The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-09
THE ASSESSMENT INQUIRY.
Some Queer Exhibits Of Favoritism or Igno-
rance in the Assessment system-Ths In
vestig alton Adjourned Until the 2Sth.
InStant-A Lot That Can Bs
Reached by Balloon.

The special committee OF the Board Of Super
visors-Messrs. Koch and McCanerty- continued
yesterday their investigation OF the excessive and
unequal assessments of Twelfth. Nineteenth
and Twenty second ward property, and some
tra0rdinary facts were developed. The chief cause
Of complaint OF property is that. compared
with other equally or more valuable property in
their vicinity their houses and lots are assessed at
an exaggerated and manifesty absurd and unjust
valuation.
Yesterday q HERALD reporter remarked to
Supervisor McCafferty that tho assessments ap-
peared to have been made without any system.
'srhats just where you are mistaken" replied
the Supervisor; "this Is all system-a system
which was intended to produce these results either
through favoritism or fraud. Oh, yes my dear sir,
there plenty OF system visible here plenty Off i'll"
The first complaint entered was that 9: Joseph
Kohner, owner OF a house and lot on Fifth avenue,
between Eighty-lfth and Eighty-sixth streets. The
property is assessed at $780, 600. which is unjust and
excessive contrasted with the fact that houses ON
the avenue further south, but much larger and
occupying finer sites, are assessed at the same
figure, This house and lot should not be assessed
for more than $4,000.
Mr. ROsenbatt owns q house and lot 20S East
Fftieth street, assessed for 1000. He could not
raise over 81, 900 on 1t on mortgage and said the
valuation should be reduced to $4,000. stable
adjoining greatly affected its value His residence
ALSO S25 East Fiftyseventh street least of Second
avenue), has no cellar. but Is assessed at $4,000.
In 1889-70 this house was assessed at s., 000 and
was then owned by Coupcillor Devltn. The house
adjoining Is assessed at $50 and the complainant
Is willing to exchange and give $1,000 In cash
difference to boot
Mr.. John Kehr said that his house on Eighth ave-
nue. and Eighty sixth street was assessed at
oJuof tim n M
than it ought to be, and much higher than that of
similar property in the neighbOrho0d.
Mr.. william Hill complained that his property on
Forty-ninth street and Eleventh avenue was val
ued at $1,000, although 1t was only one-third of
lot, while full lots adjoining were assessed the
same amount.
Supervisor McCaferty called attention to the
grossly unequal valuations Of property on Fifth
avenue, between Eighty-nith and Eighty. sixth
streets, and property on On the same avenue BE-
said that an examination Of the tax books
showed that the house northwest corner Of
was valued at 800 900 the house adjoining is1isS'
u NE next house At s4soS Sna me s
Filth avenue and Thrtyfrst street, 30.4xl0O, with
lot and stable was valued at only $4,000 The
Supervisor then compared the above valuations IL,
avenue, between Eighty fifth and Eighty-slxth
streets:-On the corner OF Eighty-nfth street ana
Fifth avenue vacant lot was valued at $4,000;
the house next the lot 2l.10xl00, at $35, 900; the
next house, 22x1OO, at $40, 900; next house,
$40, 600; next house, 22x1oo at $4,000;
next house, 2LlOxlOo So, 5000, and dod the cor
said the Supervisor the inequality OF those valua.
lions Is shown by the fact that the house on Fifth
avenue, between Thirtieth and Thrty-frst streets,
which Is valued at $40, 0o0 would rent at $4,000
year; while the houses on Fifth avenue, between
Eighty-fiith and Eighty.sixth streets. would yield
no more than 81, 500 year each The supervisor
then said that every successive examination OF
the books resulted In showing new and more glar-
ing enOrmties than have hitherto come to his
notice.
Mr.. william A. Juoh said he owned forty-nine
houses In the Nineteenth ward nearly all or which
were assessed at much higher valuation than
that OF 1872. The average increase on each house
was about $500. They even charged him for extra
| ratons OF water for some OF his houses that were
untenanted Q.aughter.) II they kept on increas-
ing the taxes he thought 1t would be better FOR him
! to give the city all his property.
Mrs. Benjamin Butler. OF No. 507 Canal street,
owns house at No. 1877 Eighth avenue, which has
increased Its valuation this year from s. 900 to
| $4,000. She alleges that this IL an excessive and
unequal valuation,
| Mr.. Joseph +. Mccormack, living G.. 40. 321 East
Fifty. eighth street. submitted the following sched-
ule TO show the increase III valuation Of property
! owned by him the uptown WardS:-