Central Pacific Railroad v. Board of Equalization

The Central Pacific Railroad Company filed its petition with the board of equalization of Placer county for the reduction of the valuation of its railroad from twelve thousand dollars per mile, the rate at which' it was valued by the assessor, to the sum of six thousand dollars per mile. Upon the day appointed for the hearing of the petition the counsel for the company and the district attorney for the county appeared, and both parties introduced evidence upon the question of the value of the railroad, and the matter being finally submitted, the board refused to reduce the valuation. The company thereafter filed its petition in this court for a writ of certiorari to bring up for review the proceedings of the board.

The board of equalization has authority, upon a proper ■application or petition, to increase or diminish the valuation of property listed and returned by the assessor. In ascertaining and determining the proper valuation of the property for the purpose of taxation the board acts in a judicial capacity. It hears and determines the matter in the same manner as a similar question is heard and determined by any other judicial tribunal. Evidence is adduced by the parties,…