Mohave County miner., 1918-07-20
DITCH THE COPPER COMPANIES

From over in the east end of the state comes the wall of the WinslOw Mail about the copper compa- nieg. and the answering vail of Tom Shultzs Peoria Enterprise Both see the menace of copper" Just what the copper menace" is we have failed to dis cern but it must be there because both editors have agreed upon it. Tom Shultz says that it matters not
 whether the copper mines are paying the big end Of the taxes now, that they heretofore failed to pay
 their just due; that the Inspiration is assessed for more than seventy million dollars this year, while the full assessment of all mining industry but ory-five millions in 1912 But Tom does not tell the people that in 1912 there was Inspiration, Ray, nor United Verde Ex., many other big things tat now icom above the horizon. Nor does Ton tell his readers that lands that selling for fro G3CJ to 5000 per acre in the Salt River valley are assessed for about $40, and that man hav-
 ing 5000 or 10000 cattle is assessed at from 500 to 1000 head; that sheepmen having from 10000 to 30, 900 are assessed for 10 per cent of that number, and at less than 50 per cent of their value. He does not tell his readers that was it not for the miner, cop per or otherwise, there would not be white man within the confines of the state, not Tom him self
 The mines brought the railroads and now the mines and the railroads are paying about 90 per cent of the total tax but none of these taxpayers should have one word to say in the handling of the affairs of the state maintained by these great interests but that on the other hand the mines and railroads should stand and deliver to the cOwmen, sheepmen and farmers their coin so that they may build up state wherein mining shall have no part.
 How foolish this is The mining companies ask only justice before the law. Everything that they have is possible of assessment. Nothing is hid from the view of the tax man. The copper companies spent years of time and millions of dollars to make possible big mine. Then it has built towns and paid big wages to every class of employe. The as sessor comes in and not only assesses them on their visible asset but the investment. As an illustra- ton we will take the property of the United Eastern in cur own county Last year this company returned net of over S5OO,OOO, and shows surface improve mentg of say $25OOOO. On the S5OOOOO the company is assessed for S2OOO,OOO and on the gross, which may be S24OO,OOO, it is assessed s2OO0OO more. Therefore this company pays valuation of S2,- 45OOOO. This is only given an illustration, but the fact is that the United Eastern is valued at over s5OO0,00O by the assessor. Should the same rule be applied to a building farm what hollar would go up. All the improvements would be as sessed and when the product of the farm, if it should show net would be told off at four times the net and 12 per cent of the gross. Should the mining be driven out of the state by these poor fools how far think you, would the state get in maintaining it's government?
 Arizona needs every interest. It must work to- gether and the most important interest is the one that should be cOurted and considered. Mining is the fe-bood of the state and the driving out of the red corpuscles would leave a rven body in place of the real live thing