The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-01
PROPERTY and VALUE.
Meeting of the State Board
of Taxation Here.
SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS.
Kearny Only Assessed at One Third
OF Its W0rth-A Re-assessment
May Be Ordered.


present. Tax Commissioners Prigge and
Lawrence and ito assessors of the North
ern townships were also present. Messrs.
Prigge and Lawrence were examined
first. Mr.. Black explained to them the
object of the Commissioners visit to
this city and the purpose
for which they were appointed.
He then asked Mr.. Prigge to explain the
manner in which the assessments are
made in this city. Mr.. Prigge said that
this year the city had been divided into
three districts, one of which was assigned
to each member of the Board. In reply
to question by Mr.. Black he said that
he thought it would be better if the
Board could act together and assess the
prope rty in concert.
Mr.. Black explained that the assessors
in Elizabeth act upon that plan.
Mr.. Prigge, continuing, said that he,
as president of the Board, assigned the
Com missioners TO the district. He as
sessed the Fourth and Sixth districts.
Mr.. Lawrence the Fifth, and Mr.. Cor
man the First. Second and Third. The
idea was to give each Commissioner the
district with which he was the better ac-
quainted.
Mr.. Black said that the Board would
recommend that the assessors act to-
gether.
Mr.. Prigge said that the Board did not
assess the land and buildings separately,
although be thought that would be good
scheme The property in jersey City was
assessed at about two-thirds CT its real
value.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS.
Mr.. Black asked ii the Commissioners
were not aware that the constitution re-
- ~, I. nf
It's true value and that each assess or
takes an oath TO so value the property.
Mr.. Black said that property was as
sessed in Somerset in that way and in the
opinion of the Board it was the best
ssessed county in the State.
Mr.. Prigge said that the manner in
which he arrived at the value of piece
of property was to secure the best judg-
ment obtainable. Then he arrived at the
value Of the building by asceytaining the
cost of materials, construction, etc. Per-
sonal property was hard to get at. In
some Instances the Board sent blanks to
Taxpayers. In most cases, however, thev
simply guessed at 1t. Blanks were sent
to manufacturing concerns.
In answer to Mr.. Blacks question, Mr..
Prlgge said he did not go to the Surro-
gates office to see who had acquired per-
sonal property by inheritance.
BANK STOCK AND REAL ESTATE
Bank stock was assessed at par, but all
real estate belonging to banks Is exempt
u Mr. Black said that the State Board
did not think that snch real estate was
lexempt, and would suggest that the local
board test this matter In the courts. He
then asked for some figures from the as
SCISSORS books In order to make compari-
sons between this and last years ASSESS
ments and the values placed upon the
same kind Of property in various sections
of the city.
In 1891 the Lorillards were assessed
$495, 600, which Is very much in excess of
last years assessment.
The Sugar House was assessed both
this and last year at $1,063, 600 while Col
gates soap factory was assessed S315, 900
this year and S293.000 last year. Adams
Express Company was assessed at S178, 600
both years. Taylor's Hotel will pay taxes
on valuation this year Of S105,000, as
compared with $4,000 last year. The
Fuller building was valued at $4,000
both years, and the Weldon building at
$3.50, 900. The Evening Journal building
was assessed at $aa,0 GOO both years. The
Academy of Music was assessed $4,000
this year and 900 the year before, while
MulIone's new opera house was assessed
at s45, 900 when the structure was still In
course of erection.
DWELLING HOUSES.
Comparisons were then made between
dwelling house properties In various
parts Of the city. The house at the north
street was assessed at $4,000. The next
two houses on Jersey avenue, the fancy
residences Just erected bv John w.
Holmes, were assessed at S10,500 each.
Nos. $50 to 2S2 inclusive at $4,000; No.
1884, $4,000, and the corner house in
Beginning at the southwest corner
of Mercer street and Jersey avenue the
corner house was valued at $1,000. NO.
4S3 at $4,000, Nos 461 and 4S115, 50 900
each; No. 479, $4,000, No. Al, SIS, 900. No.
AIS, SO, 500, and the corner house in which
ex, Governor Bedle resides, $4,000. Mr..
Wards house opposite was valued at
S25, 600 Senator McPherson's house at
the southeast corner OF wash
ipgton and Sussex streets was
valued at $4,000. The next house on
Washington street was assessed at $50, 900.
The apartment houses following were as
sessed at $500 each. except the corner
which was valued at SS,000 On the op.
posite side of the street beginning at
the corner of Morris street and coming
toward Sussex street the corner house was
valued at $4,000, the next at $1,000 and
the rest &c, 500, except the corner OF Sus-
sex street. which was placed at IS, 500.
The Board then took jump up to Dun
can avenue and looked mt the assessed
values of some property mp there The
values looked at were: No. 100, "a, 600;
No "a, 81, 900; No. 68 S11. 900; No. so, s4, 800;
No. 81. s6, ,500 No. 2S, $500; No. 22, $1,000;
No. 30, $500.
The Board then looked at the values of
property on Paramount avenue Four
small houses, Nos 297 to 303, were valued
at 81, 400 each; Nos. 305 to 800, 81 600 coll
lectively; No. 311, 60, 600; No. 317. $500;
No. 3S1. $4,000; No. 1888, 81. 500; No. 343,
$1,000; No. $50, $4,000; No. 36S IS, 800; Nos.
1856 to 373, $1,000 each; No. 375, $4,000.
Commissioner Lawrence assessed the
property in this part of the city. and be
was invited TO tell the Beard how he ar
rived at the value of real estate. He said
he did not assess the property at It's true
value because he knew Ii was not done
in the other districts, and if he did it it
would be an injustice to the
Fifth district. He Thought, however,
that property should be assessed at its
true value, as such a course would shut
out all favoritism. Mr. Lawrence had
several recommendations to make to the
Board, but he grew confidential and
whispered them into the Commissioners
ears. Among the recommendations he
suggested that a law should be enacted
compelling the Assessing Board to work
together and If bhey failed to do so to in
fiict penalty. In making assessments
he estimated the value of the lot by what
it would bring in the market, what
tue building is worth and for what the
whole would readily sell for in the mar
ket and then compare 1t with the value of
similar property located in other Sec