New-York tribune., 1884-01-11

,s,ner real property isequitaby assessed ana ct,c
ona UTferfy Is properly reached another
q considerable importance arises va Gc,eneIe liable to
r In ia collection These deficiencies arss a IN
e ns pne%pa % q the sSne Certainty those
laid on realty, reductions mace IN rem NSeu,ber / 10
and the rebate allowed on taxes peloe tbot an allow
meet such denciences the law provides os thSS 10 lew may
ance not exceeding three per ce1 o Hr tbe wear 1851
De De tota ieTv Of 26, was 10
less than per cent The not he less than $500
600 while those from other causes VIII oe a' NJ; rconnt
600 The loss to the revenues oreadv amounts to
tha, one and half million dollars WIiie rnr annoIut
n2n M Hsg oon Gds-Twc serious detscaons nSSe Se
been brought to light within the ph naVment of cou
ions and is stated IN the report OF the % To have
Accounts TO have commenCe,u a x,f4 s9o The official
Who was apparently most closely denIieu ~ nvestia-
mstter died previous its discovery ana no hoJ nnr
non vet made has clearly either the ,seu hc
sued hy him, who his accolpnes cnarate infer
fact seems obvious however that had bcn ever.
est account kept and proper y@saSe @ hren arisen
cSe,l no such condition oi things Couu veor
in the Department. least ol all 0oi'""'o '"'
without detection ,,.,o prreop q, Arrears and
yras of nature not so easily gnarded az had
rries were made bV one Of the CLERKS l"lp Va"
been discharged before their deecu3i snation by
afdcr OF court The amount OF these IaiaS sen m loss 10
S20O0o whether any Oh os Sa character OF this
fraud + very serious affecting as u % os ha Datnre
- the oFeoce unfortunately shows that IL mus n.o
Scn done i'm connection with interested parties Al e
facts i'm the case as they successfully Teve ,or
cnmnnicated by the Comptroller to the DstTcA''of
nev. by whom they were laid before the Grand jury!
THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXEs AND AssESSMhNIs'
There is no department of the City Government ''o
noWerful for good OF evil than that OF Taxes ana
,en. here is the foundation upon which must pe ou'
all calculations for public improvements ana ioi ~
mort of the City Government from year 10 year -
Indgmcpt disregard OF the laws or Oh 'he sinl'0 P
inles of instce and equity which underhe then mu9'
,nFt he Cit
itad to an uncaua distribution OF public uuIdeS' r0i
of Judgment or unjust and fraudulent pracuceS III any
other lepartmen may he corrected with We
ease gnd the effects Of such errors OF pracoI ni,p6
confined within the scope OF s coInpaatiNg d
functions Not with the Department VI oiiHatiop Of
Assessments; for erroneous and uhe99' iT Lad to
real and personal estate for purposes o. th Whole
consequences Of serious 1g'vi vn9 widespread dis
honesty In efforts escape the payment o d JuS' P'0P
non of the necessary expenses OF government . o,,o
snC Investigation have been able thus iaI 10 &
with the assistance OF the Commissioners Ol t
hn Tiscnt condition OF affairs in this department
dscloses what seems to me startnnI ~ illustrate
my meaning present for your consideration le Io'"
An examination and valuation OF
eighiy-seyen pieces OF real estate by
men possessing expert knowledge as
In the valuc OF the city real estate
shows that the fair aggregate actual
value Of those eighy-seyen pieces VI saa oso 600 90
rb@ liUtldls ,ttgrerne value Of the same pieces
of properly as taken from the books OF
The DEPARTMENT OF Taxes and Assess
Ineuts by a Commissioner oI Accounts o. aoc qco m
1s......-.....--.--.---..- '''''''' -----
Aggregate difference .............. l5'533'61o oo
And more than this: the fact is also disclosed t%nat %
willie many of these pieces Of property are valued D n
Department at very nearly their fun valuc many %
ore yalued al than fifty per cent or lner Icd Na
To such an extent does this state of things seem 10 h
that hesitation In ree9mmenuing h J'r InveSti
stems be taken by you will lead to tnoiougu ed
tion Of the present system and of the methods pursued
n making yaltU1 ya9s 20 and the resnts thereof nd
idas 10 corporate owners and to the city, as shown W
iri is Worthy of ydur early and earnest consideration
In order readustment and equazaI9mm m o. G With
will he likely 10 insure just and equtabe u>lul
lion NJ tay1ton than a present exists believe that te
scco1p~hmcnt of such an equalization with the single
view TO Just distribution of this necessary oVluen "o
Immediately lead to large reduction III tue Tax I"'o
THE AoUEDUCT COMMISSION.
fUndcr this head the Mayor reviews the history OF the
formation Of commission, and then continues as lo
lOws:]
Al tho frat regular meeting Of the Commissioners, in
AUGUST the Commissioners of Public Works In accord
apce with the requirements OF the law submitted plans
for the construction of damnow known as the Quaker
Bridge DAM" and aqueduct from the site Of sad
dam 70 the Harlem River High Bridge upon the line
commonly known as the "HudsOn River Route" That
met with serious opPosi&om LODI from ILoY as H Gid in
many uaccs near the present CTOtOn Aqueduct, and
through much highly PTTiSq therefore 4nS I their duty
make every effort to obtain another route po5sibe III
which these objections would be obviated, and at the
same time fulfil the engineering requirements Tor com
pee and enduring aqueduct Iney nave e tnGreiOe b @ m
eested-have caused examinations and surveys
be made nS baTe OF called M Sot to their a the adScc
of Inc best and experienced engineel1ng talent OF
have Gnaiy come to a unanimous decision upon modi,
cation OF the Hudson River Route, ana nave adoptcu
that nart OF said modified route commencing at point
nm the Harlem River and above High Bridge thence
following northwary the high land on the east oanK OF
the Harlem River and along the eastern slope OF te
Saw MI ytr & Sfy % e ad - NoSer1 SIT RSrosd and thence
N POCdn1lCO
to the eastern slope OF the Hudson at point near Ma /
& o nom the pace OF beginning OF this distance
the greater part Of the aqueduct VIII De IN roCK tunnel AZ
an depth beneath the surface OF nearly TWO Iu-
dred feet. -. ,,..,-.., .,.. ,-u,
routes for the aqueduct proposedonet TO terminate
near tie site OF proposed Quaker Bridge Dam and
the other at or near thG present CrQo9 - % M ne s
duct point at or near Ihe present CGolon TO Dam DG
ample supply OF water at the earliest moment praG
BILE and that In the event of the construction OF the
related to each dam be had than any other point
II was also considered that Immediately upon the ample
can be temporarily relieved from duty and advantage be
rppalr which il so much needs.
ihe Commissioners have likewise unanimously deter
mined TO ould the aqeeducV OF siIe cin 70 a
Sefbr with the present aqueduct is capable OF conveying
70 the city quantity Of greater than the average
daily supply computed from 'le records OF the past
The question TO The construction OF the Quaker
Bridge Dam and Reservoir and dam at Muscoot Noun
tain about SIX miles above CrOOn Dam, Is stll undel
consideration and VIII be speedily determined.
THE REASONS FOR DELAY.
Some unwarranted criticism has been INDUCED in by tho
oubc with regard TO the delay in commencing the acua
construction work of the aqueduct The Commits
sio ers not only obliged 10 proceed in the manner
prescribed by law and in obedience 10 those OF It's re
ouircments enacted for the protection OF private rights
involving time and unavoidable delay; but, realizing tht
paramount importance Of ascertaning ard fixing upOI
the best attanable both in its scientific aspect il
the economy its construction and future maintenance
ana incOn of the least possible damage the
Inhabitants OF Westchestcr County upon whom a
hnrLen OF dlIage and incnnyenlCmce reslL