New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-07
A RING-PLUNDERED TOWN.
SAD PLIGHT OF JERSEY CITY.
CITIZENS AWAKENED TO THEIR DESPERATE
CONDITION.
LONG LIST OF Evils BROUGHT UPON 1T BY
uSsCRUPULoUs oFTICEHoLDERs-TIIE ONLY

jersey City, in proportion 10 wealth and popu-
iation mas one OF the most cumbrous and ex.
pehsive city governments in the country. Why
the people tolerate it is a mystery not only to
outsiders, but to the residents The city ranks
nineteenth among the cities Of the Union II
had population, according TO the census Of 1890,
of l63,0s7. Its area is twelve square miles, on
the map. II is divided on the assessors map into
l 104, 900 city lots, in round numbers OF these
100000 are meadow lots. These are entirely un-
improved and many of them are submerged at
every high tide Railroad and other corpora
tiofTs, by legislative aid, have secured over 3d.
600 lots. There are not over "a, 900 upland lots.
and of these $1,000 are built upon.
The railroad companies pay no local tax, though
they contributed about 5000, 900 year to the city
treasury indirectly. I he meadow lots are unstable
at any price, and have to be rated at small value
| for taxation The 81 900 houses bear the main
burden Of taxation. The realty in the city il
owned by less than / 900 individuals. The ratio
Of property owners is O fraction below one 6n ten
of the total population. Any one judging from
these facts would imagine that community Of
interest would make the property -ownen unite in
favor of low taxes. They have majority OF the
votes. Estimating one voter out OF hye there
could not he than 32,798 voters IN tho
city. But the property-owners do not vote one
way At least the returns do not show that they
do.
Two weeks ago the City Controller issued his
annual report. 1t shows the city's bonded debt TO
be Sls,173,650 H. This is equal to mortgage
OF $3.50 on each house in the city, IN addition
to this each house is pledged for its pro rata Oh
the county debt. Sixty per cent OF the county
liability falls on jersey City. This and other
debts bring the mortgage on each house ciOSe
TO 81 900 And this is mortgage wiiicn o"lA'S
| be paid off by the owner
DECEPTIVE TAX LEVY.
Tho tax levy for the current fiscal year was
81 700. 900 in round numbers 1t was much larger
in tho estimate but it was cut down to Dr1ng tho
taxrate below per cent. The reducuon
did not result in economy. The difference
Ietxeen what was allowed and what was asheu
for appears to have been made good oy teinPoi''S
loans The Controllers report shows 'ha' .i'se
loans aggregate $924,000 Alter year ioah'
ar. met bv revenue bonds, and gradually enter
tho bonded debt of the city. The same report
shows that the taxpayers had paid Sl,2o6,lol -
on account OF the tax levy the railroad COM
panes had paid $209,54s Sc; tax arrears hao
brought in $55s, ,94l OF; assessments had feaHAe"
Sl4s2OI "a, and arrears OF assessments
us ~. uouor licenses produced S239,649 oo'
other licenses brought in $685. Il couf' iee'
~. .O34 IA; Health Board permits. S2,4's So pup
Or
sru, of Ss2eO23 SO had been realized by the saie
q, now bonds. and $o24,000 had been borrowed
from, the banks This made total oil S4,ooi'-
$50 10 received by the city officials In one year.
| There are "a great many small frame houses In
Jersey City, owned BY wage-earners. ihey DnnS
the average value of the houses oo"n oeio"
SO 900. A large percentage OF the houses ha'o
mortaoogcs on them, besides the city's mortgage.
Ono Jersey City savings bank has S6,OoO,Ooo
invested in mortgages. Many New-iork institu-
tons hold Jersey City mortgages Besides thesc
there are many builing loan ASSOCIATION mortgages
These mortgages have little equity LOT INC
owners The propcrty-owners who can sel aro
leaving the city TIey are mostly the weli-to-do.
There is a lull in building The prices for real
estate have fallen more than 80 per cent
ExNovor Sedler has left the city. HIS
resdcnce with fifteen lots sold for Sl2,OOO,
although the stable and conservatory alone cost
,s much AS that EX-Mayor Taussigs residence
with four lots was sold at auction for $4,000
The stable cost fully that sum. lhe Garwood
homestead with fifteen lots was disposed OF FOR
$1,000. The Valentine Larry place was SOLD for
VI 600 with six lots. The Bacot house, which
cost S23, 900, brought only $4,000. The Vreden'
bcroh house, which cost $4,000, was sold for
s., 100, less sellers commission, and the DaVy
mansion, which cost $4,000, was disposed OF ioF
$1,000 These are sales made within the last
rortn,obt and they ale only specimens. They are
cassed among the finest property in the city. Inc
owners have gone. Less desirable property -
held by its owners because they cannot sell, or
cannot afford the sacrifice.
SUFFERING PRoPERTY-owNERs.
In 1855 the realty valuation S64,069,'
3O5 and the personality valuation 1891 ,4?0,
making the raiabc value S6o,oio,725. Tie
valuation was notably unequal. Some ownerS
knew how to secure low valuation, and Others had
10 suffer. Last year the valuation was increased
TO IS 1888 ,065 Is was returned nearly So,OOo,-
600 below this figure, and was raised subsequently
10 keen the rate below 3 per cent. The Martin
act, u law which provides for the sale OF the
ice for delinquent taxes after two years, pro-
hibits rate in excess of 3 per cent By us
terms it becomes imperative when the tax en-
ceeds that rate The ofiice-holders cannot dispense
with that law, since it forces the propcrtyowners
I'm nay their taxes The tax officials and the city
fnanccrs scanned the list Of taxable property, and
added TO the valuations here and there enough 10
bring the total u its present figure. They also
made some reductions in the list OF estimates.
Thus By addition and subtraction the rate was
put below 3 per cent. The reductions in the
estimates were probably made good by the issue
OF bonds by temporary loans from the banks.
The result to the taxpayer WAS larger mortgage
on his house and an increase in his tax BILL Each
wear since the new charter o. 1889 became opera
tive the taxpayers have had a similar experience
Why is il that the property ty-owners do not unite,
irrespective of party and secure change? Every
one who hears of the condition of the city asks
that question. This brief statement Of the imam
cia condition of Jersey City shows that 1t is
nearing the danger point. The valuation placed
on the property by the assessors was only
$75. 900. 900 before it forced up to lower
the rate The recent sales show that that was
a very high valuation. This fact has been recog-
nized by some New-York financial institutions, and
they demanded a reduction Of their mortgages.