The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-01
SUGAR HOUSE TAXES.
The State Board Begins It's 1nves!i-
CATION of the Appeal.

The State Board of Tax Commissioners
met in the Chancery Court room this
morning to consider the appeal of the
Matthiessen and weicher's Sugar Rein
ing Company from the valuation placed
upon their property by the local Tax
Board.
The company was represented by Allan
l.. McDermotb and Mr.. w. ID. Edwards
appeared for the city. Mr.. McDermott
said that he proposed to submit a com
parative statement showing the valus of
the sugar house and other property
throughout the city in order to
establish standard of value.
Mr.. Edwards suggested that the
property properly assessed should be
allowed to stand, while Mr.. McDermott
thought the property should be cou-
sidered in sections. He called attention
to the fact that property valued at $780,
coo In the scheme for incorporating LorIi-
lard's tobacco works was assessed by the
Board at S180.000.
TAKING TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Michael j. O'Donnell was the first
witness. he said that he was q member
of the Board OF Tax Commissioners for
two Years. During those two years the
value of property in Jersey City Increased
amining the property. OF the Sugar
House, Mr.. O'Donnell then took up
several plots of land aud showed
how their valuations were liked. The pro-
perty. in his opinion, could not be pur-
chased for much more than the sum at
which Ii was assessed.
Plots A and Q were formerly owned by
the Gregory Steel Works The property
was bought by Mr.. Niese Of the sugar
house, for SlS3, 900
Plots A b C cover an area Of ninety
lots, and are assessed at $1,000 a lot. or
$234. 900. The lots are covered with
valuable buildings owned by the COM
pany. The valuation Of plot A was, in
creased So, 900. and plot B s1o0.0o0.
Corporation Counsel Edwards Shove I
that no comparison conld be made be-
tween the building owned by Mattnies-
sen & Weichers and the buildings sur
rounding their works. as the latter were
chiefly three story and basement tene-
ment houses. occupied by employees
OF the sugar house. The build
ings upon the properly In the
vicinity OF the sugar house, Mr.. Edwards
claimed, had a tendency to decrease the
value Of the property because of tue fact
that the property was more valuable for
manufacturing purposes than for rental.
The property was at one time very valu-
able as rental property when Governor
Apbett and Ex-Governor Bedle lived in
the vicinity.
THE BONE OF CONTENTION.
sessment levied upon block No. 81. which
is in the heart Of the sugar house proD-
erty. The block, with its immense build
ings. machinery. coal, raw sugar, manu-
factured sugar. etc., Is assessed for
5000. 900. In 1888 the property was as
sonal. Mr.. O'Donnell, in his testimony,
stated that the machinery alone in the
buildings cost more than 5000, 600. while
the buildings cost 81. 900. 900 or more.
Allan L. McDermott. in cross-examin-
ing Mr.. O'Donnell, asked:-
do you know the value Of land In that
Il should say about $1,000 or 5000 a
How is it you assessed block No 90
owned by the sugar company at $3.50, 900,
and tha adjoining block No. l29, at
$4,000"
'.By the buildings we found ON it."
"Do you mean to say that Mattniessen
and Wiechers own one twentieth of all
the personal property in this cityff
81 do aud more Their property is
assessed loo low even now as the officials
themselves under oath swore that it was
worth s., 900 .000n
Counsellor McDermott laid great stress
upon an answer by O'Donnell which 1ndi-
Gated that the Tax Commissioners levied
their assessments without knowing what
the property was worth per lot.
In the past two years the sugar House
property has been increased in valuation
from SAL, 900 TO S743 900. or about so per
cent. Counsellor McDermott asked If
any other property hac been increased to
any such extent.
Corporation Counsel Edwards referred
to the Philadelphia Hotel. whi ch was
raised from $1,000 to $1,000; the Fuller
building, from SO, 900 to sl20. coo; Weldon
building. sS5, 900 TO S150,000; Fiemming
bufldtng s22 O0O 10 SO 00O and other
instances.
Outside the property of the sugar house
MIR McDermott claimed the Increase in
valuation was not more than 16 per cent,
which in the case of the sugar house It
was so per cent. Last year the assessment
of the entire city was s74. .000. 600. and
Matthiesen s. Weichers were assessed
one seyenty-fourth of that amount. Mr..
Edwards claimed that. assuming the fair
value of the city was S74, OK. 600. the sugar
house was fairly assessed at 81, ,000, 600.
Mr. McDermott, however, claims that the
city should be assessed at least for $780,
600 outside the railway property, II the
sugar house is to be rated at q million