The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-01
WEEHAWKEN'S
JUST DEMAND.
Though the County Owns the King
Estate 1t Is to Be Taxed
as Worth $4,000.
MAKING ENDS MEET ON PAPER.

War has been declared by Millionaire
w. w. Niles. who owns valuable tract
of land in Union Township, against the
assessor for that territory, and the battle
ground is the Court House. where the
Board of Commissioners for the Equaliz-
alton of Taxes are in session. The first
encounter took place at the meeting OF
the Board yesterday. Mr.. Niles was un-
able to be present in person, but he was
ably represented by lawyer from New
York, who in speech made some
assertions that for originality
were certainly very refreshing, although
it was intended that the effect should be
extremely depressing. This lawyer, who
said he was absolutely unacquainted
with Union Township, and, in fact, did
not know where the property of Mr..
Niles was located, drew O horribly de-
pressing picture of the great wastes, the
quarry holes and meadow land which he
said comprised Union Township, and he
boldly asked the Commissioners to take
off the increase in the valuations of the
entire township generally and Of the
property of Mr.. w. w. Niles particularly.
When thesCommissioners had partially
recovered from this shock, the glib
tongued lawyer said positively that Union
Township had decreased in valuation in
stead of increased and declared that the
West Shore Railroad, on which the town
snip had depended to build it up, had
worked it an injury, for people who
would have settled there were carried by
and established homes at other places.
AN AWFUL PICTURE OF WEEHAWKEN.
"Why,n said ne, "the property in this
township is not as valuable today as it
was thirty years ago. During the past
year there has been no changes at all and
there are fewer tenants there now than
there were last year. One of the princi-
nal reasons for the stagnation OF Union
Township are the rapid transit roads of
New York, Brooklyn and Staten Island,
which prevent people from settling
there"
The advocate for decreased valuation
then said that Mr.. Miles was assessed for
$54 600 for his tract of land, and he de-
clared that no one could be found to pur-
chase the land at that figure. After again
asking that the increase be taken off of
this particular tract, the lawyer thanked
the Commissioners tor their attention and
withdrew, leaving them nearly Daralyzed
with this decidedly original information
When the shock WAS over and Sedate
Chairman Van Reipan succeeded in chas
ing smile across his face, which was
photographed on all the other faces
present, he gently murmered:-
Gentlemen we will attend to this some
day"
ssSome day. echoed all, and that settles
at least
MORE REDUCTIONS DEMANDED.
Assessor John O'Donnell. of Weehawk-
en-, who had been twisting uneasily about
in his straight backed chair here took the
opportunity to inflict another painful
surprise on the Commissioners. He pro-
duced a letter from the CLERK of the
town council which directed him to
demand that a reduction OF $4,000 be
made in Weehawken's real estate valua-
tions because the county had recently
taken that amount of rateables away by
the purchase of the James G. King estate
for park purposes, a tract of forty-one
acres. He said the Park Commissioners
had formally taken possession OF the
park and had placed two policemen in
charge of the grounds. The surprise at
this stroke of Simon Kelly's financial
policy over, Chairman Van Reipen said
1--WE will attend to this some day." and
the other Commissioners again echoed
'Some day"
That settled this reduction of valua-
tions. The Commissions claim that the
property was assessed before 1t was sold
and therefore 1t is not exempt from taxa
ton this year. 1t is believed that Vice.
hawken will refuse to pay the assess
ment.
The assessor for Harrison asked 10
have s., 900 taken from the real estate val
uations, because two firemen and TWO
veterans had demanded each the $500 ex-
emption to which they are entitled. This
request was granted and the Commits
sioners went into executive session, at
which ex-senator Edwards took part IN
the discussion by invitation of the Colsi-
missioners. Nothing was decided on at
this meeting and the Board adjourned to
meet August 4, when the apportionments
are expected to be announced.