New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-05
WHY TAXES ARE HIGH.
THE PRACTICES or THE BOARD OF As


eur ,NrosITroNs on TIE srRErr IMPROVE
MrNr sYST:N--HOW T.ir MrEMS OF TIE
TAXPAYERS HAVE RHtN oVERHrLED By
CnRHj'rr COUETs--TWAVDrLENr CONTRACTS
MADE IN DEFIANCE OF PETITIONS.
The Taxpayers of this city, who have long
suffered m the exclusive frauds practicod under the
de!usivc t'le Of "AssCsmeus fer Local improvements
can rpd ~ tc fact hereinafter enumerated some expla
nation the why cots much TO ccfray the
eAirns of municipal government. From CONFESSIONS
with persons well informed regard to these matters
II appears that these frlude widespread az INC
an; agaiHs; them is general ana that 'hey "o'A
~ deep an injury The prhc NJ larC" a. o the rare
ular Judi, dnas who consider themselves specially ant'
ed thereby. This demonstrated Ivy the faxes eN'eo
for improvements lnd particularly Tor the '!H
Of ravcments
when tho wooden paveIuents for streets were intro
s hero, some vcars ago the charge Of 81 per square
ward WAS sufficient to cover all the costs ana
leave handsome profit 10 the persons 'ner's'ou III
them, although al that time-ust about the ciose Vi 'o
war-both materials and labor were ihueh hlshcr han
thcy are to-day. But now no pavement "i TINS hhu Is
lad a, less price than S per square yard, While In
many Instances IL costs az hch or S. Moreover,
either by the use Of defective material OF the careless
manner which the work DONE or from both causes
the pavement laid III many places worse than none nj
NIL. garng instance of this he found In Murray
At from Broadway 10 West-st 1t was laid about three
years since at So the average ssessuieDt per
lot being considerably Over 500 Ii Is already worn
away many places leaving receptacles OF muddy
water in wet weather. extensive hoows which serve Us
traps into which horses are frequently ured at the rsk
Of their limbs Indeed, the entire foundation seems to
have been Improperly laid as the whole pavement has
spTingy motion. yielding visibly to the weight OF
vehicles and rising again when they have passed This
Il cause q! the premature decay in the pave
ment Itself; because a continual motion OF this kihd
must tend to open the intersces and let In water Ie
contracts for these pavenents require tha certain
quantity Of sand and other material shall be used To
form solid foundation but it is claimed that the proper
amount is rarely if ever given.
Some two years snce,the contracts Tor laying pave
ments made ny the Common Council; and as the
law compelled them TO advertise for bids and award the
contract TO the lowest bidder there would to have
been hut little opportunity for extensive cheating. But
the opportunity being given TO those who knew how to
IT, the matter readily settled to their satisfac-
tinn and the public's disadvantage As these wooden
Iavemcns all patented Int the pstentee could
hid for the contract. and consequently no one but th"
patentee could eet The advertisements always called
for bids not to exceed n certain amount generally -,
sometimes $6 so per square yard, and OF courshe con
bid below the limit named The work be-
thus begun by swindle several other swndles were
added TO IT, until the price yard reached 81 OF So
This accomplished by imposing upon the contract
the pay ~ several snecurists under the name Of
Street Inspectors whose abOrs consisted the
INSPECTION Of their cheeks pay day. and the drawing
O! & per diem as long the work which they
appointed lasted II is true that in addition they
Obliged TO sign their to the certificate drawn by
the cOntractor that tie work had been properly per
formed but as they always managed to avo:d crafty
tc the contractor with their autograph until check
his private bank. for amount proportional TO the
value of the contract had been first received the extra
duty Of signing tue certificate named hardly bo H.
rludcd in their llbors.
This same - scm with additions, is continued to-day
uIder the department Of Public Works. The Street
Inspectors receive s. pr day. and the number OF
them is very largely increased Large sums aN also
paid now. formerly for advertising surveying and
eoccting q per cent the contract price being the
amount paid for the last named service. How important
part Of these varions items sometimes il
Illustrated in the LAYING Of certain crosswaks not long
aimee in Harlem, wherein the expenses OF making the
assessment exceeded The cost Of lay ins the walks. tlc
latter being $780, and the former Something more
TIE INPOssIBLITY OF OBTAINING ELpTESs.
These pavcments have bcen and stil laid Other
parts of the country niue lower rates than charged
here. Providence, T. l., IL Total cost
Del .Guarc yard is - 81 of which amount adj ing prop
cry charged but 81, the o''i e. % being
pad by th city. In Chicago they cost from 81 40 To- s.
per yard according to the Kind % pavement used AVID
In other cities about The la view Of wse facts
nlaly 10 inquire why the price should be 80 r.nc!
er.at,r lcrr: and III Instances. Why these pave
iurus should hc laid at all Associations have been
formed m various parts the city TO resist the action ~
the authorities these regards and protests have been
repeatedly made against such actlnn but generally Will
oui avail though to be found, where tn"
cl;or riscd AGAINST this system Of inposiiions wa
ieat thai il tuut not De sighted. fbGut year
the Comm Councl authorized the laying of wooden
pJVcUent Harlem at oosi or s2Oo1OJ, 10 ne la y!
,",>t by assessment upon adjoining property owncr~
The project sIcnUUu>ly and SttuIly oDInstl
rfovncnt was in scets not built upon, and the iaN
Wo;lI been equal t. confist alton OF the properly!
.cc!>r the pavement would nave bee" rotten De
Ic.c nc property "onid bc iiul'roveh
.;ht ihe TAXPAYERS are not always SO lof'nha.e ~,
g. t"r rclle try nave sought Gnavailingly redress in
til ~ Tie. law II,
pIoni!ywrcrs sion he 1rst presented to the BoaFi
Of ASSESSOR. nnd Nhc the assessment Is not at"fd by
hen Las sn6i send the matter L" tue board of
IAvisIcn and Correction Tor tner action should u" re-
lci he granted here, The usual course is 10 move the
court Nacac the ac,>Inctt Oh prober grounds IAc
General Term OF the supreme Court:has however AtId
tlat Tie faic of contractor To lAin!i M conac'.
however the dcre,tIon alleged l, moi proper
grond the interference az III" coar III such
.s.e. But IHe Board OF Revision can Only act upon
9uenty happens that The Board 81 Assessors hcHtc :"
,rpa objections addressed Ia them I" the former Bai
there wpnid seem 10 r ielHoi"n tIohiiu ioi te IN
terferCucc OF the court. And i'll some instances t"
a.o Dunni: tbc point raised that the Board ~
AssCssors had failed. contrary L" Jaw !" rthd me "9"c
10 The Board Oi IaNi-"l OLD JuuHc l,Tahii sd-
Bat on thc motion made b, the proper;y-owuers on
Oue-iuudfe Went -thr!-st acre the same point
among OtEcrs was raced. Jud aiGOlo denied Tie
notin to vacae In Inns c"sc sS'l;v. wa ai' I"
tween Third aud MI0>on-dvos III was necessary to CUT
away large 1uahtI! OF rock III tine neiShooIhoCd oil
Iomithiy,., but The contractor !c.t sioic VI rock on
Uhc side Ui The street. cAicIHE several ittt oil tr su
wa L. and the TO ic' cAtcnt on The other side lie
also eit L,fso quantity 81 ro,A IN the niGdc Of the
strCi. and IJsi, suil.cd i""ci 1ua!Ity oI stone "f
cur,s and cutters ihc contract lcldirtd. The con-
i,t pic. va about SGOOO. which gives
sessucni $50 per lot. The proper -"MHtrH
feeling themselves already heavily taxed ana per-
c.yr t.lat sn0Ld iUcl d.sirc 10 Duld al amy time,
they he Obliged remove Ills stone az lien Owi
exreIs"-n OTHER woid0, 40 the contractor worn anu
pay Tor the THESE oi9cctlDhs 70 me
Boa Il OF hsscssUIs, OF which Richard NJ Tweed
- ptcsId, ut The Board udcd thom and
Also neglected TO send them TO the Dodiu
AT kc, lOn. il claimed Dy that tis H. an oid
iI,n whereby /, is io;r 10 weary rcpor! own"rs
In mn. however IL oiy served further cAas