The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-27
UPTOWN ASSESSMENTS

The Real Estate "Bear" Market-Rich Folks
Stricken with Poverty-People Who Win
Sell Out Cheap-"Go East"
There was quite large attendance ofNineteenth
ward property owners yesterday, at the chamber
Of the Board OF Supervisors to examine the assess
ment rolls Of their property. The Committee Of
Supervisors-Messrs. Koch, McCanerty and
Ccoper-were present, and the hearing Of COM
plants was resumed at eleven O'Clock.
It should be understood that the present assess
ment lists were not made up or prepared by
the new Board OF Assessors, but are the
work OF the old Board, which went out OF
existence with the appointment under the
new charter OF the present Commissioners.
These assessment books were closed by law on
the soth day OF April last, the day on which Gov
ernor Dix signed the new charter. The present
Board Of Assessors was not appointed until nearly
or quite month later. 80 that whatever merit or
fault may be discovered in the assessments may be
ascrbed Justly to the old Tammany regime. As to
the benefit to be derived from the present nvesti-
cation, or indeed as to the power Of the committee
or even of the whole Board of Supervisors to alter
the assessments, opinions differ widely. A
HERALD reporter yesterday converted with
matter and while Supervisor Cooper expressed
himself in the most decided manner to the eject
that there could be nothing done by the Supervt
sors to remedy the manifesty improper and IRA
ttonal assessments OF valuation Of the property,
Supervisor McCanerty asserted that the Board can
remedy 1t q nd will do SO.
While there Is no doubt whatever that large
proportion OF the property in the Nineteenth ward
has been assessed without reference apparently
to any definite rule or principle Of Valuations it
was quite freely asserted yesterday that exAlder-
man Terence Farley is suo rosa, making good
ward real estate. He is .vely heavy owner
IN that part Of the 6Sty having Ing pIrshased
were Cheap as dirt" ten OF teen years ago W i
was at one time matter OF current history that at
nearly every meeting OF the Aldermen, six or seven
directing the Board of Health to have filled in, at
public expense, with good and healthy earth"
mated. That real estate has certainly appreciated
very much in value since then, but Mr. Farley, 1t is
understood does not believe his property is worth
as much as the assessors do.
The following are some Of the complaints made
Mr.. William Gamble complained that his house
on Seventy-first street and Third avenue was as
sessed at $500, an increase OF $4,000 over that OF
The next complaint was made by Thomas Reilly,
the owner Of houses Nos. 1901 AMI 1908 First ave-
nue., who stated that an old stable, built on the
rear Of one of his lots was valued at $1.70O. The
houses were valued at $500, while others that
brought in more rent were set down at only 81, 1000
Forty fourth street. near Third avenue. 1t was as
sessed at $11,oo0 while larger house on the cor
ner , was assessed at only $1,000 - . ..,
borhoOd OF Eighty-rrst street aud First avenue
Lots yalued in 1869 at $500 are now valued at
$1,50O A lot'valued in 1S7o at 5000, and on which
he had built q house costing $4,000, ID now valued
at $4,000. He could not now he said, get mort
Samuel Holrnes said he owned a house on Fifth
avenue between Eighty-nfth and Eighty-sixth
streets, winch was valued at $4,000, while an adj
joining one was set d0wn at only $S5, 600. He pro-
tested against the injustice Of the valuation.
Owen NJ. Gowen owns several lots on Eighty
nues The value Of each lot has been raised
$500, while the property has, he alleges, decreased
Mrs. Harriet Denning, owner OF o house in
Seventy-second street, complains that the valua-
ton this year Is 500 more than it was last year.
David LeibOld has property in First avenue, be-
tween Eighty first and Eighty-second streets. The
assessors have got his house and lot down as worth
$4,000, and his rentals amount to but 5000 per
year. He thinks his property is worth about
$4,000.
street, near Madison avenue, which were assessed
at 900 in 1872, are now valued at $1,000 each.
John Gillgan complained that his house, No. 227
East Seventy ninth street, was assessed at $500,
$4,000
tween Filth and Sixth avenues. owning six lots
SAID that last year they were valued at $27,o 600
Wnlle tnls year the amount naq been increased by
$4,000. The lots, he affirmed, would sell for so
much in the market to-day as last year.
George b. Alderman, OF FOrty-ffth street, be-
tween Fifth and Sixth avenues, made complaint
that last year his property was assessed at Sill 0OO
whereas this year It has been increased to $4,000
no improvements having been made since.
Edward Henry OF Seventy-thfrd street. between
First and Second avenues, owns four lots, which
last year were taxed at $500 and this year at
ST. $50. He did not see any reason for the increase
as the street in which the property Is situated has
not been opened.
B. w. Evans OF 14s East Eighty first street, owns
ten lots from Nos. AZ to 80 East Eighty first
street. These in 1872 were valued at $4,000 each,
Supervisor McCaHerty asked what avenue the
property was nearest to and Mr. Evans replied,
Near Madison" "But," continued Mr.. Evans,
"what find fault with most is that lots of the same
size as mine and located nearer to Fifth avenue,
are assessed at a valuation Of about two thousand
dollars less than mine. ] always understood that
the nearer they were to Filth avenue the more vau-
able they became"
.'Who was the assessor P'' inquired Supervisor
,MScCaerty; sive us his name; 1t ought to go into
''Weil his name was Wagner" replied Mr..
Evans, ''and he said property was more valuable
up there as you 60 east Qaughter) or late
years the great cry has been, go West In order to
become RICH"
Supervisor Rockwell, guess the Assessor
right, for, living further east you get the day
light sooner, and that's worth something.
The complaint was entered During the day
about seventy-hve to eighty property owners ap-
Nineteenth ward books will be kept open tO-m0r-
row, Tuesday and Wednesday, and on Thursday
the Twelfth ward books will be opened.
ALLEGED MALPRACTICE.
A Married Woman the victim-Arrest
SupanfcfOn.