New-York tribune., 1885-02-18
THE MAYOR AND THE PARKS.
EVIL EFFECTS OF INCREASED TAXATION.

Mayor rac, to TRIBUNE reporter yesterday pointingto
letters lying his desk Some OF the letters were
from propertyOwners who signed petitions to the Lcgn
aurc asking the passage OF the bill which became
law last year. providing for new parks In the Twenty
third and Twenty y-fourth Wards The letters were
generally the effect that when the writer's ssnea the
petitions they not aware that the whole expense oi
the proposed parks to be raised by taxation upon
property In general and that the property sur
rounding parks not to be assessed according 10
conferred had been done In the case VI
other parks heretofore laid out such as Central RIVER
side, Mornngsde. etc. Some OF the property-owners
who have paid heavy assessments because they o"heo
property adjoining parks already laid out expressed
great ndg that they should now be called upon 70
pay because OF that increased valuation, more toward
the proposed parks than the mon owning tue
property surrounding thom. One citizen said that
before Mayor Grace called public attention to the matter
he did realize that the city had been committed u
the purchase than 1000 acres or land ior PARKS
in Westchester County and that not only would the
surrounding property not bear single cent OF the ex
pense OF the millions of dollars that might TO required
for those parks but the city would actually have to pay
taxes TO weschester County the entire value OF the
parks "Why the thing Is prcposterous.' said the
writer One letter TO inform the Mayor that the Real
Estate Exchange had appointed committee 10 assist
in having the amended that an enormous burden
OF taxation would not be Immediately imposed upon the
city, rs would be the under the new constitutional
amendment
gentleman present said that the valuation OF his real
estate I'm the First Ward had been increased large
this year. which would add one-thrd 10 his tax
bill Now" he added. tho tax rate will be increased
enormously By the Immediate purchase OF these proposed
parks. The outlay for the aqueduct and FOR the
widening OF West and South and tho Improvement
OF the water fron-for this latter work outlay OF
many millions OF dollars VIII have to be made under
recent decision OF the Court OF Appealsand for
payemcns new sewers armores, school houses ETC.. is
going to be very great Whether or not these parks are
purchased at once there must large Increase IN the
IN addition the increased valuation of prop
ety In these hard times cannot stand IL. The
sutiOnal amendment orblds the Increase OF the dobt
anl rather than pay this enormous increase In taxation
people who CO do will leave the city retaining only
oIico room In Sew-York Already many manufacturers
and business enterprises have been driven 10 Now
Jersey Long Island. Connecticut and elsewhere In order
10 escape the high taxation in NewYork. one OF the
persons principally benefited By the proposed park
Westchester County took his manufacory to Jersey
City to escape the taxation In NewYork The elevated
railroads which will also be benefited BY these parks,
have located their in Wescheser to escape taxa
ton here The people who do that sort OF thing
tho greater the burden falling those who remain
That why say the city cannot afford 70 70 into these
unnecessary extent and thus Still further
increase taxation: aud hope the people will look into
tais matter when feel they will 10 the same
conolus.on rs nave That hayor Grace sh9ud.De snp-
ported In his efforts 10 have the law amended 80 as to
make the burden as Hight possible This not time
when the reope OF this city can afford permit large
increase OF taxation II means increased rents, which
Will be a heavy burden Oh the poor"
After further expression OF opinion by one or two
Others who happened 10 be In the room. Mayor Grace
took up the subject In answer ~ the reporter inquiries
Tie truth +. that the PEOPLE have given sufficient
consideration 70 this eutjeoL The new constitutional
anon amcnr viii force 4 upon hor attention an 70;
cintury think such acquisition desirable aud Hecos
GARY. Bur am opposed 10 The a'tempisd paFcna9e OF
lie tnxuAycrs OF this city which calculated " benefit
not the .eope u New-IorN out ne OF
al 1IuK county. IAet' gre 7lH N'ihi TIE ihlt- o.
our ci,y au abundance ~ eligible sies ur new parks
S5y E ycaf 70 fS ream .a n PSE G afe under the
plan. is entirely ia Nesicboster County we Van
6TsaS PARK Is situated two-t6irds in NewYork
pTpotl @ 400 feet vide 10 be r6 from the
Dl06I Pars to the Pelham Bay Park, which lies wholly
in N"-tche.'or County. ihe nct nude no provision |
whatever for tn assessment oi any portion OF te cx-
pence Of taking These parks upon the owners o property
Ia tle Immediate vicinity VINO would De- Directly 9ehe
n,cd By TIC rG rs by ProyIed i9r ths Y1ylns % ie
respect lie Plan FOR taxing t-o'e paws differs from al
other PARK schemes ot any hutoritAoo IN tAe ety'
owners paid about thirds ~ the expense and tAs c.y
only tId Manhattan square was paid IOr enilTeIy
by The owners ~ adjoining property.
the argument that the creation ~ now parks always
increases the valuation OF taxable property 20 such
is falnciou. By irudicious legislation such as that
under discussion. the Riverside and Mornng gide Park
several millions of dollars. The property benefited |
would bring in open market scarcely one-hal; the
iho.o lands city lost which tie owners would
have paid. The cy cannot OF course tax property Ia
Weschoser County but. than that It Will have 70
pay taxes Ncstchester County upon the and taken
ihat portion OF the act describing Pelham Bay Park
either dcsignedly accidentally, was so drawn as To
bolnd the pars only 10y the shore line and the present
owners the property proposed % taken, Or consd
erable number OF Them have already made application 20
the Land Once at Albany for grants ot land Under waeeT
~ portion OF the uE land which proposed
DC taken FOR The news park. g. q. Iseun has Already
recey grant a the land under water lying around
Hunters Island and on both sides OF the caqseway
that island and the main 'and probably over
Pierre LOrilard and As son have OOtA lined
similar grants IN front OF their property and Antonete
l.. Edwards, Jula L. Elis ana other persons nave |
received grants and making applications for grants
30 that by the ho city Is ready 10 take the land
designated IL VII, have to make further purchases or
property which has cost the owners nothing. In order
aOn what ground dld tho Lieutenant-Governor. the !
Controller State Treasurer and other members OF the
Land Commission make those grants ana were lhey |
made since the Park bin pa-sed the Legislature e
year and other grants have been made since the
PARA bill became law. The consideration In each case
chcal enjoyment or the oWneI Inc advocates OF hcse
parks think ey easy 70 Issue more bonds Ov
total or partial abolition Of the Sinking Fund But |
even portion Of the bonds held Dy the sinking
Fund could be abolished there other purposes such
as school houses. new sewers ETC., for when Tue
issue of more bonds Is impergtively necessary The !
Will provide cutting out altogether the nrUJrcted
parks in Wctchesier County retaining h those IN New-
portion ~ tho o the land for the new parks upon
The property benefited has beeh done In the case OF
umeudmrnt will provide that the Commissioners s1au
report on one park tlue aud that only one shall be
confirmed year. urlcss the aggregate expense Ia
any two reports shall not eXGeed OOOOOo III
ch ease two or reports may be confirmed IN one
ear BY ths process the exI ense Will be distributed
IA rau!iy the Park Department can conN enlently
improve and lay out the parks
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