The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-03
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1896,


public questions, whether national or munich
pal-should be discussed by the press with
special regard to truth. We wish to observe
this rule in what we now propose to saJ with
respect to the dispute which has arisen as to
the value Of the property that was selected
and appropriated by the City Councils, under
their ordinance of June %, 1864, with view
to enlarge the Fairmount Park, and to pre-
serve the purity of the water supplied from
the Fairmount Works. At the meeting OF
Councils on the 25th Ultimo, MIR. KING, OF
the Select Chamber, proposed to "repeal the
ordinance providing tor paying damages for
taking the property at Landing avenue for
public purposes" In support oil his motion
Mr.. KING presented a statement which showed
that certain properties, which had been as
sessed for taxation at a value of $780, 900, were
afterwards valued at S4S6,19 by the jury ap-
pointed to assess the damages which the
owners of the property sustained by reason
of its selection and appropriation by
the city. This, certainly, on its face, and
at the first blush, was startling revelation,
fitted to arouse, in no ordinary degree, the
jealousy and indignation OF every taxpayer
who is not accustomed to look below the sur
ace of affairs.
There can be no doubt that the enormous
discrepancy between the different valuations
OF the same properties is surprising. And
yet it would NOT be safe to says in advance of
further investigation, which of the several ap-
praisements is most exact and reliable. Mr.
BREWSTER, the City Solicitor, has deter
mined to brig the whole matter before the
proper court for careful revision; and there
can be no doubt that the In erests Of the city
and its taxpayers will be faithfully protected
by him in the. course of the examination. IF
the award is not right in Its details, he will
ssk the Court to condemn it partially or alto
gether; and if the award should not be Judi
cially confirmed a new assessment will be
ordered, and Justice between all parties con-
Cerned eventually secured.
In a matter of this character, however,
great discretion should be exercised. Passion
and ignorance should be allowed no influence.
Political prejudice ana animosity. above all
things should be excluded. The people are
only interested to have the truth ascertained.
The law authorizes the City Government to
take private property for public use on the
condition that the owners OF the property
shall be paid fair price for it. But how is
that condition to be determined? Who shall
decide what the Just valuation OF certain
property or properties, taken for public use,
really isP We shall no5 pretend to answer
this question Just now. But there is one fact
as to which every citizen may feel quite clear
and positive in his mind, and that is, that the
assessments Of properties in this city for the
purpose of taxation afford no reliable measure
OF tLeir true value 1t has long been notorious
that the assessed value of real estate in Phila-
delphia, with view to tax 1t for State and
municipal purposes, is not its real value. 1t
is not necessary just now to inquire why a
property should be appraised below its actual
value when it is to be taxed, and appraised
above that figure when iC is to be sold to the
City Government for public use. 1t is enough
for the present to know that this variation in
valuation actually takes place, and that a
piece of ground, improved OF not improved,
that is assessed for taxes at one price,
may in fact, be worth one hundred, three
hundred, or even ten hundred per cent.
more than that price. We know that
this is So. There are familiar instances
within our own knowledge, and the knowledge,
also, Of many Of our readers, that will fully
bear out the fact Hence it follows that the
assessment of real estate for taxation is not
the Just standard by which TO ascertain its real
value. Nor can those whose property is valued
for the purpose Of taxation be required to
correct the assessment made by the officers
elected by the people to perform that duty.
Nor is any citizen likely to sell his property
at the valuation put on it by the public
assessor. IT. then, the city wish to buy q
particular tract Of ground for public use, il
need not be amazed ii jury of intelli-
gent and honest men appraiSe it far above the
valuation at which it was assessed for taxes.
But there is another fact worth consdera-
tion in this connection. When property il
assessed for taxation, its own intrinsic value
only is counted. When it is tax for public
use, the business OF the proprietor, who il
turned out Of occupation, must be embraced
in the estimate. A barren lot, open anC
unused, may be worth so much a foot Bu
the same space of earth occupied by tht
owner in the prosecution Of a profitable bust
ness, can only be fairly valued, when it is Il
be turned into public park, by taking int
the appraisement the "good-will' of the posi-
ton, and its peculiar advantages for tn