New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-17
OUR ASSESSMENTS,

- leans, since the close of the war, has beer
steadily increasing in wealth and popula
: ton, everybody knows During the las
y four years hundreds of small, neat houses
have been built in the rear of the city, and
I large area has been filled up and i'm.
proved, that was previously laying idle
and comparatively worthless. In the
Fourth District the work of improvement
has been going on the whole time. Quite
large number of fine and costly houses
have been built, largely increasing the
value of the real estate.
Knowing all these facts, should we turn
to the city assessment rolls for the pur-
pose of finding out how much the assess
mems had been increased during the last
three years we would very naturally be
astonished to find that the assessed value
of real estate in 1869 is S2,777, 975 less
than for the year 1867. At the same time
we find the city assessment for real estate
is two million SIX hundred and thirty-nine
thousand three hundred and fifty dollars
(S2, 500, $500 less than the State ASSESS
ment for the same year. On the other
hand, notwithstanding all the improve
ments going on in the city, the State as
sessment of real estate is 81, al, $50 less
in 1869 than in 1868.
This anomalous state of things should
| not be allowed to continue. There is
clearly want of unity of action. But
these discrepancies are not as bad as some
Individual cases we could cite. We know
OF one piece of property assessed at
thirty-fve thousand dollars-twice that
amount of cash down would not purchase |
it. Indeed there is hardly square in the |
city but similar case may be found.
Let US take still another look at this
matter The value of real estate, as com.
puted by the city assessors for the year
1869, is two million three hundred and
forty five thousand four hundred and
sixty-one dollars so, 345, 46D more than
in 1868. So far so good but what did
the State assessors find? Instead of find
ing an increase in 1869 over 1868 of more
than two millions and third they, on the
contrary, reduced the assessment of real es-
late 81, 14l $50. 1t is safe to say that the
here pointed out could only
come about by very plentiful supply of I
nconpetency, if no worse an element in !
Without doubt the increase {
ound by the city assessors in 1869 over q
S6s, very nearly represents the actual i'm a
'rovements made, which they merely
dded to their former list. But how shall q
We explain the procedure of the State v
SCISSORS? Through what kind of spec Il
acles did they look to find a decrease g
1here tn city officers found an increase! ft
he puzzle becomes greater if we compare IL
re city and State assessments on real es- n
ate in 1868. fl
City real estate s1O3,912913. State a.
cal Estate s11O,O40,175, only differ p
ace of six millions one hundred and p
Venty-six thousand three hundred and 8,
rty-one (dollars.) In the case of III
duced assessment it would be a very CT
rolf table enquiry to know ,chose ASSESS CT
ents were reduced But that is mat is
r we have neither time nor space to in O,
stigate. We merely offer the sugges- ps
On. or
So much for the real estate. Let us now or
Q what we shall find in the assessment I'll
personal property. First for the city tn
may mention that in the city assess. ce
ant of personal" is included all nova its
property not exempted by law, and BIO
10 the amount of income above $1,000, ty
d furniture above $780, The state. ne
viewer does not tax income, SO that to ms
Ike comparison between the two, we ma
st deduct from the aggregate of the city no
the amount assessed as income. an
then find that in 1868 the amount of we
scnal properly in the city of New Or Blu
rs as returned by the city officers, was of
,592, 377; while the state assessors re- tao
ned 500, 615, $50.
he next view is more extraordinary
q any yet presented. The City As.
'ors make the assessments of 1869 one emo
lion three hundred and ninety-four me-
nsand nine hundred and eighty-two eau
ars, less than that Of 1868. We may be blu
the assessors could not be expected to OF
SIS property that did not exist. That the
Id be satisfactory answer if that was dec
hat could be said on the subject But and
t did the State Assessors find? The Slot
ted report, from which we draw all our was
shows that the amount of per- out
Il property assessed by the State As time
ors for 1863, in the city of New Orleans, iort'
thirty-fve million five hundred and ed
,ty-four thousand four hundred and gau
y-fve dollars 1886 ,594, 445), more than cons
IN and a half millions more ISIS, $780, glnn
than the city assessment for the same pom
), 1913
glimpse at the items which 90 to ena'
e up these two sums, az rendered by l"'n
CITY and State As.eosorc will nroho,,v 1882
lose the nature of the discrepancy, and vary
ne same time give us On idea of the inc
e OF the services Of our previous as e'o'
u.s. Under the head of stock in shaf
els and corporations, the City Assessors this
m as below for 1868: gain