The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-09-20
Comparison Of Real Estate Ia Orig
inaI Plan and EASTERN En-
laFgements

Engagements
Keep 1t before the people, that the CCItS)
assessment has been made Just and fair, az
well as equitable and uniform, by inereas-
Ing the valuation placed upon the 1ine
estates OF the rich, and decreasing the APP
prafsement upon the small lots OF Iaboring
men, thereby distributing the taxation
more equally according to the actual mon
led worth of Evansville Courier.
The statement above, made by the
organ of the Democratic City Coun-
Gil and Of the Democracy Of Wander
burg County,is tersely put and con-
cisely stated We accept the issue in
the words and form chosen by the
Courier, because i embraces the
grounds Of controversy and the merits
of the questions involved in the tax
assessments recently made By the City
Council. I 4
We deny the statement Of the Cour-
ier absolutely and completely.
The tax assessment is not just aRd
fair" 1t is not equitable and uni
FORM
1t has not increased the valuation
placed upon the line estates of the
rich"
It has not decreased the appraise-
ment upon the small lots Of the labor
ing men,"
Taxation has not been distributed
by the present City Council more
equally according to the actual mon
led worth Of citizens"
The official records of the city show
that the very opposite is the fact.
And such being the case It's important
that the peopl~know it. 6a
Let the official figures determine.
First, let US recall few facts con-
nected with the tax assessment. BY
an official pamphlet. printed at tho
Courier Office. prepared by Mr.. Van
Ripor, chairman of the Finance Com \
mittee. issued June 2, 1870, the total
taxables in the city for 1868 (about the
same in 1869, } was stated to be $16.-
063. 377. It was also officially stated
in that pamphlet that the estimated
taxables fer 1870. were $24.OOO.0OO.
This pamphlet was prepared especially
to effect the sale'of W h works bonds
in eastern cities. La oder to redeem
that solemn pledge made to eastern
bond holders and capitalists, Mr..
Van Ripper and the City Council set
deliberately to work to adUance the
valuation made by the sworn assessors
elected by the people, in order to make
the valuation aggregate $24, 900, 600 in
1870, in place Of sc, 900, 900 in 1869;
requiring a general Increase Of Jffty
per cent.
1t would naturally be supposed that
this increase would be general
throughout the city; but especially
should it be made IN the business por-
ton Of the city. where property al
ways commands purchasers, and where
it is owned By rich men. The fact is,
however, thai The real estate on Main |
Street and on North First Street, s0as, |
as a general rule. not increased at az;
1ohile there t0as a large and general |
iucrease Ia ne " outside = and residence |
property!
But this increase was 50 unjust and |
oppressive that the taxpayers aoolsld
not sgbnlit to e. Such a general out
cry was raised that the Council was
forced to recall it, and make a new
valuation. This they did By resolving
to reduce the grieyous and unequal
assessment t1Veaty per cent.
Nol0, after the twenty per cent. re.
duction, the Courier says, with unpar.
alleled audacity, that it is "just and
fair" equitable and uniform" "in-
creasing the valuation on the fine es
tates of tho rich. and decreasing the
appraisement upon the small lots of
laboring men,"
We have with much care and ut
much trouble, examined the CITY AS
SCISSORS books to test the truth Of this
statement. We could fill columns Of
figures, but in this article we will
content ourselves with comparing two
divisions offhe city, the Original plan
and Eastern Engagements.
The property on Main Street frnm
the alley. adjoining the Old Rank -
Second Street, and on First Street
between Main and Vine Streets i
the most valuable in the citvs and
owned by bankers and rich men
Poor men do not aud can not o,0n a
The Outside property in the East.
ern Enlargement is mainly used for
residences and generally owned BY
persons of limited means. We have
taken several Of these blocks in diff
ferens localities, aud given the result
below, to which We ask q careful ex-
animation and comparison. The fe-
ures given are after the reduction Of
tl0enty per cent. ordered By the Conn.
Gil has been taken of. and il ~ Val.
uation upon which the taxes win have