Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-23
A CITIZENS MEETING
To Be Called, on Account of In.
creased Valuations, for
the Purpose of
ASKING 4 A13-MILL TAX RATE
Every Ward to Be Organized and Can
didateS to Be Pledged.
FIGURING ON HOW IT CAN BE DONE.
In Revision Of Two Wards the Assessors
Make Reductions.
ASKING 413-MILL TAX RATE
FIGURING ON HOW IT CAN BE DONE.
THE RUSH OF APPEALS STILL CONTINUES

The indications are that the general in
dignation over the increase in taxable
property valuations will be given an oppor-
tunity to vent itself soon in mass meeting
Of citizens. A prominent member of the
bar, who has taken leading part in other
movements of a similar character, is to be
the organizer of this movement and meet
ing viii be held this or Monday evening,
when plans will be mapped out.
The objections of the parties fostering
this movement are not so much against the
increased valuations as against high tax rate
in addition thereto. They argue that as the
appropriation ordinance will not be passed
until after the municipal elections, every
candidate for Councils shonld pledge him
self to his constituents to oppose tax rate
above 13 mills. Where the candidates
already announced will give this pledge
they are to be supported, but if they refuse,
new men, willing to pledge themselves to
protect the peoples interests in this matter,
Will be set up and supported. The mass
meeting is intended to be a starter for
Others to be held in many wards.
In explaining why 13-mill tax should
new movement take the assessors figures
for it that there will be % per cent in
crease in taxable valuation all over the city
On taxable valuation of 5000 600, 900, a 13-
mill tax will WELD S16O,OOO more money
than Is mills Welded last year on a valua-
ton of S1S0, ,OOO, 600
How to Keep the Taxes Down.
This they say will more than cover the in
crease in expenses by reason Of the city's
growth, but they add 5000, 900 that the city
will receive from liquor licenses, and $780,
OGO increase in the State appropriation for
school purposes With the Sl60,0 600 from
increased taxes, $500, 600 from licenses and
100000 from the State, this will
make $500, 900 more money than was
received for the past wear. Out of this
they allow Chief Brown 100000 more than
his last years appropriation for new FIRE
equipment Then they take Controller
Mnrrow's figures that the deficiency this
wear is $3.50 0G0, or $50, 900 greater than it
was last year, and allow S15O,0OO to cover
that The remaining S210, 900 they calcu-
late viii be sufficient increase for Chez
BiCelow's department, making his appro-
priation 81, ,459 go, which is considered
ample. With ttis amount of receipts they
claim the oitv business can be carried on as
successfully as it ever was and no reason
exists for increasing it.
The crowd of citizens filing appeals yes
terdsy was nearly as large as on the preced-
ing day, the Twentieth, Twenty-frst and
Twenty-third wards producing the greatest
number. The assessors say nearly cyerv
property holder in the Twentieth ward is
filing an appeal and the Sixteenth being
nearly as bad, several clerks are kept busy
in making out transcripts for appellants.
The county assessors in the Third,
Twelfth, Fourteenth, Eighteenth, Nine
teenth and Twenty-second wards have
failed to make their returns, and the CITY
Assessors are impatiently waiting for them
It is said that the Fourteenth ward assessor
will not be ready to report before Febru-
ary 15
Among the appellants yesterday was At
tornev NJ. A Woodward. He did not file
his appeal, but asked to see the books for
the Second ward, saying he had no objection
to his assessmen: if neighboring property
was assessed at the same rates, but he
wanted to see the books and make sure
The clerk said the books were not open for
inspection.
Said He Would Appeal 70 Court.
Mr. Woodward insisted on his demand,
but the clerk explained that men were work.
ing on the books and he could not see them.
Mr.. Woodward angrily replied that he
would not ask again. but would take steps
TO have the books produced in court. Later
in the day J. F. Maeder made a similar de-
mand for the Eleventh ward books, but was
promised a chance TO inspect the books in a
couple of weeks after the rush is over.
The Board of Assessors, in revising its
figures yesterday, made the following re-
ductions:
Seventh ward-On Fifth avenue, both
sides from Chatham to Congress streets,
1212 per cent off the original figures; Wylie
avenue, from Chatham to Federal streets
10 per cent OF; Chatham street from Fifth
10 Wylie avenues, Is per cent off; Washing
ton street, right side from Fifth TO Wylie
avenues, reduced to $40 per front foot on
l35 foot depths, and $50 on the left side for
ll3 and l07 foot depths: Federal street from
Fifth to Wylie avenues, Is per cent of:
Webster avenue, from Washington to Logan
streets, both sides, 100 foot depths reduced
TO $50; all other lots reduced in same pro-
portion.
In the Twenty-sixth ward where the COM
plants have been so loud and numerous a
reduction was made on Carson street from
S325 to $500 per front foot between Seven
teenth and Eighteenth street: from Eight
eenth to Nineteenth reduced to $3.50: Nine
teenth to Twentieth, $3.50: Twentieth to
Twenty-first, S261. On Sarah street from
Seventeenth to Twenty-frst, through depths
were reduced to SIPS per foot, smaller depths
IN proportion. This foot note appears on
:
tlon and my impression is no valid ground
exists for reducing the foot frontage rates
on Sidney street"
From Yesterdays list of appeals the fol-
lowing were taken:
Appeals From Various Sections.
Fourth ward-Alexander King is assessed
q, 900 on 90x60 foot lot on Ninth street near
Duquesne way, but appeals for s.. 1000 On
two 2lx1lO foot lots on Liberty street. be-
tween Ninth street and Garrison alley he is |
assessed S39.4S0 each, but wants the figures |
reduced to So, 800, or 81, 800 per front foot.
which he says is a fair and equitable figure
though little less than recently paid 1or an |
adjoining piece.
Samuel Jones heirs, assessed S2S, 800 on SAX
240 feet on DuQuesne way, below Fifth street
appeal for SIS 900.
p. Smith, for the Martin Connolly estate.
asks for reductions of from 81, 900 to s. 600 on |
several properties, but on lot 60x50 at Penn |
avenue and seventh street wants a cut from
S54, 400 20 $4s 500.
Mrs. M. a Stewart is assessed s4OG67 on a
20xso lot on Wood street, between Third and
Fourth avenues, in the Second ward, which
eheHalues at 49,, 600.
P. Smith, for the h. Mccullough estate
Fourth ward, makes the following cuts in |
his appeals: Lot 100xs0 Penn avenue and
seventh street, assessed $9S 800; appeal. |
$4,000. Lot 2Oxlll, Penn avenue, near Sew
enth street, s25, 600: appeal, s5 500. Lot 3Oxl20
near Seventh street, $50 400: appeal |
81, 600. Lot 64Xll0 Seventh street below |
Penn avenue, SIS, ,9S6; appeal 22, ,546 Lot |
20x60 Seventh street. below Penn avenue.
street, between Penn and Liberty streets |
S25, ,9SS: appeal, S2S 100. He says these figures |
are fair as pared with recent sales in the |
vicinity.
Eleventh Ward Objectors.
Eleventh Ward--C O. Lon0enecl5er of