cd property was $77,372,i5e.11.
 Three counties have taxed property in excess ot tcn m iions of dollars. Cochise county comes first, with a roll of s20,I2S. .SOS.97. Maricopa coun- ty is next with S14.264,755.53. Yava- pal county is next with S10.244,9S7.s0. Graham county is next largest, with $s. .1s9. .f23.O3, followed by Pima coun- ty with s7.23O,446.O2-
 Of the various classes of property, real estate with the improvements thereon Is the largest item on the assessment roll, having total of S30,- 222, 2,74s.I1.
 Mines of all classes with their i'm provements, come next, with an az gregate valuation of 1s,543.250.Z5.
 The next class of property in order of value fs railroad property with a valuation of s11, ,2g9.457.57. Cattle have a valuation of s4.25S, ,6S9; sheep, ST. 311513.
 Railroads exempt by law or partial ly exempted Gas the AtchisOn. To- peka and Santa Fe) from taxat' on for various periods not yet expired, are estimated at s6,743,33S.9s.
 This years assessment roll IS likely to hold the record, for awhile. at least beyond next year. The indica- tions are that the average pr 'ce Of copper for the current calendar year will be about 6 cents under the price Of last year. a reduction of 36 per cent. The productive mines are taxed on the basis of the value of their out put, under the law enacted by the 24th Iegislature--25 per cent of the value, based on New Yodk prices, be- ing taken as the value of the mines for taxation. the assessments for any given year being based upon the val ue of the output for the next proceed ing year. It is expected that the ton mage output this year will consider ably exceed the tonnage of last year, and in that case the lesened value of the product will be offset to some extent by increased production. Un- til accurate statistics Of the tonnage and prices for the current year have been received it will be impossible 2 est mate with accuracy the valu- atlon which will be placed upon the productive mines in the assessment roll Of next year.
 My predecessor, in his annual re- port as chairman of the board ot equalization for the last year exam med in detail the purpose of the var ious tax levies which were made in order to comply with the appropria' tions Of the 24th legislature for last year and this year The changes made this year in the lev.es by the board were unimpOrtant.