The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-26
The Rent Question.


The Virginian says, "the taxes must be
fixed according to the value of the property,
and the value of the property by the income
that it will produce" lssa'...i5 . M .,
Property is not assessed or valued accord
ing to the income 1T Will produce. t4 1t is as
sessed by men duly and authoritatively APP
pointed for their skill, experience, judgment,
and discretion, who take into consideration
this alone, would lead them into gross error
Location is very important matter, more 50,
perhaps, than the income at the time Of as
sessment The future prospects of the local
ity-its relation to other portions of the city.
The condition and character of the adjoining
buildings are also included in reaching a re-
suit. So that the value Of the property is
not fixed, as every one knows, by the increase
it will produce. Vacant and unmproved
lots are an expense, but it would be prepos-
ferrous to say that such property was to. be
estimated according to the incemeit will pro-
duce. . .ti a4l85d i15tlaf - rd hsI0is
The Virginian pursHes a decidedly inconA
sstent line Of argument. In its first article
it admitted that none suffered by "oppres-
sve" rents, except the ',laborer, citizen, and
professional man'--that the merchant, the
retailer, and grocer, the hotel aud boarding
house keeper, made their customers or the
consumers pay their rent. 'NntaI ID, n,N6A
In its second essay, it piles the" oppres-
sion" on the merchant and shopkeeper, and
says our merchants ''were compelled either to
pay the extortionate rents, or close their busi7
ness, and soon found that our trade had so
decreased that their goods still remained upon
their shelves accumuhting dust" This is a
picture which we fail to recognize ,o, - = oa
The Norfolk merchants are doing as wellas
the circumstances of the times admit, Busi-
ness is taid to be dull everywhere even in
New York: but we look upon the description
of our contemporary as rather fapclul.- What
was the number of the Influx ofpopulation"
to our city last January2 We have never
heard before Of any such influx 1t is very
easy to write "tbe stern logic Of facts, but
we prefer the evidence OF the ..facts" upon
which this ''logic" so-ealled, is Based FNow,
mark the sequel says our cotemporary,s g the
expectations of our people that we We're about
entering upon a career of unexamped COM
mercal prosperity, were not fulfilled; the
transient population deserted us or failed in
business, &c. This is all an exaggerated
and unreal description to us, we are forced to
colfess. This is the first that we have heard
OF the career of unexampled commercial
prosperity, the terms are too superlative, and
that transient population" which t"deserted
us or failed in business. We prefer to be
favored with the bulk of this '.influx,9 the
number OF this transient population and
that of the failures in business since ,"last
January, when these astounding changes and
developments in the deterioration of Norfolk
occurred. 1t would be likewise more satisfac-
tory 10 know what stores were vacated and
how many vacant stores, MADE SO by the de-
parture Of :" Mr.. So and So from Boston and
New York, remain at this moment unoccu-
pied, We prefer facts to popular ideas
hastily sketched, and fgares Of arithmetic
10 hgnres OF speech, in matter 50 grave as
the prosperity of the city, We do not be-
lieve labor or capital to any extent has been
driven from the city on account Of, high rents
we are nauseated with mere assertions oil
tins character. And we doubt whether any
men OF any real enterprise and energy have
been driven from casting their lot with US.
II 30 let us have the statistics, and less of
seneraities 49,. ,to. Fl ..aeaii,,11n
The Nrginian reiterates and asserts state
ments which are highly, detrimental to the
character of the city, in our Judgment, and
such as need the most rigid proof, in relation
TO the owners Of property in this city, which
1t Is needless to say, we repudate.s Gsoai,T Il Il
we close with an extract from its article
which sings of Glow rent and the poor man.
"exorbitant charges" and "the dog in the
manger" property owner, ad nauseam. Here
is specimen: ~, ~ -
But their policy has been that of the dog
III Inc manger--when capital came and offer
ma a fc..t .Hf 4 a.... t1.l
talned-and now it would be an impossibility
W procure fee-simple title to a building lot
vi Main street. No, they hold monopoly 81
sue iands and the tenements, aud if they are
not combination or corporation, they might
as we'll be, for all the purposes they aim aim at
IL Is useless to attempt to reason against these
MEMORABLE facts. No fine-drawn theories, can
make the case any better" bolbHna hba bluoa
such writing approaches to mere reckless,
ness OF assertion No wonder that f.fgures,' J
eAcept, indeed, hgures of speech, are,"a dry
suolect to our mporary--because mere
assertion, and ideas hastily sketchedn are 50
much easier and less troublesome than s.fiobt-
'"s by the rule OF arithmetic" or logic. ui9ela
lAE CHRIsTIAN CHURCH -This place nj
worship, at Ferry Point, was in possession OF
lne Federal military authorities during the
war, and used as q hospital, aud much abused.
hl'ef the war closed, the trustees set to work
W eet IL repaired and, as is essential, called
ca ga the ladies' to solicit aid for them ALWAYS
ao' s IN good works, the ladies consented
"au raised quite . handsome sum- In this
s S work, some Of the fair of Norfolk and
aot'sinouth assisted The Church has been
n,eauy improved. A Choir has been formed
"uuer the instruction of Mr. NV;lE;nol a,,,l tl,o
var" Oh increasing the congregation are
tbayso na.tsring. We are gratified to record
and I1e ~ eviaences Of repairs Of the Churches "
cont; .ne encouraging prospects of future and
CONTINUED usefulness. n y