Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-14
Mr.. A. W. MELONS APPEAL.
How Valuations Decrease ms You Go East
From the Union Station Into the Region
of Perpetual Noise.

Notwithstanding the fact that the triennial
assessment of city property by the City Board
of Assessors shows an increase from Sll9 OO0, 900
to $3.50 0O00 0OO an increase Of nearly 80 per cent
appeals to court have been remarkably few
One case Of considerable interest was heard
by Judges Collier and Slagle in Common Pleas
No. l yesterday. 1t was that of A. W. Mellon
who kicked on the assessment on what is
known as the Morrison property, Twelfth
and Liberty streets. seven lots and buildings.
An appeal was first made to the board against
the assessment on the per front foot on the
land, but also on the value put on the build
ings. They were old and somewhat dilapi-
dated, and the board granted the appeal as to
them, but refused to alter the valuation put on
the ground.
1t appears from the records In the Assessors
office and the testimony in court that valua-
tons on property in that neighborhood varied
from Eleventh street eastward according to
distance beyond the Union station. The assess
ment from Eleventh street (Rush Housel tc a
point opposite thu Excelsior stables was $3.50
per foot front; from that point to Stevenson
alley the valuation was $500 foot front; from
Stevenson alley to Twelfth street the assess
ment was $500 foot front, all of these lots be-
ing 100 feet in depth to Spring alley, showing
somewhat remarkable decrease In value in
short distances
As previously stated, the property in dispute
lies at the corner of Twelfth and Liberty
streets, and consequently in the class between
Twelfth street and Stevenson alley. Mr.. Mel
Ions claim for reduction was based on the price
paid by him for 96 feet frontage, which price
was below the valuation of the board, although
purchased only Is months ago. 1t was shown
that within the three squares from Eleventh
street all appeals made to the board had been
granted save that of MI Mellon, and that in
none of these appeals so granted beyond Ste.
venson alley the appellants had asked for q re-
duction below $500 foot front
Alfred O'Donnell was called to testify before
the court and he stated that in his opinion the
property was worth $500 foot front. A. W.
Hoeyeler, who owns property two squares
above, testified that he considered the Morri-
son property worth $3.50 per foot front Thomas
Dugan, who owns property between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets, deposed that the prop
erty in question was worth at least 500 foot
more than his, and his is assessed at $500 per
foot 'front.' Several witnesses testified that
sales were made two squares east for more
than the value put on the Morrison property
by the Assessors. Thomas D. Carnahan, Esq,
for the board, called Mr.. Mellon and he de
clined to say that the property was not worth
$500 per foot front.
The Court reserved its decision.
The original valuation put on the property
was $50, 100, on which the Board itself granted
relief in appeal reducing it to $4,000 and the
value of the ground frontage was reduced
from S40S 33 TO $307 so. The appellants value
on the naked ground was Sl9,6S0