Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-25
A NEW PLAN WANTED
The County Commissioners Meet to
Consider Tax Revision.
A LITTLE STRIKE At JOHNSTOWN.
The Clerks of the Relief Commission Refuse
Reduction.
ALL TEE NEWS FROM NEARBY TOWNS
SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPATcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
ALLENTOWN, September PA meeting
of the County Commissioners of the Start
was held here to-day for the purpose OF con-
sidering and preparing for the next Legis
lature a revised code of tax laws, ana aisc
to consult with view to the more uniform
enforcement of the present statutes A
feature of the occasion was the presentation
of a paper from j. NJ. Kelly, OF Pittsourg,
outlining a proposed system oil taxation
While refuting what is commonly known as
the ''siugle tax idea, the writer was hrm in
the belief that all taxes should be by right
imposed upon land. Under the caption OF
"Why Lots Increase in Value, the follow
ing points are advanced:
Now let us illustrate the vast Schenley estate,
or that part of it that lies in the Twenty-second
ward. Mrs. Schenley resides in England, and
has done so for many years, her estate IN the
heart of Pittsburg being managed by an agent.
Twenty-second ward Sl20.0OO OF at the rate of
$500 an acre. This is the property, though, that
has been talked of as public park, because 1t
is so beautiful by nature.
A COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.
The value of all the Improvements upon this
800 acres is set at Sc, 125 just about the amount
of improvements on an ordinary farm. MRS
Schenley pays a 4mill tax, $3.50 year. for
this 800 acres of ground. Its actual value is IN
the neghborhoOd of a million dollars. II she
paid mills on a million dollars she would pay
s, 900 taxes year.
If she had to pay that tax she would very
likely sell the property. Nothing but lease OF
it can now be secured. Under present laws
would the tax on this vast tract be much less
if il was cut up into building lotsY Eacn acre
of the 500 would make ten fine building lots ~
x150 feet with streets and alleys taken out. AT
the present assessed value OF S4.VVV an acre
these ten lots should only be worth $40 each.
Yet if this 800 acres was surveyed these lots
would surely sell for $500 to S4OO each Does
the few hundred dollars spent in surveying the
800 acres into BUILDING lols increase their value
that much? Not at all. 1t is the present tax
laws, because as soon as the lots are planned
they are assessed at valuation OF 500, $500 or
500 apiece. Why should not these lots have
only the relative value of the acreage with the
cost of surveying added?
A MANUFACTURER PROPERTY.
Let us now consider manufacturing prop
erty. BY chance the Eliza Blast Furnace
was suggested. This property is in the
Fourteenth ward. of the city of Pittsburg,
and consists of ten acres of ground valued at
500 900. The Improvements upon this ten acres
the furnaces, machinery, etc.-are valued at
S574 000 Upon this and the land value the
owners pay the 4-mil tax. or 81, ,zy7 60 year. II
the tax was solely upon the land value $50, 900,
the firm would pay but $3.50 year. Why should
they be made to pay the difference? The ex-
cess is surely tax upon an industry that en-
ploys hundreds of people and indirectly turns
into the Golfers of the State thousands of dol
lars, while the business is great benefit to the
entire community.
II the land within the city limits south of the
Ohio and Monongahela rivers, which is not
occupied with houses and is eligible as build
ing sites, were taxed proportionately with the |
already improved lots, every workingman on
that side of the river would be able to own |
home. Yet preselt prosperity and his very
desire to own a home, under existing laws,
forces values out Of his reach and keeps him a |
rent paying tenant still.