The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-02
TAXES IN GOTHAM.
Who Pay the Large Assessments
MIR Astor,s luttie CHECK. u

Mr Astorss lIittie Check.
In old times every ward had its tax
collector; who was required to give Sc
curity says a New York letter to the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. l we'll
remember the last of this class, old
Oliver Cobb, whose bonds reached the
enormous sum of $500, 900. He had the
first ward, which included Wall street,
and hence the security was of cores.
pondlng amount. OF late years however
the collection has been made in Central
office which opens on October 1st. A
crowd appeared on opening day, since
interest is allowed on all payments made
t eiore the close of the mouth. Chief in
the number was John Jacob Astor's
clerk, who had a check for $406 ,235 90.
Reader, only think how rich 1 man
must be to pay a half million for taxes!
Will am III. Vanderbilt paid $4,000.
He is really a richer man than either OF
the Astors, but his property is chiefly
in shares in corporations which pay
their own taxes. Hence his bill is com
paratively light. This, also. is the reason
why Jay Gould pays such a small TAX.
He invests almost all his immense in
come in stocks, but has emo 9Th real G Estate
to call for a tax of SIS, 900. Three women
appear among the most prominent tax
payers. One is Miss Kitty Wolfe, the
beneticient spinster of Grace church,
who is assessed at S4O0. 900, and there
fore pays a tax of S9. 100. Mrs. A. t.
Stewart pays a tax of Sll 400 on $500, 900
f personal estate, in addition to thrice
that sum in real estate. Her Fifth ave-
nue. palace alone is taxed Sll. 400, being
valned al $500, 900. Mrs. Edwin D Nor
gan twidow Of our late ex-ao, ernor) is
assessed at 81, 00O, 600 in personal estate
in which she pays q tai OF $4,000. Per-
sonal property IS not easily reached, and
hence often escapes AK. This is one
reaso why some capitalists prefer it.
They conceal their bonds in some place
Of safe deposit, and no one is the wiser.
The late Moses TAYLOR, for instance, was
assessed at 81 100000 personal estate,
but after his death the latter was discov-
cred to be ten times greater, and he had
thus escaped taxation.
The entire assessment roll of real and
personal property is ST ,276, 900. 900, and
the gain since last year is sS43 000.WD0,0 o.
During the past ten years the valuation
of real estate has increased $24O. OOo, 900,
which is more than the entire increase
during the first 225 years of the city's
ONNSLCilCO. u ldCh SuOWS lllAG new
York is growing now more rapidly than
ever. The life Insurance capital alone
is $3.50, OH0 900 and the immensely ofthe
gas business is shown by the fact that
the min companies are assessed
at 5000, 900. The value of untaxed
church properly is $40. 600. 900, but this
does not include Trinity estate, whose
taxes are paid by tenants. The number
of taxpayers diminishes MS wealth accu-
mulates, and the big fish eatup the little
ones in that specially as wella as in every
thing else. The Astors are constantly
buying real estate, while Jay Could,
Russell Sage, and the Vanderbilts are
accommodating personal property.
New York ID becoming noted for its
grand commercial structures, but the
same tendencies to high cost is found in
the dwellings of the aristocracy. Will
liam III. Vanderbilt's palace is valued by
the assessors at $3.50, 900 and Mrs. A. T.
Ste warts at u half million. The former
pays a tax of l7,175, while the tax on
Mrs. Stewards palace is Sill $50. Some
people would think the above mentioned
sums would be sufficient if they were
merely rent, but to make Mrs. Stewards
house a paying investment it should
rent for $50, 600 u year. The valuation
If hotels may be inferred from the fact
that the Aston house is put down
at 81 900 900, while the Fifth avenue is
placed at $1,000, o0O-all at 80 per cent,
yalnatiOn.