The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-11-03
(For the JOURNAL.
UNEQuAL TAXATION.

my property by the Equalization Board, was
laid upon the table at their last meeting,
thereby indirectly refusing the request. In
that communication / stated that had thor
oughly examined the assessment roll and had |
found by comparison that large portion of
my real estate was assessed from 25 to so per |
cent. higher than that of other tax payers in
the same neighborhood. That although my
personal property was not assessed at two
thirds its real value, yet 1t was assessed 80
per cent. higher in proportion than that Of
many other citizens and that the real es-
tate, by the mode of valuation, is made to
pay "a per cent. on its value, while personal
property does not pay percent. taxes. That
nine-tenths of the personal goods Of the citi-
zens is thus under taxed, which errors the
Board of Equalization at its last sitting, al
though they were palpable, failed to correct.
In order to correct these seemingly inten-
tional errors, / asked for the appointment of
q committee /; this has been indirectly re-
fused. In order to convince them of the sim
cerity of my convictions, made standing
offer that would exchange any Of my real
estate for the personal property Of any of the
merchants as assessed off the tax duplicate,
and give two dollars for one in the bargain.
In confirmation Of what said to the Coun-
ell find in referring to the tax duplicate, the
names of several persons who have been
joint owners with me in lots and parcels Of
grounds, which have been recently divided
between us in parts Of equal value, according
singular fact that my part in almost every
instance is taxed higher than my former part
ner's share, and higher than they were taxed
when held in common.
This is not all. In reviewing the assess
ment roll, / find these differences between
myself and ueighbors and the members of
the Common Council and their particular
friends to be still more striking. Some of
the members are deriving revenue Of II to
90 per cent. on the assessed value of their
property, and their particular friends from 10
to IL per cent, while large masses tax pay
ers, including myself, cannot get more. than
| from ~ to per cent revenues from our i'm
proved real estate. The rents and profits is
one of the criteria by which to determine the
value Of any real estate in buying property
for instance, it is almost the only considera-
ton in estimating its value. The same con-
sideration should be the guide in appraising
its value for assessment. 1t is the only true
and safe basis of calculation. The Council
have totally disregarded this principle, and
adopted some arbitrary rule of their own BY
which they pay no more taxes on property
that pays them sl2O to sl7o, than do or
property that yields me and my neighbor.
only $50 or SO per annum. This is so gross
violation of equity and right, that appea
to my fellow-citizens to know if l am moi
justified in demanding o correction of the er.
rors.
i will here name few instances Judg,
Foster, James Scantlin, Jr., John Huston
Felken & Heidrich, X. Logan, Isaac Keene
viele's corner including Mr.. Hopkins store
all can realize from Is to rs per cent interes
on their valuation. While other citizens
"naming few" G. Baker, ESQ.,, C. Decker
E. Degarmo, E. II. Fairchild, Robert Barnes
w. Carpenter, C. w. Griffith, and hundre,
others who might be named, who, not bein.
educated in the school of the first class, can
not realize aninterest of more than 21I to
per cent. income upon the assessed value o
their property. Again and again we hav
been told by this selfish and illegal board O
appraisers, that such assessments are all RICH,
That corner lots on Main street are worth on
r ly 5 to per cent. more than inside lots
when in fact every sensible man does kno,
that the corner lots are worth from SO to 5
per cent. more and the duplicate shows in
{ stances where the Board made this differenc
ont of Main street. But the greatest outrag
Of all is, that the Board should value i'm
provements as high in the most remote part
Of the city as upon Main and other busine:
1 streets. / would refer my fellow-citizens I
e some valuations of Judge Fosters property
the corner of Main and First streets, corner
ing so by 100 feet, including eight four stor
Q stores and all the lofts we'll rented, valued
: $4,000. Charles Velie's corner, includin
y Hopkins store, $1,000; Washington Hote
It $4,000; Fosters warehouse on land IS by /;
'e feet, well built, $4,000; Iglehart's mill wit
a all the fixtures, $4,000. Compare these in
le provements with Reitz & Co.'s foundry, me
le brick walls, 40 by 90 feet, $4,000; Crescel
II City Bank, $4,000; X. S. Tenney's hou
Is $4,000; Lawrence DUR, 81 500; heirs of j
/ cob Fox, 81 $40; Gritfth's house, $4,000; v
,. Carpenters house, $4,000. To this list cou
IL fill page; examine and note what kind
L justice is melted out to our citizens.
= While am taxed in round numbers up,
l. the tax duplicate as valued by the Equal
i zation Board 2,7s0, and all the members
N the Council less than $3.50. will exchan
/ oil the property assessed to me on an ev
III trade, for all the property assessed to sa
l. Council. Twill take their property and gi
III them mine. And will go further, to 7
" move all objections which can be made
L members Of the Council to my proposition
7! will select one man and they shall select a
~ other, both to be disinterested and 60
judges of property, who shall upon the
=. oaths value my property upon the tax dup
= cate at cash, and in the same manner sh,
10 value the property of the members and
!, the two so selected do not agree they shall s
i lect third, and the decision of two shall
g. final and the party which shall be found
: | bava the GREATEST amount of nronarty oh.