The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-19
Hobokcn and Jersey City-A Matter
of Fair Play.

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Hobokcn and Jersey City-A Matter
of Fair Play.
The Erenfmg Journal is nothing If
not false and malicious 1t cannot
handle any public question without
being unreasonable and unfair. When
it has not individuals to malign, it
takes whole communities. Just at
present, Hoboken is its victim, and
every day finds it INDUCING in a new
onslaught on that thriving city. The
trouble is all over the increase in
Hoboken's assessment for taxation,
which is not high enough to suit the
Journal. and which does not show as
large an increase as the Journals edi-
tor thinks proper. The paper there
fore teens with comparisons and con-
trasts between Hoboken and Jersey
CITY, in which the former is made TO
figure as a kind of municipal dead
beat in the matter of taxation.
Let us look into the facts a little.
Hoboken reports this year a valuation
of sci, COG. 900. being an increase of
So, 107, s2s over last year. Jersey City
presents a total of $s1. $50, 075, being
an increase of S5,47s,6 10 yer last
year.
Hoboken contains one and one-ha II
az square miles in area 1t therefore
gives a gross valuation of about $14,-
00o, 900 per square mile, and it shows
for the year an increase OF about
s., 400, 900 per square mile
Jersey City contains twelve and a
half square miles. 1t therefore gives
a gross valuation of about $4,000, 900
per square mile, and it shows IN in
crease of about 800, 900 per square
mile since last year.
From this aspect of the case it would
seem Hoboken was doing her full
duty.
But again
Hoboken, by the last census, con-
tanned about $4,000 people She
therefore showed an average valua-
ton of $3.50 a head for every man,
woman and child in the community.
Jersey City's population is probably
about ITO, 900. Her assessed wealth
per capita is therefore about $47s-
Here she has the advantage, of course;
but not assuredly so marked an adj
vantage as to prove dishonesty on the
part of Hoboken.
The increase in Hoboken's assess
menr for the year is about S45 a head
for her entire population. Jersey
City's increase is about $32 per head.
1t seems to us these figures pretty
thoroughly dispose of the subject.
They are not strained in any way.
The data are the official returns Of
the County Board of Equalization.
The arithmetical deductions any one
may work out for himself. We are
as anxious as any n can be to get
every just advantage for Jersey City.
1t is our interest, as it is the interest
OF every business concern, to make
the most possible of and for the com
munity it fiourishes in. But we be-
lieve in fair play.
The Journals great point is made
by a fallacious comparison between
the Sixth District of this city and the
city of Hoboken. The Journal says
It seems unreasonable 10 suppose. for in
staHce, that Hoboken and the Sixth district in
Jersey City should be rated so nearly ON a
par. The sixth district has a great many
small houses and only a sprinkling of
brick buildings. while Hoboken has mics
OF solid brick bloc IS. The population Of
Hohoken is estimated at ABB, and the
Sixth district at 35.037, and II is probable
that there are $4,000 more residents in hoboken
faan in the sixth district. 1t is true that there
are S. ie2 houses in the sixth and only 3.435 in
Hoboken. but q large majority of the sixth dis
triet houses are tie small frame houses Of arti-
sans. while Hobokea has brick buildings that
cost on an average five times as much as a
majority OF the sixth district houses.
1t is only necessary to point out the
fact that, while Hoboken contains
only / 1-2 square miles of territory, the
Sixth Aldermanic District of this city
contains between three and four
square miles, probably nearer four.
Thus bursteth the Journals hustle,