The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-31
BAYONNE PROPERTY.
Assessors Who Did Their
Work in Careless
Fashion.
THE BOARD WAS DISGUSTED
Several Members Express Their
Opinions Rather Freely and
Then Give Up the Job.

Equalization of Taxes, when It met for
the last time in the Grand Jury room at
The Court House yesterday. The cause
of this exclamation was the disclosure Of
some rather remarkable assessing by
Henry Stilsing. Stilsing, in levying his
assessments. has either made unjust dis
examinations OF is In darkness regarding
anything like the true value Of property
in his district. Mr.. Stilsing did not ap-
pear to justify his valuations.
The present assessor for Bayonne,
Daniel Murray, has been in office only
three weeks and his ideas concerning
valuations are, in the minds of the Com
missioners. also away off," Murray
appeared but was unable 70 locate
and in several instances could not
say whether there were houses on the
lots pointed out or not. This condition
of affairs, however. is due to the careless
manner in which Assessor Stilsing per-
formed his work
Commissioner and City Clerk Hamilton
did all in his power to furnish the desired
Information. but it was useless. The
Commissioners said that the Bayonne
section was the only part OF the county Of
which they had made failure. but 10 was
not their fault. The assessments are out
rageously low.
As far as the Commissioners went. one
Just assessment was discovered, and that
was levied upon the Andrew Cadmus
estate, which comprises forty-seven and
and two-tenth acres. This property Is
unimproyed and Is valued at $78, 900. The
property is partly on Avenue ID, aud ex-
tends to the Town Hall in Centreville and
back to the Newark Bay shore. Lots in
this vicinity are held at sl25 each
MR. COOKS QUEEN ANNE" HOME
A sample OF Stilsing's work Is shown
In the assessment levied upon the resi-
dence of Martin r. Cook, which Is sur
rounded By one hundred and one lots. IL
is improved, and Is considered the most
valuable private property ia the city.
Stilsing's assessments were $4,000 on the
real estate and S3 coo on personal property.
The Commissioners have viewed the
property, and say that a brick Queen
Anne" structure, three stories in height,
with oil the modern improvements, which
is what Mr.. Cooks home is. costs at least
$2o, 600 This leaves 5000 for the value
of 100 improved lots. Il is the opinion OF
the Commis ssioners that an assessment OF
$50 900 would not be unjust.
The assessment levied upon the New
Jersey Athletic Club was next inquired
into, and in fixing valuations Murray dis
tinguished himself by following in the
footsteps of his predecessor. naming
phenomenally low figures Four years
ago the club paid 81. 600 for their land
alone. Since that time Il clubhouse worth
$4,000 has been erected, grand stand
valued at S., 600. high board fence. race
track, and tennis courts and baseball dia-
moud have been added. Beside these
there are two old boat houses. Ex-Asses-
sor Stilsing put the value OF all this at
S22. 500. This apparently was too much
- -, ,,.is 10, - aIo-o,an for ha inunrad
from his seat, showed his hands deep into
his trousers pickets and walked about
whistling We've been there before,
many a time"
The attention of the Commissioners was
next attracted to the assessment OF S40.-
900 levied upon the Latourette House, the
largest hotel at Bergen Point, fronting on
the Kill Won Kull, and surrounded by
ninety improved and valuable lots NO
personal tax was levied at all This was
perhaps an oversight on the part Of Mr..
Stilsing.
The estate OF Hannah Meiggs, compris-
ing 49 lots, is assessed at $4,000. The
Commissioners made it Sl1, 900. The Ar
canum Hall. at Avenue ID and Thirty
third street, is assessed for S3.9I5. The
lowest value placed upon the building by
the Commissioners was $4,000, and the
building alone is estimated at having
cost more than half that sum.
Assessor Murray scratched his nose and
looked wise when asked by the Commis-
sioners if ne thought 81. $50 was a fair
assessment upon two three story double
frame dwelling houses with three lots on
Avenue D owned by William Waiter. It
was fiualiy elected that the lots were
worth $500 each and the houses $3YO0O
each. That brought the valuation up 10
s., 500 but the sum was finally liked at
8, $50 for each piece.
ssfHhafSa EaiEp EfTnCk yer. -
said Commissioner Van Reypen, who is
well posted on Bayonne valuations.
TOO SMALL TO DE SEEN.
A three-story brick building with five
lots, owned by William Kelly, at Avenue
d and Eleventh street, WAS assessed for
5000. The lots alone are valued at more
than that sum. The building and per-
sonal property of Kelly, who keeps dry
goods store, were entirely overlooked By
Stilsing.
A four-story brick building, with two
smaller buildings adjoining, surrounded
by ten aud one-half lots. owned by w.
Alpsrs, at Avenue ID and Seventh street,
were valued at 81, 500. Assessor Murray,
who seems not we'll posted on valuations,
figured them at $4,000. Even this sum
was considered too low, but the Commis-
sioners were too disgusted TO make fur
ther inquiry.
Proceed said Commissioner Morgan;
''let's get through with this business" >;
but Assessor Murray was unable TO give
any further information, and the Board
was compelled to suspend WORK.
Counsellor Besson appeared before the
Board in behalf Of the Hudson Gas Light
Company TO object to The assessment OF
&, 600 levied upon gas pipes in the town OF
West Hoboken. Mr.. Besson claimed that
the company had been assessed fully tor
the pipes at the home office, which wBs
$4,000 on real estate and $4,000 on per-
sonal property.
An opinion by Judge Garretson was
produced by Clerk Connolly. which read
that all tangible property shall be assessed
where found.
Joseph Gerlach complained that 81, $50
was an excessive valuation upon two lots
and 81 900 house in 'Irishtown," Fifth
ward, Bayonne.
Julius Bolihart found fault with one Of
Assessor Dollard's assessments He
claimed that &. coo is too much for a
double three story frame house at No.
1O4 First street, the principal business
treet in Hoboken. Mr. Bollhart paid
81 900 for the land alone twenty-one years
ago. The owner has apparently I'M
proved in an opposite direction 10 other
Hoboken property.
Clerk Connolly submitted to the Board
the reasons or the City Tax Commission
ers for having exempted the Young Men 5
Christian Association building from tax
alton. The principal reason was that re
ligious services are held there.
Owing TO the kindness of Commissioner
Usz II was learned that in 1921 Bayonne
real estate values amounted 10 s. 029. ls5;
personal. S549, ,342s making total OF e.