The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-07-25
New Valuation OF city Property.


several weeks in equalizing and adjusting
the new assessments, made this year. They
have finished their arduOus labors, and have
made the new tax levy. Wepublish below
the figures for general Information.
Great trouble was experienced in the
matter of Personal Property, particularly
merchandise. The increase in this item,
over that of 1859, is enormous. There is
much complaint against the Council for al
legged excessive assessments. 1t is very
natural that there should be, for it is fail
ing of poor human nature to undervalue
property when about to be taxed. Few
persons are free from this weakness. Here
tofore, personals, and especially stocks of
merchandise, claims, and other property diff
ficult of access by the assessor, have been
given in, in most instances, at rates which
were VIGOROUSLY too low +; yet the assessors
and equalization boards lacked the courage
or the power to place the figures adequately
high. This year the policy has been to fix
the valuation of property at rates nearer its
true value than has, perhaps, ever been at
tanned in this city. To this end, the Coun-
Gil, and city officers whose duty it was to
assist, have labored hard to the neglect of
private business in some instances. and by
dint of argument and pefplexing computa-
tions, and at the risk of incurring unpop-
ularity, they have performed their duty
in such ii manner as we believe will give
satisfaction to the large body of tax payers.
There is considerable dissatisfaction among
some of the larger tax payers over the re-
suit of the Councils work Several of
them claim that thair property has been
greatly estimated. As an offset to
this, it is urged that in some instances
where complaint is made the valuation is
not high enough yet, and that a close as
sessment will raise the entire valuation of
personals a quarter Of q million of dollars.
There are few instances, also, where small
property holders are finding fault but so
far rs we have heard, with little show of
reason. If, however, instances of hardship
know the gentlemen composing that body
well enough to be certain that they will
remedy the wrongs that are proven to be
such. The members of the Council are
public servants. They have accepted po-
sitiOn that does not pay them for their
trouble in most cases. They act for the
public good and it is not their interest,
neither is it their inclination, to oppress
their constituents. We think, that those
who reflect that Evansville boasts of being
the foremost comm erciaL point an Indiana,
and that the assessment of her entire per-
sonal property-her merchandise, machine
ry, household furniture domestic animals,
vehicles, boats etc.-is only 81, ,958, ,3O5 in
both Evansville and Lanasco-the consoli
dated city-we think, we say, they will ac-
knowledge that, although there may be a
few cases of excessive assessment, there must
be hundreds Of instances where the assess
ing power has been very lenient, and that
for the pretensions Of the place, the tax list
is quite small.
In the item Of Improvements, we have
the additional structures, etc, that have
y
This item shows very favorably for the city.
The increased value of Lots since 1859 is
gratifying to those who take an interest in
the growth of our city. Here we have an
idea of our natural increase in ma terra
prosperity.
1t has been urged that this new assess
ment has been onerous on the poor man
This is a strange argument, indeed. The
reverse is the fact. The poor man can be
easily and correctly assessed at any time
but it requires sharp eyes and strict inquiry
to discover the full value of the property of
the wealthy property holder. This year
extraordinary efforts have been made to
place an adequate valuation on the proper
ty of the latter class. The consequence is
the vast increase over last year to be found
in the figures below, representing the per-
sonals. The advantage is distinctly in ia
vOr of persons of small means.
ASSESSMEN or CITY PROPERTY.