Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-31
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Single Payment Of Taxes as Com
pared With the Present System.
ABOUT TIE STREET EXTENSION PLAN
Progress Of the Work Of Assessing
Taxable Property.
soME ENTS

Property holders generally were inter-
ested in reading the annual report of the
collector of taxes, especially that portion
which referred to The advantages in the
management of the Office of a single pay
ment of the taxes on realty, instead of
division into two payments. The collector
renews his recommendation that hereafter
taxes be received in one payment. Last
spring, it will be remembered, the realty
tax was paid in a single installment,
owing to the fact that the revision of the
assessments was not completed in time for
the usual installment to be made in No
vember.
But that was only a temporary provision,
and was authorized by special provision
of an act of Congress, and If such change
is to be made permanent the sanction CT
our local legislature must be secured. I'm
doubtedly the single payment system facil-
itates the work of the collectors office, and
Is much more convenient and desirable
from his point of view than the INSTALL
ment plan. Independent of this conside:a-
ton, however. it is argued by some tn 1t
the proposed method would be an advan-
tage to the city, inasmuch as large sums
of money would be left in the banks and
in general circulation which would other
wise be locked up in the treasury.
1t is said that the single payment made
in May, followed in few weeks by the
annual appropriations becoming available.
would in effect result in paying out the
money taken from the taxpayers almost as
soon as it is paid in. 1t is further argued
that the people would have the benefit of
the use of the money which they now pay
in during November, which, it is thought,
is decided advantage
On the other hand, 1t is maintained that
the installment plan of making cash pay
ments is found to be convenient by
great ma jority of the people, and that they
greatly prefer it. 1t is said to be just as hard
for man who contributes $1O.ooo in the
shape of taxes to the District treasury to
bring together that amount in cash it is
for a man whose annual tax is only 500.
If this is the belief in any great proper
ton Of the property holders, 1t Is hkely
that they will place themselves in oppose
ton to the recommendation of the collector
of taxes.
Extent of Street Extension.
Owing to the fact that the maps of the
plan of street extension show the proposed
system Of streets as applied to the entire
area from the present city limits to the
District line, an impression prevails that 1t
Is the intention to open up at once all the
streets indicated on the map throughout
the entire section. The provisions of the
law regulating this matter. and which was
enacted in 1893, however, would prevent.
1t is said, such thing, even If it were
practicable. In the language of the act,
the Commissioners are instructed that IN
the case of any highway or highways not
within the limits of any existing subdivi-
sion when in their judgment the public
convenience shall require the opening of
the same or any part thereof, proceedings
can be begun for the opening of the same.
In another section the court is authorized
70 hot hnv no. n
convenience does in fact require the i'm
mediate opening of the highway or high
ways and If the court decides that the
public convenience does not require the
opening of such street. the Commissioners
have no authority to take any further ac-
ton The general understanding is that
the work of condemning the streets in ac-
cordance with the map will be confined
first to the existing subdivisions. After
ward when streets are to be opened as
the public needs require, they are to be
laid out in accordance with the general
plan.
Tax Valuations.
During the warm days of summer when
a great many of the property holders have
been away from the city, where, presum-
ably, they found cooler temperature and
possibly rest and quiet, the board Of as
SCISSORS, whose duty it is to assess property
valuations for taxation, have been at work
making personal inspection of each piece
of property. 1t is not the most entertain
ing kind of an occupation for the dog days,
and the assessors have varied it by tend
ing to their duties as an excise board, ana
also assessing new houses.
The valuation for the triennial assessment
has not been neglected, the assessors be-
ginning their six of viewing" the proper
ty on the first square in Washington city
proper where Rock creek is the dividing
line, and they have proceeded eastward
until now they are nearly to the city hall.
As Is we'll known, the assessors have in
formed the Commissioners that they will
not be able to complete the assessment OF
the property within the sixty-nine square
miles by January next, which Is the time
fixed by law. It is the intention to ask Con-
gress to extend the time so that it will not
be necessary to complete the assessment
until the first of July next.
Some improvements.
Plans for thirteen two-story brick dwell
ings have been prepared by r. ]. Beall,
architect. to be located on 18th street be-
tween A and 8 streets northeast. They
will be erected for NJ. V. Webb.
DR.. c. X. Luce will build residence on
I'd street between b and G streets south
east from plans prepared by w. j. Palmer,
architect. The dwelling is to be three
stories in height, with a front of notified
Roman brick and brownstone and man
sard tile roof.
A row Of twelve houses will be erected
from plans prepared by R. ]. Beall, archi-
tect, for D. B. Gottwals at Holmead Manor,
Columbia Heights. They will be. two
stories in height, with fronts of pressed
brick and stone