The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-23

TO SCAN The BOOKS
State Tax Board Will Com
pare Hoboken'S Valu-
ations With Jer-
sey Clty's.
VIEWS OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
All Maintain, of Course, That Dol
lard's Assessments Are Just
and Equitable.
VIEWS OF PROPERTY OWNERS.

The afternoon session of the state
Board of Equalization of Taxes at the
Hoboken City Hall terminated yesterday
at 8 o'clock without any decision BENG
arrived at concerning the appeal OF Ho-
boken from the five per cent. additional
increase in assessed valuations. The
board adjourned until Thursday, Sep
TENDER 6, to meet at Chancery Chambers,
this city. at 1890 o'clock A, NJ. Then
they will make a rigid comparison be-
tween Hoboken's valuations ana assessed
valuations and those of this city.
John Crevier, a prominent real estate
dealer of Hoboken, said that to his
knowledge there were many pieces OF
property assessed over 60 per cent. OF
their value. Some were assessed at from
70 to 80 per cent. He could not recall
over lighthouses that would bring $4,000.
When prizes were raised above that. peo-
pie would go to New York to purchase.
A FAIR VALUE.
He thought about $1,000 on the aver
age a reasonable valuation for houses
in Hoboken. He thought some pieces of
property should get a reduction of 10
per cent. on assessed valuation. Con-
corning the river front, which Hoboken-
lies C0uSlQGT dSSGoSCQ d Az SANSoS "
the proportion of its value, Mr.. Crevier
said thai he thought a big slice
should be eliminated from the assess
ment. He said further that the portion
just off Castle Point, extending from
Fifth to Tenth streets, and for which
the city is assessed a neat figure, is
overestimated to a great extent. There
is a heavy tide there, he said, and the
projecting rocks and shallow water
make it almost useless. Besides. It Is
inaccessible, being fenced in by the Ste
vens' estate.
I'VE ought to get a 10 per cent. reduc-
ton on that assessment he said.
John r. Virgins, Assessor of Hobo
ken during 1888, said that meadow
lots were assessed now more than they
are worth. Their value has been a lit
tie enhanced recently by cutting through
streets. He thought 60 per cent. a fair
assessment, but said the assessment had
varied from 66 2-3 to 70 per cent.
Il got the cue from Jersey CITY
friends who were Tax Commissioners at
the time" he said. THAT merely shows
what unanimity there was then"
smile a bit. Asked to name houses he
considered worth s2e, 00o, Mr.. Virgins
named Himplers, on Washington street,
and Mayor Fagan's He thought $1,000 a
fair average of the value of Hoboken's
houses. Returning to the meadow lots,
which seemed TO worry MI. Virgins, ne
said some are assessed $500 that are
worth precisely that figure. He did not
cite a case. He could not see how con-
structing streets made meadow prop
erty any more valuable. He thought
one mass of water soaked land more
valuable.
w. L. Condit, President of the Hobo
ken Board of Commissioners of Appeals,
who has been in the real estate business
23 years, said the average assessment
was Sc 2-3 per cent. of the total valua-
ton. He cited many instances to show
that the rate of assessed valuation was
over 66 % per cent, and was nearer
% per cent. His references We're par
ticularly on Washington and
streets. One piece of property he declar-
ed. No. 315 Bloomfield street, was as
sessed at 1900. while it was worth 49,
500. an assessment of almost So per cent.
He thought a dozen houses in Hoboken
would bring $40, 900.
MIR. M'LEAN'S VIEWS.
Tax COMMISSIONS Alexander Mclean,
when interviewed this afternoon by a re-
porter of THE Jersey City News" regard
ing Corporation Attorney Minturn'S state
Equalization of Taxes at Hoboken yes
terday, said:-"I did not attend the meet
ing because, had l done so, | would have
beer the only member present from my
board. | did not deem it advisable to
go there as an individual. All the other
member of my board are out of town on
their vacations. Regarding the first half
of Mr.. Minturn's statement all l AVE to
say is that our board requested that the
valuations of the river front property
be thoroughly investigated, but no action
was taken in the matter. AS to the last
half of the statement there is nothing
in it. Jersey City's tax arrears were paid
two years ago."
think that | will make any statement
in reply to Mr.. Minturn'S statistics"