The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1914-08-07

PRESCOTT, Aug. with every
one feeling good and praising the gen
erous hospitality of Prescott, the an
nual state tax conference closed In
the Mile High City.
The closing hour of the session was
featured by an interesting discussion
on cattle valuation and the presenta-
conference to take a hand in the long
standing dispute between the state
land commission and the interior de-
partment relative to the opening up
of 100000 acres of scrip land in the
Indian reservations of the north. The
resolution was ruled out OF order By
Chairman G. M. Zander, who main
tanned that the matter did not come
within the jurisdiction of the confer
ence in that it had no bearing upon
tax matters.
The cattle industry, its divers phas-
es, interesting features and profit re-
suits came in for a warm three-Quart-
ers of an hour debate. During the
hearings upon the assessment rolls OF
several counties, the average price
of $21 for a head of cattle was con-
ceded too low and 1t was the conse-
sus of opinion that the tax commits
sion, sitting as a board OF equaliza-
tion, would send the figure floating up
ward. ,.---s>-i...-
However, some interesting testi-
mony offered by Inspector Ed Ste
phens Of Yavapai county before the
conference may change this conjec-
ure. Mr.. Stephens has been in the
cattle business for good many years
and stated that he talked from exper-
fence alone. He pointed out that $21
was a fair figure for assessment. Mr.
Stephens also bemoaned the fact that
h. l.. Ar,-s l..
one and likely to be as soon graced
was one bearing loss for Yavapaf
|cattlemen becuse of the drought and
that no cattlemen ever knows OF his
exact possessions, or better still. not
within 20 per cent of what he act
ually possesses.
He declared that oft times from
25 to rs per cent of herd was lost
in the business. Concluding he de-
clared that when a man sold a stock
of cattle for 100000 he was actually
receiving $4,000 for his range privfl-
eyes which were comprised of gov
ernment lands.
Stephens advanced these arguments
to show that the cattle industry was
not so much of a gold mine as has
been claimed. Other men acquaint-
ed with the cattle business and taxes
spoke aleng the same lines.
The delegation from this county
of Wade Hampton, Chair
man of the Board, A. L. Terry, Clerk:
and Jas. H. Kerby. Assessor. return
ed to Clifton on Saturday afternoon
last. All were unanimous in the
praise of the hospitality extended by
the citizens of Prescott during their
stay in the mile high city.
While the Greenlee County assess
nsnt was under consideration by the
conference the counties OF Graham
and Apache objected to the assess
nent of all the cattle belonging to
he Double Circle ranch being made
n Greenlee county. Graham and
Apache counties contended that the
lumber of cattle ranging in Graham
Ind Apache counties should be As
essed separately in those counties
Under the present law known as the
home ranch law" all the Double
ounty at the Greeniee county tar
ate and the proportion OF taxes re-
nitted to Graham and Apache coun-
les for the number of cattle actually
razing in those counties. As the tax
ate in Graham and Apache counties
) higher than in Greenlee those coun-
les feel that the Double Circle com
any is made favored tax payer In
hose counties.