The Portland daily press., 1889-09-12
PEAKS ISLAND TAXES.
A Committee Call on Mayor MeIcher
Yesterday.
The Position 1t Is Understood the
Assessors occupy.

| Yesterday morning committee composed
of j. 7. Bracket, j. B. Jones, 81. Trefethen,
| Z. L.. Parsons, and j. G. Sterling, several OF
| the leading citizens of Peaks island, calied
on Mayor Melcher to see If he would call
| special meeting of the City Council, provided
| the citizens of Peaks island should so re-
ouest. TO take some action in reference to
| the rate of taxation assessed upon them by
the assessors. His Honor said he would call
| the meeting if so requested but explained to
the committee that the City Council, while
they might recommend to the assessors an
abatement of their taxes, really had no ac-
tual power in the matter.
A reporter for the PRESS asked the asse,-
sors IL they had seen report of the Tuesday
evening meeting Of Peaks islanders, called
to protest against their rate of taxation
which report appeared exclusively in the
PREss-and whether they wished to make
statement. The assessors replied that they
had seen the report but they had no state
ment to make. If the Peaks Islanders felt
aggrieved they had a proper course open to
them. They could appeal to the Board of
County Commissioners, which was the final
resort and they, the islanders, would have
to abide by the decision of the commission
ers. OF course the City Council could hold
special meeting in regard to the matter
and make recommendation if they were
| so disposed, and it would meet with proper
| consideration.
We understand that the origin for the
raise In the rate at Peaks island is very SIM
pie. Never before the present year has
| Peaks island been properly mapped and no
| board of assessors has ever known what
was the real extent of the residents prop
| erty there. 1t is only for few years past
| that the islanders have shown signs of life
and improvement. In former years a man
| was taxed let us say for 1900 feet Of land
| where he should have been taxed for ten
| acres. There were hundreds of acres of
barren land that are nov subjected to the
and other valuable buildings. 1t is now
known who owns the various lots and build
ings, and 1t is possible to make proper val
uation. 1t is said that the citizens at the
i Tuesday night meeting claimed that their
taxes were doubled this year. and that $4,000
were paid in taxes last year. On the contrary
1t is also claimed that they didn't pay over
$4,000 In taxes last year and that the city ex-
pended more than that amount in improve
ments for them during that time.
The land on the front side of the island
has been uniformly valued at FIVE cents, far
Their back at four cents, three cents. two
cents and one cent Much of the unim-
proved land on the island has not been taxed
| at all. The assessors assert that the vaIua
tion Of five cents foot on the front side of
the island is below the real value of the
land. In many cases the land com.
mands as high as ten cents a foot. So as we
60 towards the rear Of the island, the land
will sell for more than the valuations of
four, three, two cents and one cent a foot.
The assessors do not claim to be infallibie
In some case they may have made erro.
neous valuations, but they can be corrected
on proper statement of the facts in the
case
| Property owners at Peaks island say it is
not just to tax them at the same rate as
other portions of the city. They do not
have the advantages possessed by people
who live on the mainland. They have no
electric lights, paved streets, gas or water
privileges. A wester gentleman owns a
cottage at Peaks island which cost him
$780, He is taxed $50. He occupies his
house only three months in the year and
thus has to pay $40 a month taxes during
actual occupation. He said that number
| of his friends were intending to build cot
how high the taxes are they concluded t.
stay away.
And yet on the other hand one property
| owner who holds, property valued by the
owner at $3.50, is only taxed for $500 by the
| assessors.
The committee will report to the Peaks
Islanders and another meeting will be held
next Tuesday evening.