Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-14
special Taxes for Street Improye-
ments-
MEETING OF OWNERS % PROPERTY ON poua-
TEENIH. @ AID e ETRkRTs. AND

MEETING OF OWNERS OF PROPERTY ON PoUR-
TBENTH,G AND sTRkRTs, ANDsEw
YORK AND VERMONT Avenues.
meeting OF owners If property on the above
named streets and avenues, on which improve
works, was held st the board of ira rooms last
evening, the object being to consider the sab
lect Oh amount OF assessment OF special take
IoT paving, &c, opposite their premises. Hon
Jrhh wilson called the meeting to order, and
Dr- homas Miller was chosen chairman, and
Nr. y. ID. Larner secretary.
Mr. Wilson said that although he was no
longer citizen or voter in the District, he hsd
an interest here md wa in favor OF imprO We
ments. The board of public works were en-
titled to coInmendston for improving the streets
and avenues and he hoped they would continue
the Improvements without making the taxes
there for crerOus o the people. Il reference to
the improv ements recently made on New York
ayeI ue and other streets, he had called on the
surveyor, snG tn Il officer had suggested tn It a
committee be appointed to wait on the board and
ask hat the prop erty- holders be taxed for the
improvements in front of their property only
and not tor the church and school property bor-
dering on the improvement. Tue manner in
whi' 1t w.s proposed 20 collect these taxes he
would not stand, and If after a conference with
the hoard. something is not done for their relief
ard an attempt i mace 10 collect the as ess-
ments the cit Zens should institute proceed, ny,
10 It strain its collection by legal injunction.
al. John ID. Clark thought that the property
sEUJ id be charged onl, for The concrete = we
meLt. cur0stone,, aud draining. He thought
that citizens, when they receive their bills.
should demand the items, and if such bill l. not
TeTCeIei hem they should apply for nam
Janus. He claimed that the citiz ms should not
e faxed Tor the improvements in front OF
churches, and il was illegal that they shOuld be.
ri. Wilson satd th.t Mr. Forsyth had in
form ed him that The appropriation for the in
teIstctOns having fai IN short, the property
holders are being taXec to make mp the amount.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution, which wa~
adopted, that ia the opinion OF this met ing
the mode taxation adopted b. the boarl OF
public works is excessive, end should not be i'm
posed upon the taN-pay ers."
Mr.. John Z. Hilton moved that committee
be appointed to wait Oh the board ami ask for
bills of items.
Mr.. Jose ph Bryan opposed such motion. The
board Monld probably reply through the paters.
Mr.. Hilton said such a report ought to be sat
islactory, for the all could see it.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution that a com
mittee OF hve be appointed 10 wait upon the
board OF public works and respectfully request
OF them report of the work and items OF tax
alton, and il the facts lie as represented, tn
respectful remonstrance be presented % thu
beard, praying revision Of the mode OF taxa
ton, and that the prOperty-hoders be taxed
only for the improvements made in front Of their
MT. j. W. Marin stated that he was present
with Mr.. Wilson when Mr.. Forsyth explained
the manner OF assessment, and he (Mr. J also
said that the errors OF Gen. Green (the en- gineer
CT the toaI d. were charged to the property, and
he thought it onerous to charge the cost of
changing grade three or more times to the
property holders.
MIR. John q. Hardness objected to the latter
CiGuSC VI tIc ItcOlntlDJ, anu ScStSQ that IT
be stricken out. He had no doubt if respect
full request is made for items they will be fur
nished.
Mr.. Nsirn thought that the errors in the
mode were made by following the opinion of
William A. Cook; that MIR. Forsyth had said as
much.
The resolution was amended hy striking out
the clause suggested by Mr.. darkness, and
adopted.
Mir. Marin moved that one property-holder
from each street on which Improvements have
been made and bills rendered, be appointed On
the committee, agreed to.
Mr.. George W. Hardness said he lived in what
Is known rs the holy neighborhood, where
churches and school houses make one-foursh
the frontage. He did hot want to pay Tor them
but would pay the tax for his own property
cheerfully. He had no doubt if Mr.. Shepherd
isapprosched respectfully, it would be all right.
Mr.. Shepherd is a good man, and he did not
know any other man in the District who could
have tackled the work OF improvements and
carried il on like he had, but unfortunately he
had bad crew around him. He Mr.. Harkness)
would go on with the improvements, but il was
not right to charge property-owners for i'm
proving other property than their own. The
improvements are worth all they cost. The
committee was appointed as follows Hon.
John Wilson, New York avenue; VIM. Myers,
for 18th street; Geo. W. Hardness. for street.
+. III. King, for G. street; j. p. Hilton for Yer
mont avenue, and the meeting then adjourned,
subject to the call of the chairman.