Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-20

generous support to its school of
mines, which has already done so
much towards intelligently advanc-
ing this industry. Nor should the
academic department be neglected in
the slightest degree. The usefulness
of an institution Of learning lies more
largely in the thoroughness and skill
with which instruction is impaired
than n mere vast piles of masonry,
and in recommending ample appro-
priations l refer more particularly to
maintaining a high faculty standard
In all departments.
LICENSE COLLECTOR AND Bull
LION TAX AGENT.
The report of the state license col
lector and bullion tax agent is re-
plete with valuable statistics con-
cerning the mineral production of the
state and should be examined with
care by all who would fully under
stand the progress that is being made
by this, our most important industry.
This report contains the only authen-
tic information regarding the min
eral production of all sections of Me-
vada that has yet been compiled. 1t
shows that during the first nine
months of 1908 (returns for the last
three months are not completely 1885,
496 tons of ore were produced, with
total value of $1O,006,S79.23, MAX
ing general average of more than
$13, per ton. The total amount of
bullion tax paid the first nine
months Of 1908 is $S4,339.64 as
against $54,7ss.32 for the entire
years of 1906-1907, showing an in
crease of 62 per cent over those
years.
STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
The present method of fixing tax
able valuations on property in Ne
vada is eminently unsatisfactory, un-
equal and unjust. The evident pur-
pose of the law was to make the val
uations, on all property of like char
acter, uniform throughout the state
and to SO equalize the valuations that
the burden of maintaining the gov
ernment, state. county and munich
pal, will fall alike upon all classes of
property. In theory, the law is ex-
cellent; in practice, a farce.
am convinced that. sthe state
board of assessors is not only of no
benefit to the state, but is a positive
injury, instead. 1t has uniformly
Disseminated, in fixing valuations, in
favor of the great corporations and
thrown the burden of maintaining
the government upon those least able
to bear it, the small taxpayers. Rail.
roads are important factors in the
upbuilding of the state and should
under all circumstances, be dealt
with in spirit of justice and fair
play, not only in the matter of taxa
ton, but in all matters where the
authority of the state is exercised.
1t is simple justice to require the
railroads and other large corpora
tions to pay their proportion of the
expenses of government, the benefit
of whose protection no class of prop.
erty receives a greater share. 1t Is
quite evident that as long as the
state board of assessors is permitted
to fix valuations the railroads will
escape their just proportion of taxes
urgently recommend that the Law
creating the state hoard of assessors
be repealed.
STATE POLICE.
The law providing for the creation
OF state police organization, ap
proved January 20, 1908, Is. In my
judgment. practical solution of the
problem OF maintaining. at the ieas
expense. an efficient armed force fol
the preservation OF the peace and or
der OF the state. While the practlca
operation OF the law discloses som'