The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1909-12-18
GOVERNOR DIckERsoN's REPLY

Editor Nevada State Journal, Reno Nevada
am in receipt of your letter date relative the action
that will probably be taken by the State Board OF Assessors at
meeting month"; fixing valuations the railroad
critics in this State.
Every taxpayer the State interested in this question: and
pleased furnish the readers of The Journal such nforma
on have possession touching upon the actual value OF
railroad property Nevada AS to what action the board OF asses
take the matter course impossible for to
with any degree of certainty convinced however, that the
State Board will make material increase In the
valuation Of the ansconnnta roads at the meeting In January
The heretofore been placed the Central Pa
fc line of road is dculously low and is absolutely with
Justification The valuations placed railroad property should
be proportonae the valuations placed other classes OF prop
believe that the citizens of Nevada are going to insist
this average citizen taxes at least 90
cent of his property and there is to be
the fixing of valuations should be on the side OF
taxpayer for upon him the burden rests heaviest
THE CENTRAL PACIFIC
As an illustration inequality of the present valuations
Pacific Railway Company assessed l259 per cent oil
value of its property According to the sworn
statement Sger auditor of the Southern Pacific Com
pany on file United States Circuit Court for the District OF
Nevada the the Central Pacific Railroad In Nevada
per each mile of road During the fiscal year
ending June 80 roads net operating amounted to
for each road in this Statea fairly good income
it is considered valued for purposes OF taxation
per mile or Just $3O041 per mile above what each mile
Of road cleared That Mr. Seger is competent witness
and knew whereof he spoke, the following will indicate
sEGERs STATEMENT
State of California City and County of San Francisco S.
&C B. Berger being sworn, he Is the Auditor OF the
Southern Pacific Company complainant above named ana mas oee
since November AS such Auditor this ahant has
had and full charge of all the accounts OF said company
including receipts and income from its operations ana
traffic both local business and in through or inter
State business including also accounts OF disbursements In 'ne
aforesaid operations of said company and particularly
Tor maintenance way and structures maintenance OF
conducting transportation and general and ncudng gen.
orally accounts covering financial showing hereafter made
in detail"
To quote Mr. Seger further page 20 his affidavit he
To cost of line of road of said Central fachc
Railway Company 80 1907 and the
Proportional allotted to the State OF Nevada on
mileage basis is $66 1853. 1921"
VALUATION FOR TAKING
are lust 45O miles Central Pacific road In Ne
Vada of 70 mile Mr. oeger
ada Federal Court at Carson for the
pose Of showing the Central Pacific Raaoad was
worth that money and that the Southern racine
pany lessee Of Pacific warranted In nAhg It's
freight and passenger at figure that would earn reason
able return invested If the Central Paclhc ha
road is worth $4,000 mile for rate making purposes wna' Is
reasonably worth for purposes of taxation? That question w
oae Board of Assessors will be required to answer to the
aon Of their constituents their meeting next month