Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-28
THE TRIENNIAL ASSESSMENT.
Work Of 1.-THE Board Of Equalization.

LIE ooatQ OF EQUALIZATION, composed OF the
assessor of the District of Columbia and the
twelve assessors appointed under the act Of
Congress approved March 8, 1888, have been
comfortably provided by the Commissioners
with two rooms in the new Arthur school build
ing, just finished, located in Arthur place. This
board has been in session daily since the first
Monday in June, at which time, under the law
they made return to the Commissioners Of the
assessing Of real property in their respective
districts. The time of the board during June
has been occupied in discussing valuations Of
property in the various sections Of the city; the
assessment of hotels and other large buildings
which have been erected since the last general
OF opinion respecting assessments and the diff
ferent elements to be considered in making
them.
APPEALS OF PRoPERTY-owNERs.
On the first day Of July the return books,
containing the assessment as made by the
assessors will be opened for the inspection Of
property-owners, and will be in charge of q
competent clerk who will give those who de-
sire 1t necessary information concerning items
Ii property-holder feels that his property
has been excessively assessed he appeals to the
board, which appeal is made in writing and
contains his reasons why it should be reduced
The appeal is usually referred to two
members Of the board, who investigate
the matter and report their conclusions
action by vote on the appeal. After the first
Monday in August the books are closed and no
changes can be made in the assessment, 30 far
as the ground is concerned, for three years.
New improvements are taken up in the annual
assessment made in July OF each year, at which
time, also, buildings that have been torn down
or destroyed are taken off the books. The valu-
alton thus made every three years forms the
basis OF taxation for intermediate years until
another general assessment is made, which viii
occur again in 1892.
WORK IN THE ASSESSORS OFFICE.
While the assessor have been in the field
making their assessments the clerical force Of
the assessors Office has been hard at work
nightly making out, in skeleton. the sheets of
the new general assessment books from which
the tax books are made up. This work has,
under the able management of Mr.. Williams,
been more carefully done this year than at any
previous time, and ii is thought from the care
taken that very few errors, IL any, will be
made, the work of each clerk being revised
and proved before disposition.
$1,000 600 FOR NEW BUILDINGS so FAR THIS YEAR
An impression prevails that the new assess
ment viii result in very large increase in the
valuation Of property. II this is 80 there are
no ways of finding il out until the books are
into consideration in connection with this.
First the value of buildings for which permits
have been taken out during the present year will
reach nearly seven million of dollars; secondly,
that this is the general assessment year for the
first time since 1886, so that three years have
elapsed since a full assessment has been made
Again. il should not be forgotten that in every
year since the general assessment of 1896 there
has been an increase in the value of the ground
in almost every section Of the city.
-. RI
which Assessor Williams has served, but he is
thoroughly advised upon all matters connected
with the assessment Of both general and special
taxes in the District by reason of his long ex-
perience as clerk in both branches Aside from
this Assessor Williams has an extensive knowl-
edge of land law and the valuation of real
estate in the District Of Columbia, gained by
experience in the practice Of law in this city
before he withdrew TO accept position under
the District government