, 1879-07-13
And Makes a Generally Salts
factory Assessment.
oonparisou Between the Figures Of 1873
and 1879.
whr and Where Reductions We're Made-.-
The Heavy Taxpayers.

d;tion attending the assessment this year q
compared with the long siege the Assessor ha
n il last year. The real-eatate books the
r.re turned over to the County on the 29th @
Jn1y, sud the personal property books on th
16tb Of August. This year the Assessor beea
gu,k about the 7th of May. By the 23d Of Jun
the results Of the deputies tours around town ha
berp copied of on to the sheets, aud evcrythn
xas 10 readiness for the meeting OF the Tow
Board OF Review to hear complaints. Owing
to The admirable system adopted br h1r. Drak
10 notifying people BY postal card OF the assess
mept, and thus giving them an opportunity"t
shov in advance any injustice that might hay
been done them, the complaints before TIL
Board OF Review were few III number and, IS :
rule, unimportant in character. After remain
ing in session a week. the Board adjourned
That vas On the 90th Of june Yesterday, jus
1wo weeks later, with smaller force than thai
employed last year, the work OF transferring
the results to the permanent books was com
aetcd, and By 2 O'Clock In the afternoon the
volumes were on the way across the E1er. Tht
oflce has been conducted on
STRICTLY BUSINESS PRINCIPLES,
and to this Is IN great part due the ercellen,
showing thus made Ia point OF expedition. Il
Is well-Enowu fact, too, that men work harder
aud better when paid for their labor as it is pcr-
formed and when, also, they are naid in cash.
Last year the Assessor and his force took their
pay in orders on which they had to stand shave
at the hands Of the "cent-per-cent meD." This
rear the Town Board was in funds, the Super
visor paid tl,e.Assessor's vouchers as they we're
presented, the pay OF the deputies having been
fixed by the Board at s. 3 day last spring, and
the men drew their money Without having to
submit to discount, and without any re1atious
deluys. The result Is apparent.
As TO the assessment itself, it may be said,
generally, that while there are reductions in
many instances from the figures Of last year, it
is believed to be on the whole more ncur1y
just and equitable assessment than any that has
been made in the South Town for years, the
paucitY Of complaints being substantial evi-
dence Of that fact.
TIE REAL-EsTATE ASSESSMENTS
has been made with good deal of care in order
10 place values according to income, aud to yet
rs near oue-thfrd of the full value as possible.
In some localities, such as portions of State and
Madison streets, the assessment is as high or
higher than last year, while in other localities
where business is dull and rentals light there
has heen considerable reduction. The
valuation this year on property north Of
Madison street Is about $10,0 900, against
$lL100,OO0 last yesr: and ia the district be-
tween Twelfth street and the river it is little
less than S20,00o000, against 81, .0ou IN
lSls The greatest reduction has been made in
the valuation of buildings, the t1gures being
based On the best Of authority to be had as to
the eost. Of erecting buildings at The ,nFessnt
time. In the district between Twelfth And
Twenty second streets, west Of State, the re-
duction I. $1150,0W or about Is Der cent; and
east Of State, $25S,000, or per cent. South OF
Twenty-secopd to Thirty-frst east Of State,
the reduction is S189,235, or s per
cent and from Thirty first to the
limits, east Of State, sl,2o4,5 $40, or 81
secoud, to Thirty-frst. and east OF Halsted the |
reduction is sG26. 17o, or Is per cent South Of
Thirt5-rst to the litaits, west OF State and east
OF Ha1sted, the reduction is 3212. 183, or Is per
cent West OF Aalsted street the reduction il |
$l5a0M, or 2o.pc cent.
AMONG THE NOTABLE REDUCTIONS
Is the assessment on the Palmer House. Last
year 1t WAS S426 000 and this wear it is S933 0Gl
Ihr Assessor refused to make any production
on last years figures, and kept on refusing
until the receipt Of the following communica-
ton, which seemed to indicate the line OF duty:
N. Frank DRAKE, -4ssessor for South Chicago
DEAn S1R: We have been asked by Mr.. Palmetto
ralne bis hotel. the Palmer House, and it Ia our
opinion that 81, 900. 00U is = most liberal va}na-
non aud DO not believe It possible to Fell the
property for thxt psce, after most thoroughly ad-
Fcsthng It. A. j. AyER11L,
ALBERT /. Coz,
HENRr c. MohEr.
WIIL1AM D. EEKPpoF,
JAMES II. REESE.
1HK FOLLOWING COMPARATIVE TABLE
Fill show al 4 glance the difference between the
assessments On the more prominent blocks ia
The central portion OF the city for 1878 and 1879: