The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-29
THE ASSESSMENT TROUBLES.
Another Hearing OF the Nineteenth
Ward Property Owners-What the
Supervisors Will DO--Queer Ways OF
Fixing Values.

Supervisors VIII Do--Queer Ways OF
Fixing Values.
The special committee OF the Board OF Super
vsors having charge Of the real estate assessment
books OF the Nineteenth ward, met In the Alder
manic chamber yesterday again to receive COM
plants OF taxpayers as to unequal assessments on
their property. Quite large number Of complaints
were received during the day. Supervisor
McCafrerty yesterday informed HERALD reporter
that it is his intention to have the assessments
equalIzed, and that the Board OF Supervisors have
the power to do this, although they cannot alter
the aggregate valuation Of the property. For ex-
ample, in many OF the districts from which COM
plants have been received 1t is found that man
owning house lot has been assessed on valua-
tion Of perhaps s15,O00 while neghbor next door,
on the other side Of the same street, owning an
equally large and valuable piece OF property, has
been assessed for only $4,000. Such errors IL Is
claimed. are the result OF either ignorance-or dis
honesty on the part of the Assessors who made up
the lists, ana the Board will endeavor to remedy
this by making the assessments In pro rata pro-
portion to the actual value OF all the property, re-
duclng some and increasing Others.
The reporter asked Supervisor Koch, OF the spe-
cial committee also, where the Board OF Super
law they proposed to modify the assessment. ~
swat, wait litue,n replied the supervisor
until we get the facts out ana we shah nave al
Supervisor McCanerty regrets very much that the
investigation did not take wider scope, so as to
states that when he made his motion in the Board,
before the midsummer adjournment, to refer
the books OF the Twelfth, Nineteenth and Twenty
second wards TO a special committee for scrutiny
he supposed that other members OF the Board
would make similar motions regarding the assess
ment lists Of other wards, and that In that manner
the books OF the whole city would be examined.
Such, however, was not the case and the result
that only the books OF these three wards can at
present be fully inspected. The following were
some OF the complaints made yesterday
Hos Of 20 6gS ae a as I ots
situate between ThirSy-nnt and Fiity-ninth
streets, east OF Avenue A. has been increased by
The average increase in the valuation of each lot
was $500. All the property was unimproved, and
this Valuation on the ground that the lots are OF
rocky, unimproved characters VIII not bring as
much in the market as they would hast year, while
at less prices than during last year.
Peter Rush, 80 East sixty-third street, valuation
increased from $4,000 to $500; house adjoining,
although ten feet longer, assessed the same.
Mr.. K. M, Beckwlth, living at No. 70 East Fifty
third street, owns house valued ut $4,000, which
rents for only $1,000, and was valued In 1871 at
$4,000.
two lots on that avenue, valued by the Assessor at
$4,000. He claims that the valuation Is greatly In
excess OF the true value.
j. TrOchOur, living at SEVENTEEN street, between
First and Second avenues, claims that valuation
OF SO, 900 on a lot owned by MIN is excessive.
w. Collins owns property on FOrty-nlntn street,
between First and Second avenues. One Of his
lots valued last year at 400 has been valued this
year at 81, 500.
Joseph Kohlmann, OF 4O7 East Forty-sixth street,
owns house and lot assessed at 81 $50. He claims
that the valuation is excessive.
Dr. +. Reger, OF 7l8 Lexington avenue, IS the
proprietor OF several lots on Fiitysixth street. be-
tween Second and Third avenues, which were
assessed at valuation OF $500 each which the
Doctor claims Is outrageousiv high, Us the advance
is not warranted by any enhancement OF value, the
street being unpaved, without sewers and the prop
erty in the vicinity is all unimproved.
James Fettretch, owner OF property in Sixth ave-
nue., between Fifty-fifth and Ffity-sixth streets,
made peculiar complaint. He is the owner or the
house No. 14o East Sixty-frst street, and states
that that property was assessed at $l7,5OO. while
the adjoining house. having three feet less OF 'front.'
age, is valued at only $4,000. In 1872 his Sixth
avenue property was assessed at $147 000 this year
1t is assessed at $23 600. Last year the valuation
was made upon houses and lots. when IN iact there
were no houses on the lots This year,
however, some OF the lots have buildings
on them, but the total assessment at the
present time should not exceed $780, 000. Mr.. Fet-
tretch concluded by stating that he had been
called upon by several PERSONS who informed him
that upon payment to them OF a fee ne could have
his assessments reduced. They claimed to have
some connection with or influence In the Commit
tee OF Seventy. He called on the Commissioners
of Taxes in reference TO the affair, and they in
formed him that the valuation could not be re-.
duced.
Several other complaints were made by various
persons The committee VIII resume lts nearing