New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-08

have had narrow escape
Nv a coincidence which will be thought,
nerhans. "a have some scientific significance,
the skeleton of a mastodOn has been 1ouhd
near New burg, only three miles from the spot
where the famous skeleton which DR.. warren
discovered more than thirty years ago, anu
which has since served as the type OF the species
was found. Almost the whole skeleton seems
IN have been obtained-the skull, all the
bones of the legs except two pieces the Iips'
numerous vertebre, teeth which are III state
of perfect preservation, etc.-and inc ao4"
sition is unQaestionably one OF Importance
Our London letter describes notable con-
cession to public opinion on the part Oh inc
Roval Academy. Mr.. Alma-Tadema has been
at last admitted to full membership, anu MI.
Bouchton and Mr.. HerkOmer-the last named
being the young artist who took the Grahu
Prize at Paris last year-have been elec'eu
Associates. 1t is surprising that this recogn1-
ton should actually have been withheld Tor
considerable time from artists OF Mr.. Tademas
and Mr.. Boughton,s rank but, all things con-
sidered, it is quite as surprising perhaps that
they should have obtained 1T at all. Ureat
merit has won the victory over the oostrue-
tiveness of cliques, and triumphs OF that sort
are not so frequent i'll the world oil art that
they should be passed over without ceebra-
ton.
The annual tax levy, received from the Tax
Commissioners yesterday by the Board OF Al
derrnen sitting as n Board of Supervisors, VIII
set many a prOperty-Owner to making WY
faces. The rate of taxation for 1878 was
So 80 on 500, and it has been hoped up to
within n recent time that there might be, In
spite of the assured falling off in the valua-
tons of personal property, a slight reduction
il the rate for 1879, say to 50 so. But it has
been evident for some little time that no re-
duction in the rate could be expected, and
now it appears that there will be in all proba-
bihty an actual increase, putting the rate as
high as So 60. There has been curious
shifting of values. The valuations of real
property have risen, in all, S17,0OO,OOO, owing
to the increase i'll building no doubt largely
stimulated by the construction of the eie'
waited roads, to the assessment both OF the
elevated and surface roads as real estate, and
to an increased assessment of the Fourth
avenue improvement. On the other hand,
there is marked decrease IN the valuations
of personal property. Banks and insurance
companies have reduced their capital, many
have transferred their investments to Gov
eminent bonds which cannot be taxed,
and the assessment OF the surface rail
roads upon their tracks reduces the
amount of their personal valuations. The
decrease in personal valuations amounts 10
$21 100000, and the decrease in the total
valuation as compared with last year Is nearly
S4, 800, 900, The total amount to be raised
being larger than it was last year, and the
amount from which Ii is to be obtained being
apprecably smaller, each taxpayer must
pay larger bill than before. Every
property-owner will pay during the year
two and six-tenths per cent of the
assessed valuation of his property in order to
have it and himself protected by Government.
Meanwhile the enormous salary roll Of the
City remains comparatively untouched, and
those politicians who hold offices and those
who expect to hold them are equally COM
placent. The day may come when there will
he a genuine citizens movement to put an
end to this state of things.