Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-21
ONE YEARS GROWTH,
Pittsburg's Remarkable Prosperity
Shown by an Increased VAL
uatiOn of Millions.
MONEY SPENT On NEW BUILDINGS.
The Board of Assessors Preparing for the
Triennial Valuation of
Real Estate.
MONEY SPENT On NEW BUILDINGS.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
Finance Committee Approves the Purchase Of More
Park Property

Inc t0ree meUOeTS OF lne lily DOdTu Vi
Assessors are hustling these days to COM
plete the valuations in time for the assess
ment oi taxes for 1891. While their work
this year is confined to new or i'm
proved buildings and personal property,
the latter a comparatively Insignificant
item, Chief Assessor Case estimates that
that the valuation of city property 1or the
tax levy of 1891 will exceed by s., 600, 900
or s., OOO, 600 that of 1890, when it aggre-
gated $500, 453, ,626. OF this amount the
personal property valuation was less than 1
per cent, or 81, $40. .359.
The increase for 1891 therefore shows the
enormous amount of money which has been
spent on buildings in Pittsburg within the
past year, and is a remarkable evidence of
the growth of the city. as there have been
but very few big blocks erected, the bulk of
the money having been expended for mod
est store buildings and dwelling houses.
THE TRIENNIAL ASSESSMENT.
Next year the assessors will have to re-
value every inch of real estate in the city
for the triernial assessment At present,
for both city and county purposes, valua-
tions of realty are made every third year,
and no changes are made in the interim.
Real estate is divided into three classes
city, rural and agricultural. The first is
taxed upon its full value, the second at two
thirds and the last at one-halt.
The triennial assessment under which
real estate In this city is now taxed was the
first made by the present Board of Asses
sors under the new charter. 1t was diff
cult and tedious job Every piece of
property had to be valued on the basis of
the last recorded sale, if one of late date had
been made, and if not, upon the basis of a
recorded sale of neighboring property. In
some localities there had been no sales
made for years, TINS being particularly the
case upon some of the large estates where
the property is never sold, but merely
leased for long terms of years. To determine
the value of this. required considerable
knowledge of real estate transactions
throughout the entire citv. The work was
finally done, and although there were
number of appeals from the assessments, but
few were changed, and the people generally
appeared satisfied.
A BASIS TO BEGIN UPON.
The work OF the assessors next year will,
of course, be considerably simplifed, as
they will have the figures of the last trien-
NAL assessment as a basis from which to
start. l. the financial outlook in this city
Is as good then as now, a great increase in
the value of real estate is expected. The
assessors expect to get especially good results
IN the nelghborhood of Schenley Park. where
the ownership of 5O-foot front lot allows the
fortunate pUssessor to rank with Midas. Two
years ago the value of this property was merely
anticipatory on the acceptance and develop
ment OF the park. There are some patriotic
citizens who claim that the Independence Day
celebration on July appreciated the value of
JhIS property wonderfully. as it brought out a
number Of wealthy persons who were deeply
impressed with the beauty of the surroundings.
The advance in real estate values is not
confined to one neighborhood. however. All
over the city II has been and Is still jumping
any number of new streets have been opened,
and large tracts of land which had been
devoted to grazing purposes and amateur base
ball games. are now parcelled off into building
lots, upon many OF which dwellings have
already been erected.
EFFECT OF GOOD SEWERS.
The whole OF the East End has benefited by
the construction of mammoth system of
sewers which has made that portion of the city
as healthful as it is beautiful, and here again
for business sites is fast driving out the
dwellings, and as the supply of this class of
property is limited, the price has gone SO far
up that a purchaser has to stand upon a
81 pile to touch any of it. Altogether,
the next triennIal assessment is likely to prove
4 surprise and pleasant one
Mr. W. a. Magee, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, in speaking of the system of trIen-
NAL assessments. said yesterday: Il think that
real estate should be assessed oftener than
once every three years. In that period there
are many changes in the value of property.
Some deprecIaJes while other appreciates. In
this city. however il generally appreciates. In
Philadelphia valuations are made every year,
and ] believe this is the best way"
The work OF the Board OF Assessors of Pitts
burg is totally out of proportion to the CO.
laborers in Philadelphia. Here the three
members of the board do ali the work. They
visit the properties, examine the records make
the necessary inquiries, decide upon the value
and then listen TO and dispose of appeals from
their decisions.
COSTS MORE IN PHILADELPHIA.
In Philadelphia they do things differently
They have a Board of Revision, composed Of
three members. at salaries of S.. 600 year. The
city is divided into l6 districts and to each dis
triCt is assigned two assessors who receive
s. 500 year piece. The members of the Boaro
of Revision merely dispose of appeals from the
figures of the district assessors. The cost oi
this work amounts annually to S55, 600. In
Pittsburg the same work is done by the Board
of Assessors at an aggregate annual cost oi
$500.
Philadelphia is of course, larger city thar
PlttsDurg, and as 1t is co-extensive with the
county, corps of assessors DO the work
for both corporations but the cost of assess
ment in Philadelphia is out of all proportion a:
compared with the cost of the same work il
Plttsburg.
WhNT M0NCv tn cDCND