The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1910-08-27
Nevada Opportunity

w YIIIE TIE GOLDF1ELD NEWS has never maintained any
w connection with The Mining Financial News of New York,
" edited by George Graham Rice, and has taken frequent occa-
sion to critieise that paper and does and will always maintain that
right when occasion demands, the following editorial published in the
Mining Financial News of August &c, is such a succinct summing up
of the Nevada situation that it is herewith reproduced. And that IA
New York City publication should use Nevada politics as its leading
editorial is indeed remarkable. The editorial, under the heading
"Nevadas Opportunity is as follows:
Out on the western rim of the continent, on the eastern and west
ern slopes of the sierras, a struggle is now in progress, the successful
outcome of which will mean the emancipation of two Commonwealths
California and Nevada are fighting the battle of their lives for politi-
cal freedom, and in each ease the Southern Pacific company is the
adversary.
While wishing California success in her battle, W e must eandidly
admit that our more immediate and selfish interest is in the fight being
waged on this side of the Sierras. The success of the Democratic
ticket in Nevada this fall means much so the people of Nevada, for it
spells political emancipation. But it means more than that. 1t means
that the railroad company must pay its just proportion of the taxes
and that means, in turn, the lifting of an unjust and intolerable bur
den from the shoulders of the mining man, the farmer, the business
man, the stockraiser, the small householder of Nevada. 1t is in the.
interest of the mining industry in that leading mining state of the
Far West that we champion the cause of Dickerson and Pittman in
Nevada this year.
Let it be understood at the outset that this publication is absolute
~ bipartisan. In the very nature of its being, it could not be other
wise 1t is willing to take up the cudges in the cause of right, how
ever, anywhere and at any time, particularly where the good of the
mining industry is involved. 1t 50 happens that this year in Nevada
the Democratic party is the party of progress and honest dealing
while the Republican organization in that state is in the grip of
crooked and selfseeking interests which have robbed the people of
Nevada for many years. Were the conditions reversed, this publica-
tion, glorying in its absolute freedom from partisan bias, would be
found just as steadfastly advocating. the success of the Republican
ticket in Nevada.
Briefly stated, the situation in Nevada. from the standpoint of the
average householder, amounts to this: If a man owns a house worth
$4,000, he pays taxes on about 81 500 valuation. II ON 90 per cent of
the whole. The Southern Pacific line in Nevada is bonded at $146,
600 a mile, and if, like the small housekeeper, it Were assessed at a
similar rate, it would be forced to pay N a valuation of $4,000 a
mile. AS a matter of fact, it pays taxes OF a valuation of only $4,000
IA mile, which is less than a third of what it would pay If it were as
sessed in the same proportion a the small householder. In other
words, while the average property owner in Nevada pays taxes on 60
per cent of the full value of his property, the Southern Pacific pays on
less than 20 per cent.
Worse than this, up to January of this year, when Governor Dick
erson forced "a rairoadcontroled board of assessors to raise the valua-
tin to $28 900 a mile, the Southern Pacific company was paying taxes
on a valuation of only $1S,5O0 a mile LESS than ls per cent of it's
value, or about one-ffth the rate the small householder and other tax
payers we're obliged to pay. And it was because of the forcing of this
increase upon a traitorous board of assessors that the Southern Pacific
is in Nevada politics this year, spending its money and coercing its
employees in an effort to procure the defeat of Governor Dckerson.
If the railroad company is to be permitted to shirk its taxes, it is
patent that the money to run the state and county governments must
come from other sources. Whatever increases taxation, increases the
cost of living and the cost of supplies. and the mining industry, being
the chief support of Nevada, is bound to be the chief sufferer from the
taxshirking tactics of the Southern Pacific. The stockraiser. the
farmer, the business ma and the aborer who owns his own home must
all pay tribute to this power. Even the laborer who owns 10 property
is a sufferer, for he must pay part of the excessive tax imposed on his