The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-01
WATER ASSESSMENT
Mr.. Dusenbery and His
Aids to Make a New
Levy Throughout the
City,.
ABUSES SUSPECTED.
An Increase of $4,000 in the
Revenue Looked For
Schedule Of Rates.
ABUSES SUSPECTED.

Actlng under INSTRUCTIONS ITouh tue otie0U
and Water Commissioners, Water Assessor
A. B. Dusenberry today began making a
new water rent assessment.
In former years 1t has been customary,
when a new assessment was made, to engage
a force of twenty or thirty men, and permit
them to consume two or three months at the
work. They were reassessors and were
paid salaries of from S75 to 500 per month
This was one of the few hundred ways In
which the city was victimized by unscrupu-
lous politicians, who had to place heelers
for@a short time at least. The last assess
ment ordered made was for the especial BEN
eft of heelers. 1t was made four years ago.
t. The new assessment will be made i'll a man
ner as unlike the old method as possible. In
the first place, there will be no heelers en-
gagged to do the work. Assessor Dusenbery
has so arranged that the four assessors I'M
der his control will be assisted by six clerks
of the Water Department, who at this time
OF the year have little OF nothing to do save
draw their breath and salaries. With these
ten men the new assessment will be- system
a~tically levied. One district will be taken
up at a time, soAthat Mr.. Dusenbery will be
able to keep a close watch over the assess
or's movements, and see to 1t that no houses
are accidentally or otherwise overlooked or
wrong assessments levied.
lit has been alleged and never denied that
people with a pulp escaped paying any
water tax at all. 1t has also been alleged
that absurd assessments have been levied
against certain kinds of houses When 1t is
known that assessments are levied accord
ing to the frontage, height and character OF
a building, it may be realized what an ex-
cellent opportunity existed for favoritism-
MANY ABUSES EXISTED.
The Street and Water Commissioners, as
well as Assessor Dusenberry, believe that
the new assessment will reveal petty abuses,
which, when taken together, exercised a
telling influence over the receipts of the
Water Department, and will account
t in a measure mes r Ior the oeb 1ae5
at an alarming rate under the management
of the old board. 1t is the opinion of the
Street and Water Commissioners that the
new assessment will, beyond doubt, increase
the revenue even from tho old houses liable
to assessment four years ago. Again there
has to be taken into consideration the natural
| growth of the city. Every new house in
creases the water revenue.
Water rents are payable in For
the fiscal year May l., 1898, to May l, 1884,
they amounted, as assessed to 1851 264. 56.
The rents for the fiscal year 1S94-95 amount
to 1855, 442.4 40. The increase is explained by
| some by the growth of the city and increased
| consumption, while others who have scanned
the records declare that it is due
to a more equitable assessment having
been made since Mayor Wanser's term be-
gan. However the case may be, it is be.
| lieved that the new assessment will increase
the city's revenue from water rents at least
$500 00 If such is the case, the Water De-
| partment will be made self-sustaining, and
each year a determined effort will be made
to lay aside a little to pay OIL the w alter De
| partrnent debt.
METHoD OF ASSESSMENT.
In levying a water rent assessment string
| emit rules are followed. For a house with a
frontage of less than fifteen feet, an assess
ment of $50 per year is levied for one
| story, S7.15 for two, 1855 for three, $40 for
four and S11.40 for five stories. For build.
ings having a frontage of twenty feet, and
not exceeding twenty-five feet. S7.15 is
charged for one story, $3.50 for two, $11.40
| $500 for five, with a fractional
increase for every half story added. For the
ordinary building Of 25 feet and not exceed.
| ing so feet, SS.55 is charged for one story,
| SO for one and a half, ST. 40 for two, S12.3s
for two and a half, $3.50 for three, S14.2S
for three and a half, $500 for four, $780, L
| for four and a half, and S1h10 for five. The
| same increases as above apply all the way
up to buildings of 240 feet frontage and not
| exceeding $50 feet. In the latter case the
charge is $50. 60 for one story, $50 5 for two,
S63. % for three, $3.50 for four, and $685.
| for five stories.
IN oceoceing ,aar ho,1saS the 3rata ie.about
| two-thirds that of front houses.
After ascertaining the width and height OF
| a house, the assessor is compelled to look
into the interior and levy an additional as
sessment under the following regulations
/ Baths-ln prlvate or aweiling houses, " eacn PEI
houses, bathing establishments. and all public instf
buttons, ana known as puone oaths' 80 each pei
annum.
Bakeries-,one cent per barrel, per annum, fol-
each barrel OF HOUR usea.
Barber ~hops-Wher Pascal cwater Is introduced
on premises or used, s. 70 50 per anhum.
tap behind The bar.
For / tap behind the bar $40 per annum.
Fo pr ea StnresnWiI he n = q s 4 ner ann,,m xv,ore
no fo1ntaini is used. $40 per annum where fountain
Is used; So fer X ineh to 81 men tap, and so for 81
ih Enr NJ yard with LA inch iat q nor ON
nun; with is inch jet, 81 per annum.
Fountains viii only pc allowed to run from April
20 @rs SoHe onsesIs x g ner I ssaf so,,are feet Of surfaoe
per annum where water is not measured by meter.
Horse Troughs AND HydIantsIon sidewalk, so
e nsaamp per e I N ea % vear rs and o nn ya 5p9 3arre ap fbap ! . e
inch shall be used.
Rent to be paid in advance each year before the
Water Will M ge f Sa cop NJ; a WITH nilse s srUegn an ah m my
nave separate connections from house service.
Hotels and Boarding aouses-In ADDITION to regu
ia ar p Hn iS'es Sipei "niuA i" eaon oe"o w
Iaundries-From SIS to $50 per annum.
Marketsr1Mdeeaat stalls, g per annum. Fish and