Weekly journal-miner., 1912-07-17

'uea or forming a small empire in that part of Arizona. was, according to Perrin, nothing but dreamer. lt developed that the Perrin hold ings arc now rented to the Mt Hope Sheep Company for the sum of S4,OoO per annum, and on this face the applicant asked the board to predicate its action. The discussion between the petitioner and the as- sessor covered wide range of sub jeets and territory. the latter show ing familiarity with the valuations placed upon land. owned by the Perrins in other parts of Arizona, which IS greatly in excess of the assessment here.
 After the Perrin inquest the board adjourned 10 meet the 10th of this month so as to complete their re- port of the asscssable property in this county and forward it to the State Board of Equalization before the list of August.
 The Morning Session.
 The morning session was late in getting together as the Prescott Y. M. C. A. had held long and in teresting gathering the night before and the members paid their respects to Morpheus. not needing the call Of the Board of Equalization. the hour for which had been set at thirty minutes past the hour of nine. However. at little past ten, the members, the applicants and their representatives struggled in and shortly thereafter the hearing on the Santa Fc grant lands was re- stunned.
 The contention of the company is that its realty holdings arc leased only for grazing purposes and that the assessment should be figured on that basis. The assessor had diff ferent view of the question when he made the levy and had not changed his mind in the meantime. He had placed a valuation on the lands ranging from thirty cents to four dollars and in his crosse examination of the witnesses he skillfully brought out facts in an endeavor to sustain his position
 A number of stockmcn were on hand to testify that the lands of the railroad corporation were value less except for the purpose above named, and replying 10 questions directed by Assessor Campbell said that if the tax rate was increased and the rental price of the lands raised, it would seriously cripple them in their industry. One of them, Jerry Sullivan, even went as far as to say that if he had to pay cent and half rent instead of a cent an acre as at present he would sell out. The other witnesses were Hugh Campbell, A. A. St. Johns of the Aubrey Development Company; F.. l.. Patterson of the Chino Land and Cattle Company and C. F.. Howard. Tax Agent Cruicc of the Santa Fc also spoke briefly stating that the policy of the company was to develop any country in which they had holdings and he did not wish the board to entertain any view to the contrary, He told of the activities of the company along these lines and pointed ou, how thousands of dollars were spent every year advertising this and other states all over the world.
 The main reliance of the company however, was Assistant Land Agent Taliaferro. than whom no better single handed talker, bar no one, has appeared before the board. He was or at least seems conversant with every detail of the company's land affairs, and that too, without the aid of data of any kind. At repartes he more than held his own and tho man who had the temperity 10 cross verbal swords with him. had to b, quick witted or suffer defeat in th, encounter.
 ] The burden of the stockman', plaint was that they rented the rail roads lands as a matter of pro tcciion to themselves and many o them. it appeared. had improvement on the same Without the land the, would be crippled in their operation but if the rental value was increased they would suffer. When 1t oam' to question of purchase. the prie' placed on it by the witnesses ranged all the way from one to sixty cents l oThe rattraat rsgted itg ease a