Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-01-10

sessment tor the year 1911 was $50
scssment for this year of $64o.s6S.
1912 aggregates a total OF $780, 81 5.SS.
previous. a decrease of $s3,Soo.s3. ]
the year 1919, is 6,464, an increase -ov,
The total tax for school purposes
in the twenty-five school districts OF
Otero county for the year 1912 aggre-
gates atotal of $I48,I3s.o5, or over
one-third of the total tax for all pur-
poses-state, county, municipal, and
even including the irrigation district
tax. This is an enormous amount,
but it is money well spent and cred
it to the citizenship OF this county in
giving the best OF educational facili-
ties for the rising generation.
Otero county does not seem to be
getting along very amicably with the
corporations. On November rs, 1912,
the county commissioners after fight
ing the Santa Fe for two years, and
paying several hundred dollars for at
torney's fees, decided to compromise.
The tax of the Santa Fe for the year
1910 was S33,oS6.o2. This was COM
promised for S27'2o5.os, all interest
and penalties being remitted. The tax
of the Santa Fe for the year 1911 was
S4o,s6s.75. This was compromised
for S36.I5s.6s. the last payment of
SI3,oI4.oS, being made on November
IS. IoI2-after the election.
Now there seems to be no more
trouble in store for Otero county.
The Rocky Ford and Swink sugar fac
tories turned in a tax schedule. show
ing valuation of S26o,ooo for the
year 1912. Assessor Gauger raised
this assessment, after a thorough in
vestigation, of the holdings of the SUI
gar companies, to 1901 600. This as
sessment was arbitrarily reduced by
the board of county commissioners to
$4,000 while sitting as a board OF
EQUALIZATION" The sugar companies
turned in a schedule for $1,000 each
as the value of the sugar each factory
had in stock. Assessor Gauger raised
this valuation for the Rocky Ford fac
tory to $4,000, and for the Swink fac
tory to $4,000.
Then there is the Arkansas Valley
Railway, Light and Power company
which is now su-plying every town in
Otero county with electric light and
power. This company turned in a
schedule giving the valuation OF its
entire holdings in Otcro county a,
S22,ooo-on onc-third basis OF
course. Assessor Gauger raised this
assessment to Soa.ooo, and that is as
ScSSCu NdludtIon- otCIO SOuhty wiz
endcavor to collect taxes on-or have
another law suit and later effect o
compromise. as in the case of tho
Santa Fe. The assessment of $4,000,
besides being fixed by Assessor Gau-
ger. was also made by the state tax
commission, which assesses all cor
porations where business is of an in
ter-county character. Assessor Gau-
gers reason for raising the assess
ment of the Arkansas Valley Railway.
Light and Power company was based
on the fact that he had learned that
the company had paid $4,000 for the
electric light plants in La Junta and
Rock Ford and it had cost $4,000
more to erect the transmission line
through the county. He also thought
the franchise had some tangible value.
After learning these facts he came to
the conclusion that $4,000. the
amount of the schedule turned in as
the valuation OF their entire holdings
in Otero county. was not enough. and
the assessment was raised to $4,000.
which is the valuation the county
treasurer will be expected to collect
taxes on. During the interim. while
the wrangling was at its height. the
light company volunteered to accept
n valuation of $4,000. over double the
amount of the schedule as originally
turned in. The end is not yet.
Appropriations for the estimated
expenses OF Otero county for the year
roi3 were made to the various funds
as follows: