New-York tribune., 1871-06-15
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF TAXES AND ASSESS
MRNTS
REPORT OF CoMMIssIo oNERs.
DEPARTMENT OF TAXES AND ASSESSMENT
NEw-YoRK, May J, 1871.


DEPARTMENT OF TAxRs AND ASSESSMENT
NEw-YoRK, May J, 16Il.
This Department was reOrganized IN May
1862 by the appointment OF the present Board OF Co
mssioners under Chapter 500 OF the Laws OF 1852 IL
charged with whole subject OF the assessment ior
purposes taxation of all the real and personal property
in the county. and is thus vested with powers second
only to the highest judicial functions exercised by civil
lied Governments Nonpartsan in its organizations its
duties have discharged with such impartality that
the decisions OF the Board have been appealed rom IN
only two instances In OF these the decision OF the
Board which in strict compliance with speciho IN
Was oyerred by The supreme Court; and in the other
the decision of the same tribunal was adverse 10 tne
Soon after appointment the Board adopted the follow
ing rules. which cOnspcuousy posted in its Offices:
1.-The hours for the transaction Of business III the OF
fees OF the Commissioners OF Taxes and Assessments
shall be from o'clock a. m to o'clock p m' ana oh
2-The Deputy Tax Commissioners and Clerks are re-
quired to be present during Office hours when not ol
apply the Commissioners Tor PERMISSION
Should illness prevent attendance upon dty tnat Idce
must be promptly communicated TO the secretary, VINO
must also be advised of any change OF residence.
Dqrng Office hours an orderly re- @
time to the discharge Of official duties. -,.,,--
4.smoking in the office during Office hoursis positively
prohibited.
be permitted behind the desks the searchers holding
permits from the Commissioners, only excepted.
6.-An heldboOks, maps and other records when NOT
in actual in the several districts must be deposited
with the iantor at the Office and from the first OF Sep
tember TO the first Of January must be deposited dur
ing business hours each Saturday. --.,-,
1T Is especially eniOned that prompt attention De
paid civil and courteous manner exhibited, ana re-
spectfu language employed TO all parties presenting
themselves public business.
The city has been divided into assessment districts OF
convenient size, and Deputy Tax commissioning ana
clerk assigned TO each Under the drecu9n on ot % tho
Board, and in compliance with Sec OF CHAP SC2 o the
Laws 1859. these deputies and clerks commence ther
field duties the first Monday of September ana pro
ceed to assess the real estate In the respective DIS
tricts for the ensuing calendar year, by personally
examining every house. building, lot, pier, OF Othef
and ward numbers of every lot and the dimensions
and number of stories, as weu as the nlalerlaI
of every building together with the names OF the owner
or Occupant. II known and such other information as
the Commissioners may from time to time REQUIRE. Iy @
note carefully all Improvements naue uuIlhg tnG YEN
which may either increase diminish rents or values
and s lar as possible acquaint themselves with the
prices demanded for such rea pIopeiy a. at 1 % a. ana
market They also furnished with us, oi safes anu
prices of property in their respective districts. .
BY these and other means inst ana equal Nalualo ~
sought to he placed upon the entire taxable real estate
Of the county. ,, - -, L. 10
tail from the field books or blotters into Record books,
public for inspection, and thus remain open uhl Tue JUN
day of April inclusive The deputies ana clerks aiS ~ ~,
daily attendance their desks during thls peTlou 10
give nformation receive applications, ana note changes
OF ownership The applications for reductions III as
sessments pass the office of the secretary where th
are cOrdfd and then into the hands of an experienced
appraiser assigned 10 that duty, who examines cftca
each application. visiting the properly il neceis s, %
repOrtS in writing 10 the COMMISSIONERS Nnen inc
books are closed, the Board take up these appcaons
and consider them carefully duy Weighing the Leasos
alleged the applicant in behalf OF MS cal anu, uh
making their decision, the books are corrected III CON
AfteT This revision correction the books are again
fairly copied detail and the first Monday III July
are delivered the Board of Supervisors ior the exte
The following statement exhibits the relative vaua-
ons Of the real estate In each Ward ior the years iso, %
and 1870, with the increase ana decrease III oao " 0
| aggregate OF SuCh increase dlu uctItdNc'