New-York tribune., 1891-02-05
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
DENYING THAT VACANT LOTS ARE OF USE.
THE MANHATTAN SINGLE TAX CLUBS VIEW
OF THE NATTER.

DENYING THAT VACANT LOTS ARE OF USE.
THE MANHATTAN SINGLE TAX CLUBS VIEW
OF THE NATTER
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Mr.. Cyril Carreau opposes, in a letter to The
Tribune of January L. the views Of the Manhattan
single Tax Club, contained in open letter to Mr.
Coleman. Tax Commissioner. published III Inc IT'D
une sunday, January IL. We agree with MIN tEat the
county of New York pays more than its far proror-
ton OF the state tax, because realty all over the stare
with few exceptions. is under-aSsessed. The ciuD Is
considering that question, and will no doubt endeaVor
TO rouse sufficient public interest To demand change
in tle present ineGuable laws. We will not pres;
the point that the Commissioner should be guided by
the law but consider whether his practice undoubt-
edly well meant is for the best interest OF the COM
munity.
The point raised by Mr.. Caricau is that the owners
Of vacant land approach the position Of bcAeac'oS' pS
reason Of the air and other benefits which the pup
lie enjoy from vacant land, and that therefore, Tile
community should remit a part Of the taxes for the
benefactlons and air. We referred, in cur letter u
Mr. Coleman, not only to vacant land, but also 10
poorly improved real estate however. let II go al
that: hi, position is weak, even on his own CHOOSING
Vacant lots In thicy populated city like ours are u
nuisance and considered so by everybody except pos
slby the owners. They used as dumping groulldS'
they breed disease by stagnant water when II rams.
The sidewalks after a snOwstOrm are menace 10 nc
and limb They cannot be considered PARIS Dy tis
most vivid Imagination. They usually bear the lese"u
40 Trcspass'; but, considered as parks teS alc n'
in the proper quarter Of the city Parks should De Ill ''
tenement district, not In the neghboihOou Oh ,tn''"
par, or riverside Drive Vacant lots in the retail b'
ness districts are than nuisance. a merchant
lacking for store site would not pay more rent because
of =. the air and other benefits" which vacant loIs
ON both sides afford 1t is doubtful II he Wouiu ea'0
a place so situated at any price. Nacaii. ioVs arc
source of worry to dweerS and househoiuers Ill '''
rssdonce part of the city. They dread the erection
Of flats. to the detrment of the land aiieauS iii,
uroyed often an owner OF vacant land has threa'eo
IA buld flats and even saloons confidently eApccuns
bc adjacent property owners to buy him OIL at DlacN
mail price. -, ,,
Holding land vacant makes it arthcally high-prced'
y restricting the marketable supply, anu consequent"
increasing the rent for the land III use Inc '"9D
why the supply OF houses apparently exceeds inc uo
,,d l. bccau,e rent, are top high. People arc teIe
~ o,liood to 20 into the suburbs where IL IS "l'hi
roach of their means. Builders and houseoWlerS
cannot afford to sell or rent at lower pIicc'' ~
n-lre on paying taxes and expenses ana eailli"s o
market rate per cent and as the land was purch''eu "o
an inflated price they must u0I"'"u N'
purchase price or rent - J..
rnt aside from this, why compel the improver 10
hear the burden Of taxes. surely he IS as neccsal y,
a. the benelcO.wh0 funishc' air anu ot'v - the nan
l. il not evident that what Is remltcu 10 @ te "m %
i,,,rov,r must be paid by the improVcrI or t tor
tnton and claim that, the tax was FenoveG & IRON
i,1 nrn,,ement, and levied solely on ihe anu W a..
my ip 80 and hctter improvements would be mae,
Thereby giving employment TO builders ana nan Mtlr ot
indn,tics and better accommodations 10 ,I 81
i,.o ,,n,s The court usually fines drunkad TIu;
LOW H. iTroyar /, treated as a more hardened crinlhai
"'V w ,id bave invoked the courts to compel me
cr,ri,ioncr To observe the law il 1t wasn't ior tLc
f,ct that 10 do would have increased te III n1 Ie '
"d yrouM make trc improver pay on me iuli t'llgc
"f both house and land. We want the oIlinsSio,o u
to reverse the custom of assessing the lpro''I at
It. ~ x-tiua
COMMITTEE MANHAGTAN slNULE IAN 'LO De
New York, Jan. -, 179l.