Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-25

showing an increase OF less than one
third in eleven years In assessed valua-
ton. whereas. in the meantime. the city
has far more than doubled in popula-
ton; and. by addition Of territory By
the acts Of 1891. has largely extended
its boundaries to the north. south. east
and west. As matter OF fact. the as
sessed valustion in tho city should be at
least three times what il was in 1882.
Population Doubled.
II 10 = well known fact that the popu-
lation OF the city Of Grand Rapids. as
shown by the United States census. has
more than doubled in every ten years II
10 also well known fact that it's assess
able value has much more than doubled
in every ten years, but it ia true. owing
to the difficulty Of equalizing between
the country districts and the city. that
the assessed valuation has been kept at
q minimum point. 50 that in eleven years
such valuation has only increased about
5000. O00--in other words. all the real
and personal property Of the city OF
Grand Rapids in 1882 was els. 9l5, 15S.
In 1892. t23.5O0000. an increase Of less
than e5.000.O00. In 1891 there was taken
into the city limits vast area Of terri
tory, on the one hand adding To the city
very large amount Of taxable property
and on the other hand adding to the
city a more than proportionate increase
OF municipal expenses
The Democrats Unfhirncss.
An examination Of tho foregoing fig
ures and Of those which are 10 follow.
will show at oncc that the actual growth
and wealth Of the city has been far in
excess OF the rate OF taxation during the
past ten years. The article in The
Democrat 81 Friday. June -. gives the
population Of various cities. and in an
other column states the rate OF tax per
500 valuation. but fails TO give the as
sessed valuation OF any one of the cities
in tho liet, and thereby il affords neither
datum or data by which the question 81
taxation. relatively speaking. can be
tested. venture 10 say that. as a mat
ter Of fact. there In no city in the United
States Of a population Of between $4,000
and 10000 that raises less by taxation
for city and school purposes than does
the city Of Grand Rapids.
Misleading Comparison.
The trouble is, the comparison has
been made on false basis for instance.
Portland. Oregon, is cited as having a
population OF $1,000, Grand Rapids IA
having a population OF 10000. and the
tax per tlOO for Grand Rapids is placed
at 3..8 aud Portland, Oregon is placed at
LOO. yet, at the same time, il nowhere
appears what the actual amount Of
money raised by taxation was imposed
on any Of the cities in the list. nor does
il appear at what amount the cities
named in the list were appraised in
other words 10 data are furnished upon
which one can base an intelligent com
parison.
No Information Whatever.
Take any city. Cor instance Cam
bridge. Massachusetts,, with popula-
fion Of $1,000. with pro rata Of Leo; il
is impossible TO determine whether or
not taxes are higher in that city than in
Grand Rapids. without knowing at what
amount Cambridge IL assessed and
without knowing the grand total OF city
iares. The same would be true Of syria
eusc. New York. population placed at
10000. tax placed at 1C5. In the arti.
Gle In question. or in other words. in the
table ia question, az found In the Demo.
crat II Friday. June ~ nothing is
furnished by which any person could
determine as 10 whether or not any oi
the cities in the list were being taxed
for the running Of the city affairs at a
lower rate or at higher rate than the
city OF Grand Rapids.
Tasc~ I'm Grand Rapid<.
Commencing with the year 1881 the
city u Grand Rapids raised for general
purposes. si5s,ssa15
1891 49,. sis3.2fs.oo 1850 $3.50. xsoi. zoo. II
iss5 $500. FL. $500 fssp. . 3to $50. u
I-ss 49,. ia .5s&.ss isoi. $500. 3ot3i0.t-
is.7.... 80. 1oS.s5 iss2 ...... 2&lSgl =
l.cs ...... 215.s3o2s 1850. ...... 3<o.eq9. &
Thus showing that ia a period ol
eleven years the general aggregate 81
tsqation For city purposes has by no
means increased in proportion 10 ths
wealth and population of the city. In
the meantime the city has 10 show Got
u