The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1910-01-22
The big Stick" in Nevada

CARSON NEWS calls Governor Denver S Dckerson the
.Joe Cannon of Nevada, referring to the victory ne has just
4 won in the session of the state assessment board, when the
Central Pacific railway lines that traverse the state were gwen n ~
thing more near their actual valuation than ever before IN n hs,
tory of the state. AS it is yet, the value placed upon the central
Pacific tracks bv the assessors is not 10 per cent of what the same
trackage could be purchased for in open market. plekerson, now,
TO reduce. rather than increase, the value of corporation belongings.
Otherwise, the editorial is a good one. 1t follows:
Governor Dickerson might well be termed the Joe Cannon oil
Nevada for the manner in which he yesterday welded the stuffed
club in forcing the assessors to bow to his will, earning the title.
mark IS the point which should be reached in the assessing of the
Central Pacific and fought for hours to gain the point but at last had
to accept the assessment of $500 as made by the unanimous vote.
The battle was one which was hard fought and will be echoed
throughout the state for the few years to come and especially during
the means and rs a consequence could only see those motion makers
who were working to his end. All others need not apply for they
were not to be seen. Of course it is not possible for any man to see
several different ways at once and perhaps this accounts for the fact
that Assessor LeMaire would always arise too late and the other men
be given the preference. Vote after vote was taken and the amount
each time was lowered a few hundred dollars. 1t was though for a
while that time would be killed until the ten days allowed by law
would have expired and no rate been set and as a consequence the
fixing of the assessment would have gone over to the various boards
of commissioners. A recess taken at 8 o'clock gave the warning mem
bers a chance to discuss the matter and the sum of $4,000 per mile
was agreed upon and carried out when the meeting was called to
order.
The same sum would undoubtedly have been adopted earlier in
the day had the soId clever. had a chance to make a motion, but they
others as the others were willing to make them for the sum over the
$2SO 900 mark.
The raise is a good one at this time and while it is far from being
a just valuation of the property of the railroad compared with the as
sessments that are placed upon cattle, sheep and other assessible prop
ery of the state, yet it is far better than the assessment levied last
year. A raise of $4,000 will aid the state wonderfully and should it
have been placed at the higher mark asked for by the governor and
the four assessors of this section, it would have been better.
1t IS hard to understand the difference that the immaginary line
separating the two states of Nevada and California makes upon the
property Of tins road. The line running through this state is lust as
valuable IN the connecting of the east with the west as any portion of
the line running an e. through California, yet the portion in California is
assessed at S66,OV per mile and in Nevada it was a hard fought battle
that won the paltry sum OF less than half of that in the sister state.
why the railroads are gwen greater license than any other cor
poraton OF individual is hard to see. When one takes the figures of
the net earnings of the railroads and compares them with like figures
of any other holdings IN the state, they will see that the railroad has
earnings that place the others in the shade, yet the smaller industries
are assessed at from 40 TO % per cent of the value while the railroads
Hover of fair play"
II IS a matter OF pohues' 1t IS indeed a nose biting proposition
IN which the people are the bitten. If the battle is waao5 49, ~
governor from winning his point and to discredt him with the voters
IN having it said that he was not able to make good on ne nrnm;sos
statements, the action then is without honor 70 tbosa us iomnse u
through Without any consideration of politics whatever fair assess
ments should be made and the people should not be M e. lan ess1s
cause a lew III power have political axes to grind. =" "A