The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-01
CITY HALL AFFAIRS.

Tho Mayor Visits the Public Institu.
tions-The Twelfth Ward Assessment
Books Opened-More Indignant Tax
payers.
The Mayor was absent from the executive chair
yesterday, and, as . consequence, the proportion
Of callers was wOndrously small. His Honor spent
the day in company with the Commissioners Of
Charities and Correction, in visiting the public in
stitutions under their care on Wards, Randall's
and Blackwells Islands.
The only business OF interest being transacted
in the City Hall was the paym ent OF Croton water
rents and the assessment Inv estiga'ion under the
management OF the committee OF the Board OF Su-
pervisors. The CrotOn Department, OF course, drew
The larger crowd as it was the last day Of the
month aud people wanted to pay up, 80 as to avoid
the interest chargeable for rents paid after date
In the Aldermanc Chamber Supervisors KOCH
McCaferty and Cooper opened t. G books of the as
sessment roll Tor the Twelfth ward, and quite
number Of compliments put in an appearance.
Supervisor Koch, In the course OF the session,
made the extraordinary statement that in q care
full examination OF the tax books he had dis
covered some shocking examples Of unequal taxa
ti0n For example, he had found that In Fifty
seventh street. between Second and Third ave-
nues there was four story brown stone front house,
built two years ago on the French nat plan which
was assessed at valuation OF only $4,000, the
original value of the lot. The house adjoining this
one was assessed at 81, 500, and another opposite.
a plain three story house, is assessed at $4,000
supervisor Koch promised to give full details OF
William Hayes OF ia East Nnety-nrs. street.
complained that the assessment on two lots owned
by him has been raised from $4,000 to 1921, O00 A
shanty OF his Is assessed ut $6.0oc-as mach as is
three story houses on the same block.
James Kelly, or ll9 West Fiiticth street, stated
that seven lots owned by him were IN 1871 asses
sed at SAT- 10 last year at s2s 900 and this year at
q Vp
rather deprecated than increased IN value.
Mr.. Hugh Preble. OF 26 West Twenty seventh
street, SAID he owned sixteen lots on Filth avenue.
They were located between Seventy third and Sew
enty- fourth streets, and Eighty second and Eighty.
the property was fl63,GC0; his year 1t was
$257, 000-an increase Of $4,000, or "a per cent
over last years valuation
Mrs. Anna Roach. OF 33s East Forty second Street,
said the house $40 East Forty street, owned
By her, was assessed much above us value.
Mrs HARRIET Cramsey, OF M. West 1920 street,
said she owned two frame houses III the same
street, and the assessors had Incl eased the valua
ton OF each by $1,000 since 1872.
Mr. Joan shiefer SAID lie owned property at the
northwest corner OF Tooth street and Eighth ave.
nue.. 1t was valued at $4,000 in 1872, and at
Sl1, 500 this year. The property was unimproved,
and there was neither gas nor water In the build
ings.
East 120th street. was increased from 2,5CO in
1872 to $4,000 this year. He claimed that the vau
alton was UNJUST inasmuch as IL was unimprOved
Mr. William Whitlock said he owned ten lots Oh
Eleventh avenue, between Tooth and 10th streets.
The aggregate valuation OF the property had bee,
Increased from $4,000 last year TO So 900 this J0a
and OF two other lots in the same neighborh0d the
| valuation had been raised from S2,00o to S6oOa pa
-. mon the committee that tho Increase was
excessive aud not justified BY any Increase OF value
| during that time.
Michael Cronan, owner OF some lots on fifty-six tn
street, between Second and Third avenues COM
planned that these were all lots 0 uuimprOved
property, the ground being rocky ana no paving
In the street The assessment had been Increased
from 5000 per lot In 1872 to 500 per lot in Is73
He had also property in Seventy-third street, be.
tween the same avenues. Seventy third street at
this point has not been cut through In ACT 1t is
not street or therougnIarc OF any kind, yet the
valued assessment oi these lots had been
From 5000 IN 1877 to 81 800,
Vha aomnittaa m IA i;,o ....l... - -.