Speech #570111400

It will be observed from this statement that the total assessed value of property in Arizona was higher in 1883. the beginning of our period of twenty years. than it was in any year. except the years 1901 and 1902. and that for the whole period the apparent gain in the assessed valuation of property in Arizona for the twenty years is only $3.076.318. or at the rate of $153.826 per annum. In 1886 there was a decrease of over $5.000.000 in the assessed valuations of property below the returns for 1885. This decrease was due in part to the temporary discouragement and prevention of immigration caused by the raids of the renegade Apaches under the lead of Geronimo and Natches. Under such circumstances it is fair to presume that much property could not be reached or was undervalued by the assessor. The legislative assembly of 1885 created a Territorial board of equalization to revise the assessments of the different counties and to see that all propertyis assessed at the true cash value as the law requires. and the assessment for the next year shows an increase of only $3.000.000.