New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-17
City Taxes.

To THE Editor of the Tribune:
Now that the election has passed, and VS. have
not that exciting subject to engross our atten-
tion it may be well if turn our eyes to our in
;erna affairs and see what is passing in our own
vicinity more Immediately interesting to our citi-
zens. Taxes are at all times regarded with great
Jealousy in our country, and in the present de-
pressed state of affairs excite deep and absorb
ing interest more particularly as it is known that
the taxes in this city have been considerably in
creased in amount the present year. 1t therefore
becomes matter of serious enquiry why-when
property Of every kind has greatly deprecated in
value-have the taxes increased, and what is the
remedy proposed to lessen them in future
IF it will not tax your columns too greatly, pro-
pose TO state the reasons why they are increased,
and at future period to point out, as | think, q
certain plan for reducing them in future.
In the first place, we all know that the Croton
Water has been introduced into our City al great
expense, and that the credit Of this City has been
used to the amount of twelve millions of dollars
in the issue of stock bearing an interest to accom-
plish that object. The interest which has hereto
fore become due has been paid out of the proceeds
of the stock issued; but that cannot be done in
future for the reason that the amour; of stock au
horised to be issued by the Legislature is about
exhausted, in the introduction of the water TO the
Reservoir, and distributing it through the streets
of our city.
The amount of the interest per annum is aboxt
s64O, 600. Many expedients have been suggested
by different members of the community to pay this
money, but all based in some way or other on bor-
rowing. But our Board Of Supervisors, with a
nanliness that does them Infinite credit, deter
mined to raise three-quarters of years interest
say $3.50 900, by tax of 20 cents on the 100 dol
lars, believing that the citizens of New-York, not
withstanding the hardness Of the times, would
cheerfuly pay their proportion of that amount
rather than more money should be borrowed, or
the credit of their City be dishonored. 1t is also
known that the Legislature, in their wisdom, at
their last session, ordered Tax of 10 cents the
100 dollars on all the real and personal property
in this State This tax falls with peculiar hard.
ship on this City at the present time, for it hap
pens that the amount Of this tax alone reaches to
abou, $3.50 900, to be paid by the citizens of this
CITY; and is by many of our citizens deemed op-
pressive and unnecessary, as the resources of the
State were abundantly ample for all purposes in
the economical administration of the affairs OF our
State government. The above two items, as will
be seen, form an amount Of 80 cents the 100
dollars, which our citizens have never been before
called upon to pay. The City tax, or tax levied to
pay the curreat expenses OF the City government
is about $780, 900 less than last year; and if the
measures of reform now in progress, are permitted
TO be carried out another year, will show reduc-
tioa of about 100000, propose in another
communication, through the facilities kindly afford
ed me at the proper department in this City, to
send you the entire amount of Taxes levied, and
the amount proportional to each Ward, viz: State,
Water and City Tax separate, so that all Tax
Payers may know for what they are taxed and to
what purpose their money is to be applied.
TAX-PATER.