The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-10

I ssa' as a fair and equitable
basis upon the assessments of properties
and coal lands within the borough should
be based.
Each committee worked in a separate
room over the figures of the FIVE wards and
the Commis toner's Office was represented
by Edward E. Reed son of the County
Commissioner, William Barry, Frank
Ward and Joseph Patterson, the court
stenographer.
William Wilhelm, Esq, the special
counsel to the County Commissioners, was
one of the most active men Of the day and
kept going from one committee to another
to ascertain their progress when not en-.
6 ged in hearing the complaints of the
West Mahanoy township appellants.
There was some lively scenes in some Of
the committee rooms, but the outside public
were deprived an opportunity to witness
them, as the committees positively refused
to allow sdmittHnee to any one outside the
committee and the Commissioners officer.
The First ward committee, comprising
Messrs. j. j. Monaghan, Michael Graham
and 7. @. Waters were the first to com Iete
their work and were ready to meet the
Commissioners at about o'clock, but as
the other four wsrds were far from the
finishing post Mr.. Wilhelm fixed o clock
for meeting of all the committees.
One of the features of the First ward re-
vision was the attachment to tue asse, sment
list of several lots owned by the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company
The total increased valuation i'll that ward
by reason of the additions is SD 500, ai-
vided as follows: 45 lots on East Lloyd
street at $3.50 per lot, Sc, $50; SO lots on East
Coal street at 500, $1,000; 80 lots on East
Line street, at SlOO, 50 200, and 46 lots on
East Centre street at 500. 80 200.
Al 8 o'clock in the evening the COM
mittees again met in Beddalrs building,
but the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth
wards had not finished their work and
additional time was given them to do SO.
Mr.. Wilhelm remained in town, but the
County Commissioners left for their homes
on the 603 train, promising to come to
town to-day and meet all the committees at
Up. NJ.
At $3.50 O. clock all the committees were
ready to report and they met Mr.. Wilhelm
in the Columbus Club room in BeddalPs
building. Each presented their lists OF
revisions.
Mr., Wilhelm caused each committee man
to be affirmed and court stenographer Pat
terson WAS instructed to take down the
questions and answers of the attorney and
committee men that followed, They were
substantially as follows; How long baye
you lived in Shenandoah What is your
business What part of the town do you
live 10 ? Have you ever held any public
position in the borough Have you worked
about the buildings Of town. Have you
ever been connected With any savings fund
of town. Have you ever been on any
committees to value property Have you
ever been party to the transfer Of real
estate And, lastly, from what you know
Of the town do you believe the committees
suggestions as to value are such as will
make the values fair and equitable2
The answers to these questions by the
committeeman were such that Mr.. Will
helm said that the people had beer fortun-
ate in picking committees from the repre-
sentative and we'll informed people of the
town. Mr.. Wilhelm also took occasion to
thank the committees tor the excellent as.
sistance they had given the Commissioners
in Strengthening out the assessments.
Mr.. Hess asked II the figures agreed
upon by the committees would be sustained
by the Commissioners. Mr.. Wilhelm
answered that the object in swearing in
and examining the committee men was to
ascertain the correctness of the revisions
made and that no changes would be made
on appeal except in such cases where it
may be found that the committees over
looked something, where there was an
unintentional mistake, or where new light
would be thrown upon cases.
1t was then agreed to adjourn until 2 p
m. this afternoon, when the County Com
missioners would meet the committees in
the Council Chamber to hear appeals
In conversation with HERALD reporter
later in the evening Mr., Wilhelm said that
after the revisions Of all borough properties
and coal land would be finally settled he
believed that the assessments would show a
decrease of about Is per cent on the figures
fixed by the County Commissioner, The
old assessment of the borough" said he,
twas 81 ,S62 $40. The assessment fixed by
the Commissioners was S8,02l l05 From
the figures now in hand it looks as if the
borough assessments have been increased