The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-20
union HILL VALUES.
Scandalous Abuse Shown
Up in Assessor Cur
rvs Lists.
WHY NOT INDICT HIM?
American Cotton Oil Company Ont
rageously Treated-Many
Other Abuses.

<aSscSSOE hOU0rb curry OI Union 1OWA-
ship is young man, carpenter by
trade. He also conducts real estate
business. which ne finds profitable since
his election as Assessor. At one of the
first meetings of the County Board for
the Equalization of Taxes. Assessor Curry
submitted his figures along with the
other Assessors. They showed fair IN
crease on the valuation. with the per
cent. added by the Commissioners last
year, aud they were accepted without
any controversy.
Yesterday afternoon President Van
Reipen and Commissioners Utz and
Cleveland sat at an appeal Board, and
Assessor Curry's valuations received an
awful shaking up. Ex-senator Brinker-
hoft appeared on behalf of the American
Cotton Oil Company which operates an
extensive plant on the water front, in the
extreme northern portion of the town
ship. This concern gives employment to
hundreds Of men in North Hudson vet
judging from the manner in which it has
been assessed by Curry, he intended to
drive the concern out Of town.
Senator Bunkerhoff is counsel for the
company aud made vigorous and what
the Commissioners deemed just protest.
The figures which the ex-senator pro-
duced showed the Assessor up in a queer
light.
THE CoMPANY's PROPERTY.
Here are extracts from the brief with
which the ex-senator was armed and the
statements of which the Assessor made
only feeble effort to deny:-
..The company has water frontage on
the westerly line of The Hudson River OF
210 feet running back in westerly di-
rection to the highway or so-called river
road. These lots are designated on the
tax bills as lots IA, IA. 3A. "A. 5A, GA
and IA. Upon them are erected the re-
tiniug works and factory of the company,
buildings. Lots 10A. liza. 12A and 13A.
SO designated on the tax bills are situated
on the westerly side of the highway
opposite the main works and upou these
are the six tanks and workshop belong
ing to the company. Lots Alb and 5B are
in the rear of these having frontage on
the narrow street at the foot of the Hill.
Upon these lots is 40 foot tank. On the
south of the main premises are the tracks
and water front of the New York. Lake
Ontario and Western Railroad Company,
and on the north Is the unimproved water
front belonging to the Bertholf estate.
To show.the decided changes which have
been made in the valuations from 1890 to
the present time inclusive. 1refer to the
tax bills of 1890 whereby it appeals that
lots A, 2 A. 8 A, 4 A. 5 A. 6 A and A
are included in one bill. The assessed
valuations of these parcels together was
fixed at S97,S00 According to the tax
bills for 1891 the lots were separated and
were assessed.
.Lots and :. 90 00o
"Lot 8, including three buildings 12l, ,00C
"LotS A, 5 a, 8 A and A.... 4,S0C
"An increase of $4,000, or somewhat
more than 25 per cent.
Personal property, 1991.......... $4,000
1890. ......... 10000
can increase of S10,O
s'rhe total valuation of the property of
the township, both real and personal, for
taxation purposes in 1891 was 81, ,4S6, ,750,
namely:-
Reai. ....................... l,4O6. 250
personal. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81, 26O
1.-THE total amount of township tax re-
quired to be raised for the year 1891 was
SIS, ,975. 81 The total amount of tax lev
led for 1891 upon real and personal prop.
erty of the company. according TO the Tax
list, is as follows:-
Lots and 2....... ..... ........ $SS &C
Lots 4, 5, 6 aud 7a......... 56 "a
Lots 10, IL, 10 and 13a.. a.......... 28 3S
Lots 4o.'................ ........ II 81
"Or more than one-eighth of the total
valuation OF the personal property for the
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