Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-24

ment of land values in the District of Columbia
on the first Monday in June 1892, taking for
that purpose, for the cities Of Washington and
| Georgetown, the assessment now being pre-
pared. and for the remainder of the District the
last assessment. The journal shall thereafter
be made to show the amount added to or
taken from the aforesaid total assessment SO
that the total assessed value of land in the
District shall at all times appear. Forty days
| before the LIST of November and the LIST
| Of May in each year the journal shall
| be closed, and the total amount of the assess
| ment, less the amount assessed on land by law
exempt from taxation, shall be reported over
| the signature OF the president and prosecutor
of the board to the Commissioners OF the Dis
| trict of Columbia, who shall determine and fix
the rate Of taxation necessary to raise the
revenue required, not exceeding the limit fixed
| by law. The Commissioners shall transmit said
report and the rate to the assessor and collector
to guide them in the preparation Of the tax
| duplicate for that period Of six months.
There shall be kept in the Office of the board Of
equalization two sets Of maps under, the direc-
ton OF the prosecutor, one set showing the Dis
trict OF Columbia in not more than four Sec
tons, with all the subdivisions Of squares and
| tracts in the outlying districts; and On each
square and tract shall be marked the contents
in square feet or acres, the total land value and
the average valuation Per square foot or acre,
according to the assessment on the first Monday
in June, 1892. The other set of maps shall
show each square or tract on a separate sheet in
book form, designated by the number of the
square or tract. which square or tract shall be sub
divided into lots showing each separate owner
ship, and on each such subdivision there shall
be marked the contents in square feet or acres
the total land value and the value per foot or
acre. according to the assessment on the frst
Monday in June, 1892. And thereafter changes
In assessments on land or new assessments shall
be marked on the face Of both sets Of maps until
such time as in the judgment Of the prosecutor
I'm thopa
maps all public grounds and government prop
erty on which no assessment is levied shall be
indicated by distinct color, and another color
shall indicate all private grounds assessed, bnt
by law exempt from taxation. The assessor
shall turn over 70 the board Of equalization all
maps and plats now in his possession.
All maps shall be open to public inspection
during office hours
The board Of equalization shall as soon as
practicable after the closing Of the books make
an estimate OF all taxable land in the District Of
Columbia, showing the annual rental value Of
each square and tract, exclusive OF improve
Inents ascer tanning nearly as possible the au-
nual rent that the land would bring If put to it's
best use! The amount of this annual rental SO
ascertained, with statement of the amount Of
the taxes levied upon the land represented by
1t, and showing what percentage Of the annual
value ia taken by taxation, shall be reported by
the president Of the board to the Commission
ers OF the District Of Columbia for publication
in the annual report
The Commissioners of the District of Colnm-
bia shall furnish the board of equalization with
suitable place in which to meet.
All laws or parts OF laws conflicting with this
paragraph are hereby repealed.
ASSESSED VALUES OF LAND.
The assessed value of land in the District for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898, will prob
ably be, as shown in the foregoing tables. about
ubi {,,lr A.
hibited by the twenty-seven typical blocks, is
only AZ per cent of the true value-S423 600, OOO
A tax rate on the true value of land in the
District OF SO cents on each 500 would raise
$4,000, 900. being one-half Of the amount now
annually appropriated for District purposes.
A rate OF III cents on each 500 would raise
$4,000 900, one-half the amount estimated by
the Commissioners as necessary for District
purposes.
ANNUAL INCREASE IN LAND VALUE
At 10 per cent annual increase, the minimum
rate testified to by witnesses before the COM
mittee, there would be an increment to land
values of S42, 100000 each year. This repre-
sents the annual profit of landowners, and
when it is considered that improvements in the
District are only S73 900 900, or one-ffth of the
total 1t seems entirely just that taxes falling on
ments-should be shifted to that part of the
taxable value that receives such an enormous
increase each year-land.
COUNTY PROPERTY.
The committee took no testimony as to land
values outside of the cities of Washington and
Georgetown, but unofficially they learn that
the county contains nearly 10000 acres, some
of the least valuable Of which was taken to form
Rock Creek Park and the Geological garden,
Tor which the government paid about 81 400 900
or 500 an acre. Estimating all the land in the
county to be worth no more than that the total
assessment should have been S2s. 900 900. In
stead of that it WAS assessed at less than
SlO,0OO000. Some of the land lying outside of
boundary street and forming part of the
county proper has been sold at the rate
Of from $4,000 to $4,000 an Iacre, and
the lowest estimate the committee could get on
the entire 10000 acres was over 500 0OO, 600
This shows that the inequalities in assessment
OF the county are very great and probably the
land now stands assessed at a good deal less
than one-tenth Of its real value. 1t must be
remembered that in what is defined as the
county are such places as lie Droit Park, Eek
ington, Brookland. Tenleytown, Mt Pleasant
Anacostia, Brightwood, Washington Heights,
Columbia Heights, &c.
DIFFERENCES IN THE COMMITTEE.
In the original draft of the report proposed
by Mr.. johnson the substitute clause in the ap-
preparation bill as recommended to the House
provided for the assessment of nothing but the
value of land On vote of the committee this
was Overruled by the two other members, who
deemed such proposition at the present time
too radical, and in accordance with this vote
the recommendation has been changed to pro-
vide for the assessment of improvements as well
as land values.
LOCAL stock and securities by auction at Rat
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