Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-01


Mr. william Morgan, superintendent Of
assessments and taxes, has submitted to the
District Commissioners a detailed state
ment of the transactions of his Office since
the last annual report. He states that the
regular work completed in the Office during
the fiscal year comprises:
]. The preparation o. The general tax books,
consisting OF four large folio volumes of
about five hundred pages each, for the city Of
Washington, one of about two hundred
pages FOR Georgetown, and one OF about four
hundred pages for the county, which, pre-
pared IN duplicate, make twelve volumes.
containing more than five thousand pages.
with about hve ledger accounts on each, or
twenty-five thousand in the aggregate.
. The compilation of the general assess
ment book for the city of Washirg tOn. which,
though by contract. was done under the SUI
P6TviSion, and with the assistance Of the en-
llOyes Of this Office, serves not only a. nu-
ueTical index TO the tax books, but Is pToba
bly, Tie most indis pensable book of reference
ia ali the city archives. 1t consists only of
ole volume of over eight hundred pages, vet
REQUIRES great labor and accuracy in It's pre-
paIGtiOn, because il alone contains in syS-
tJmatiC aTrau cement all the particulars OF
exact locations, value and ownership for
each piece Of property in the city of Wash
fretOn, VIZ; the number of front q nd square
feet; the rate Of assessment: the total value
Of ground, and the names Of the owners OF
each lot, sEb-IOt or parce! OF lot in each
square.
3. The exact entry in the books Of sI trans
erdaT year. The importance and compass Of
this particular labor mag be estimated from
the fact that since my last report 20 date,
about four Thousand such transfers have
taken place, many of them involving a divf-
sion OF one piece of property into several
parts, conveyed To different owners, and ne
Cessitating the alteration of the account of
the former and the opening OF accounts with
the new Taxpayers.
In addition TO these three principal classes
of work done in this Office, 1t must be OBJ
being IN
telligence Office for all other District offices,
as well as for taxpayers, in all matters
concerning the present or past location,
assessed value or ownership of property. the
applications for such information have been
so numerous as to absorb much of the time
OF the clerks and seriously to interfere with
their regular work; for, although under the
present laws the board of assessors and ap-
peal are separate and independent, their
Iunetlons could scarcely be exercised at all
without constant reference TO this office. In
similar manner, also, other District offices
are compelled TO make frequent demands on
il; as for instance, for the examination OF
bonds, and bail offered, or for the establish
ment OF ownership or location of property on
which special improvements are TO be
assessed or claims are presented, &c. And,
moreover, the natural growth and progress
of the city and District every year largeiy
Increases the labor and responsibility of the
Office, upon the proper working of which de
Ponds by far the greatest part of revenue for
the District government and the most i'm
rOrtant interests of the property-holders.
THE TOTAL TAXABLE REAL PROPERTY
in the District for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1916, as shown by the fO0tings of the gen.
eTal tax books, is: For Washington city
SIS SIS .9$i; for Georgetown, S5,Si9.3I7; WASH
logtOn county, SS.ISi, l33; total, so ij2,CSl.
The value of real property in the District
owned by the U. ;. government, exclusive OF
public buildings, as shown by report made
To the Secretary OF the Interior March 30,
1872, by committee appointed to value the
same, is S1G1sG 33j. Since that report, the u
$. government has acquired squares 637, 6.s,
q a rVyG 1nN yCr6f
S5n5s total, SO col ,9O6.
The value OF real property in the District
owned by the District government, rs shown
by statements appended, is: Washington
city, 81 ,093 $50; Georgetown. SIi0.59t; Wash
irgiOn county, S31 $50; total, : ,2G6, f24.
The value of real property in the District
owned by churches, charitable institutions,
&c, exempt from taxation under the act
approved March Sd, ISIS. as shown BY stale
men lds appended, is: Washington city. So
county, sos, 500; total, S4OiG, 678; showing the
total value of real property in the District,
not including the public buildings belonging
10 The L. 5. government, on which no taxes
are paid, TO be SCI ,97j,0OS.
NEW BUILDINGS.
Attention Is called TO the fact that probably
l,2tG new buildings have been erected in this
District since the last general assessment.
and that the time is rapidly approaching
when the annual assessment of such new
improvements should be commenced SO that
the preparation OF the tax books for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1877, be completed in
due season fofthe prompt collection OF taxes
for that year.
THE NEW MAP OF THE CITY OF GEORGE
TOWN
having been completed. and that city being
now systematically arranged by squares ia
the same manner as the city of Washington
II is recommended that the preparation of a
general assessment book OF that CITY be
ordered. In making this recommendation
there can be no doubt that the increased
revenue derived would in short time more
IMAM pay all the expenses incurred in prepar-
ing said book, and II would add greatly to
The ef1ctency OF this office and the convent
ence of taxpayers by having a uniform sys-
tenn of assessments for the two cities.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
III is also recommended that map for the
county OF Washington be ordered; such being
greatly needed, aud one of the most effective
means to facilitate assessment in the county,
ana would materially aid IN making trans
1t is recommended that arrangements be
made for the immediate repair, and if neces- |
sary the reproduction of all defective books |
OF record in this office, as, for instance the !
general assessment books of 1864 and 1862 the |
only copies in existence being in such a con- |
dltlon that they cannot possibly last another |
II is recommended that n numerical index
OF the first five volumes Of transfer books in |
this office be made.
Almost all of the tax books for the wears |
nom 1872 TO 1881 being lost, great incOnve- |
nieDee is caused by the lack OF such an index, |
ana me cost OF preparing one would be COM
ESTIMATES
OF the amounts that will be REQUIRED for the |
support of the Office Of the Superintendent of |
assessments and taxes for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1871, are appended as follows =
Salaries-Su So 900. less 20 per !
cent, $1,000; three clerks, 81 800 less 20 Der
cent, $500; one messenger. $500, less 20 per
cent. $40; total salaries, $500; twelve tax
DOCKS, ls1i-Io, $3.50; repairing and binding
record books, $500; stationery, &c, $500; IN
cldentals, 800; total, 81, $50.
NO assessment of personal property for tax
alton for the year ending June 30, 1876, was
returned TO this office by the board OF asses
sorS.
Appended TO this report are several state
mems.
DISTRICT PROPERTY IN WASHING TON.
No. l shows real estate in Washington as
sessed 10 the District as follows: Lots % TO
-, square 70, ground assessed at 80 cents per
foot; assessed value OF improvements
$4,000; OF ground, Si,94i; used as a public
school. LOIS 10 TO p, square 7S, ground as
Sessed at co cents per foot, S2l, $50; vacan..
lOI22, square IS, ground assessed at 20 cents,
%, 40; improvements. S3 000-total, Sc, I3-;
police station. Subs. 24 TO 80 mart g. lot
ana part 5. square Tsp, ground assessed at As |
cents, sl5,iOi; improvements, so ,OO0-total,
Ss5,IA; used as public school. Sub +,
SC uare lSi, 3,l6G feet of ground, assessed at /,
20 cents S2,SE9; improvements; SlOOGO-to-