The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-23
UNEQUAL VALUATION.
Remarkable Instances Discovered
In Hoboken and Uuion Hill.


demonstrating itself more and more as
the County Board for ths Equalization Of
Taxes meets,at the Court House. The
session Of the Board yesterday afternoon
proved very interesting. Tax Assessor
Doiiard OF Hoboken. was the most impor-
taut witness called. The assessments In
that city are phenomenally low. notwifh-
standing the fact that the assessments
have been raised e.. 107. SIS. and the MEM
bers Of the Board who are investigating
the assessments state that an in
crease OF more than five million dollars
could be made without uujustly taxing
any property owner in the city.
An instance OF phenomenally low as
sessment IS offered in the case OF Mr.. A.
Hertler, who IS reputed 10 be worth half
a million dollars. He is engaged in the
pork packing and provision business. He
is assessed $1,000 for personal property.
money IN bank, etc One piece OF ma
chlnery in his business establishment
that cost more than $1,000 il assessed at
81 900. and Assessor Dollard explains this
by saying that the machine is not in use.
The commissioners laughed at sucn an
explanation and were OF the opinion that
many unjust determinations are made by
Assessor Dollard.
Mr.. Vollman owns q double dwelling
house on Hudson street which has 'front.'
age Of more than IS feet Property in
this locality is selling at 500 foot. malz
Ing the value of the land alone $15 COO.
The house and land are assessed for
81, 500 by Mr. Doliard. who allows IS 800
for the building, when 1t is known By
Commissioner Utz that the houses cost
three times that sum On Hudson street
instances were found where one lot is as
sessed for 81 500, while the adJ0iuing lot
is assessed at $500.
REMARKABLE ASSESSMENTS
Mr.. Hexamer's four story brown stone
front house is assessed at s. 500; his stable
with a frontage of 65 feet. 1T 81, 900:
riding school at s., 900 aud personal prop
ertv at s. 900. A more surprised man
could not have been found in Hudson
County than Commissioner Morgan, when
Dollard stated that he valued Hexamer's
personal property AZ 5000 Hexamer's
personal. property could be increased TO
S20, 900, and no injustice would be done.
say the Commissioners The land on
which Hexamer's residence stands Is
valued by the Commissioners at 5000,
making the assessment on four
story brown stone front house
81, 500. The property on which the stable
stands is valued at $3.50. which leaves
the assessment on the building 81 .250.
Commissioners Utz expressed considerable
surprise at the remarkably low assess
menus on this property. Assessor Dol
lard acknowledged that the assessment
was low, but stated that in leyying the
assessment he took into consideration
the fact that the property as it stood
would be almost valueless to any one
save Mr.. Hexsmer.
TOO MUCH CONSIDERATION"
Commissioner Utz inquired on several
occasions where the assessments we're
-. tsa--- -
been considered" for the best Interests
Of the community. Hexamer's property.
Mr. Dollard saws. could not be sold for
more than S35. 600. The Commissioners
have viewed the property and feel. pssi-
tive that IL il were offered for sale for
that sum it would be seized Immediately
by long headed spectators. Assessor
Dollard has valued property on Hudson
street at S125 foot. while the COmmis-
sioners know that 1t has been selling at
$50 per foot.
OTHER INSTANCES
NaegiI's hotel. which consists Of three
buildings, is assessed at $50 eco. One of
buildings is utilized at the present time
as a tenement house. lt is assessed for
IS 100. The next building is connected
with the hotel by Railways. This build
ing is also assessed for 500, while the
hotel building IS assessed for Sl4,000-
The personal property OF the proprietor 5
assessed for 81 600.
Myers hotel, directly across the street,
is also assessed at low figure, the entire
assessment oeing so. 900, allowing $1,000
for personal property, while the Commis-
sioners know that the bar and fixtures
cost more than 5000.
Bush's hotel having a frontage Of
75 feet on Hudson street .aud an L
which extends into Third street, IS as
sessed for 81, ,000 and 81 200 on personal.
The fixtures IN this hotel are valued at
ABOUT one half as much as those in MyeT' 5
hotel
These assessments will be equalized by
the Commissioners as quickly as possible.
Assessor I. F. Curry, for the township
of Union. assessed the valuable Wilcox
estate for Si0S, 600 aud $41. coo on personal
property. The property is known 10 be
worth several hundred Thousand dollars,
and the personal property viii reach i've
times the amount it is assessed at
The Symes property, consisting OF sew
eral acres Of valuable property, is assessed
for $50, 600.
The Commissioners are somewhat con-
fused with the work they have before
them of equaiizing the taxes In that p0r-
tion of the county which embraces Ho-
boken and the Township OF Union, as the
assessments have been levied in q most
irregular manner The work OF in
vestigatiOn viii be continued again this
afternoon.