Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-06


with the loss of but few days. when binding
storms obscured the vision. On Jan
nary %, 1892, we commenced actual view
IN like manner in Georgetown. deyoting
half of each day to field work and the balance
to work in the office-the condition of the
weather being such as to prevent much outdoor
work. On the same day we also commenced the
office work of reviewing the entire field work
that had been done-sweeping back over all the
squares in Washington. consecutively. from No.
ITO to No. 1. and. guided by maps showing the
existing sewer and water services and street i'm
provements. as well our own memoranda
and such other sources of information" such
as real estate sales lists. owl: individual in
quiry or knowledge, and the records
of actual sales. would reaching pro-
visionai conclusions on them, subject, of course
TO subsequent revision and change upon any
further information that might reach Us. and
equaliZing the whole work. relatively, as We
went along. BY May Is. 1892. We had thus re-
turned to square l. Washington city. and COM
menced our equaliZing review work of the l3l
squares In Georgetown, which was completed
May %.
We have now completed our work so far as
the cities of Washington and Georgetown are
concerned. and have the honor to report il to
you IN the accompanying lists, which we hereby
declare TO be our assessments. as a board. of the
real property in said cities for the triennial
period beginning with the fiscal year 1893.
Owing TO the fact that at its present session
Congress has extended. for six months. the time
in which We are to assess the realty in the
county, we have the honor to state that at the
time prescribed by law a separate report will be
made TO you of such assessment.
Before closing this report there are a few
points to which desire to call the attention of
your honorable board, to witt
First. As TO the magnitude of the work We
have been engaged in and the insufficiencv of
the time legally allotted to it. We have worked
steadily upon this assessment from july IA
1891, to June g. 1892 or saw in round numbers
period of eleven months. There are i'm Wash
ington LILO squares and 131 in Georgetown or
a total of ,3Ol squares of varying sizes in the
two cities. Many of these squares are subdi-
vided into more than 80 subdivisions some
into more than 200. Assuming. however the
average number of subdivisions to be only fifty
to each square-and that We think a conserya-
tive estimate-then the number of separate
pieces of land that we have been required to
assess in that limited time is over 65. 900. But
each of these had to be both actually viewed in
the field as well as reviewed in the office i'm the
manner already described. Passing twice on
each piece necessitatedt no less than l30. 900
separate yerdicts as il were. on the land values
There are about A.. 900 houses in the two cities
upon each of which We had TO reach one verdict
of value upon actual view. Thus il will be
seen, We have been obliged to reach l72 600 sep
arate verdicts of assessment in eleven months.
or at the rate of about 600 per diem for each
and every day We have been in service So
much work done in so limited period cannot,
in the nature of things. be perfectly done. The
entire three years is little enough time for a
work of such vastness the assessment of realty
in this District.
Second. As to the necessity Of rcticence in |
our conclusions. From what We have inst mem
toned as to the magnitude of our work YOU will
perceive that had not a moment to snare
from it. Had we given ont our figures of prob |
40 ant IL
have opened the door to outside pressure
thing that we did not care to inyite-and run |
the great risk of obsfrncting. DELAYING and per-
haps, in the end, defeating the completion of |
the assessment There is a time and place for |
all things The law provides that a board of /
equalization shall sit during June and july to |
hear appeals made to il by taxpayers who think |
injustice has been done them in the assessment
of their realty. That gives the opportunity for |
rectifcation of possible errors.
Third. As to the increased burden of taxation.
1t is a matter of public notoriety acknowledged.
last few years real property in the citles of
Washington and Georgetown has, as a rule.
largely enhanced in vaiue-in some localities
amazingly go No surprise. therefore. will be
felt over the large increase in land values
shown in the assessment list herewith sub
mitted. And. although taxation is always con-
sidered a burden, and increased taxation is gem
orally irritating. we are well satisfied from the
expressions of our citizens that the increase in
this will be cheerfully borne, provided it is
a just and equal increase, aud provided further
that they receive the benefits of such increase
in the extension everywhere within the city
limits of street improvements, or, in other
words, tangible return for their money. We
desire also in this connection to remind your
honorable body that i'm case the increased bur-
den of taxation. assessed upon our very con-
servative. rule of intrinsic value, should
appear to you to be too heavy the or
ganic act Of June IL, 1873 (sec. 81. pre-
scribes that the rates Of taxation on real estate
''shall not exceed" s1.50 per hundred dollars
Of valuation for city property and sf.00 per
hundred dollars Of valuation for outside real
estate used exclusively for agricultural purposes
and that, while the law prohibits an increase of
the present rate Of taxation, there is. in our
Judgment, nothing to prevent you from de-
creasing said rate should you choose to do 20.
In conclusion, we desire TO express 10 your
honorable body our thanks for the uniform
kindnees and consideration with which YOU have
always treated rs in supplying our most press
ing needs, and our acknowledgements through
you 70 The aesessor of TIE Distrist for -