, 1873-04-27
BUSINESS NOTICES.
THE TAXES FOB 1878.


Tho rood citizens Of Chicago who express sur
nr;sa st the large difference between their tax
bills for 1871 and 1879, should remember that
the tax-rate Of 1871 Was reduced one-haf after
tho fire, while there Was no corresponding re-
duction Of the appropriations and expenditures
TIE consequence was that there was large de-
fciency. This deficiency has been increased
from time to time By tho refusal Of Large prop
erty-owners to pay their taxes, which refusal
they have been able to make secure by appeals
IN the Supreme Court, and other deyices Since
the fire, the city has been in the receipt OF the
money from the State on account Of the Canal
lien, which has been practically loan, as the
city has to pay the interest, and eventually the
princioa}. OF the bonds issued for that work
Considering the extraordinary circumstances OF
the CITY since the fire, the rate Of tsxataon has
becr extremely low. But the tlmo Tor payment,
and the time for taxation to meet that payment,
has come: the tax bill for 1872 is OF necessity
mrch greater than that OF 1871, but the tax bills
for 1873 promise to be Of much greater masnl-
tude.
The city tax levy for 1872 was about q, ,2oo,-
600. The expense Of the police and fire depart
ments WIS paid l.rge]y out of the money OBJ
timed from the State, and it was not unreason-
eb}e to expect that the direct levy for 1878 will
fall short Of IS 900 900, if indeed it do not e1-
coed that sum The city portion OF the tax
le7ied for county purposes for 1872 Was about
.1xv ri
twice that sum was the absolute Limitation OF the
new Constitution. The State Auditor having
now resolved to quAdruplo tho assessment OF
valuation. the County Commissioners Will have
power to make tho citsis share Of the county levy
aDv sum not exceeding gt32, 800. 600 for new e1pen-
ditures, and as much additional as may be
needed to par the interest and principal Of the
debt existing before 1870. How far this addl-
tionnl power to levy taxes and expend money
will be- exercised By the Board OF County Com
missioners can bo best understood hy
rcadin1 over T. List OF the names OF
tho Commissioners. It is probable that
the city will be called upon to contribute at least
a5o0,0O0 towards the county taxes for 1878.
The sa1no Board has obtained authority to issue
bonds to tho eum OF 81 500, 600, provided tho
people vote afirmatively therefor at the next
election; but, if the valuation OF assessment be
increased four-fold, the Commissioners will
hive authority to issue the bonds without
asking the popular consent, and the Issue O.
these bonds will involve an additional levy O
e1o5, 900 annually for interest The State II:
for 1878 will be about e5o0,00o; but, ahon1'
the,o be no change made in the school levy TO
State purposes, the aggregate State ta1 in thi
county will not be less than $500, ,0oo.~ The tow1
taxes in tie city will be about $4,000; tho Wes
Side Park tax e175: 900; South Side Park take!
s25o,ooo; North Side Park taxes 92oo, 900. 9hs
cost of special improvements will be in round
numbers s1,ooo,ooo. The tax levy in Chicago
for al purposes, for 1878, will approximate te
something Like the iollowing:
City taxcs-
Gtata taxcs. tMoooo M
Town ttIeA. oVu!
pnrE ta1eS. 9toNut
Special assessments. .......'.'''.... A,ooo"V'
Iot1l.-- '-e7o'o"o'
In this estimate there is nothing included fol