St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-25

Lot 5, block 165.......... 1900 500
Lot 6, block 1855. ......... LOO 900
Lot Z, block 1856. .......... 1,75O 900
! Lot s, block 185. ......... 1,500 500
Lot 8, block 1885,. 1,500 800
BidweIs Addition to West st. Paul.
Assessed Value. Real Value
East 50 feet of n 129 $40
feet of lot A. ............ $500 $3.50
*Note.Lot is assessed for improvements, in
place of the next lot The houses (two) in this
block are in lots and z. See affidavit of A.
D. Mcleod in auditors Office, as well as pre-
H. T. Mcclung.
NJ. P. RYAN.
Replying to yours of Jan. %, think the
better way would be to reduce the valuations
and increase the rate, as it would save us
some In state taxes and also make better
ket, for, as things are now, the assessed val
uation is more in most cases than the price
asked for the property.
Think Sixth ward fat property should be
lowered in most cases one-half; also outside
property on this side, except that on st.
Anthony hill; think the property bounded by
streets should be raised from 20 to so per
| cent as most all of this property could be
improved SO as to pay fair rate of interest
on improvements and assessed valuation;
think there are a great many pieces of prop
erty in this district that are not assessed
one-half what the improvements cost. Yours
very truly, M. P. Ryan.
H. s. FAIRCHILD.
|
my views as to proper way of assessing real
estate in st. Paul this year. So changed are
| the values in this city and so differently
changed in different districts that l have no
idea that any properly considered valuation
can be made at all with the force in your
| office in the time given
| But l have hesitation in saying that
the valuation of our realty should be on the
basis Of actual present value, and then neces-
| sarily the rate raised
| Even this would not put us on fair foot
ing with the rural districts, when it is well
known lands are often assessed at one-fourth
of their true value. But l would somewhat
diminish our proportion of the state taxes.
Apart from this, it is better for all to
know what for, or, in actual values. we are
cause less dissatisfaction and complaint than
it does when men find their property as
sessed for twice its value.
1 think, Also that real estate bears too
large part of the burden. More should be
placed on personal property; l know the
trite objection to this, but the present sys-
tenn is partial and unjust. l cannot go into
details as to what part of the city requires
lower and what higher valuation. That
can only be decided in the of the
actual work of making the assessment Yours
| truly, H. S. Fairchild.
w. D. KIRK AND KENNETH CLARK. y
Responding to yours of 25th inst in my
opinion the valuation of real estate for, the
next assessment should be reduced, and, if
necessary the rate increased.
l do not favor the increase of the assess
nent in any instance, and recommend the
appointment of a competent committee, who
shall thoroughly and carefully inspect each
and every locality, and then assess said
its relative value, regards the entire city.
Very respectfully yours, w. d. Kirk.
kenneth Clark.
R. L. GORMAN.
In reply to your request of 21st ult., asking
my opinion as to What changes should be
made, if any, in the valuations for taxable
purposes in the city and county" l would
say that by all means lower the valuations
and raise the rate for city and county pur-
poses.
Much of our real estate is valued at more
than 1t is worth.
1t is well known fact that we are paying
more than our just proportion of the state
tax.
Our real estate should be lowered at least
80 per cent on the average, and the most of
our personal property should be at least
doubled. Very respectfully,
r. L. German.
WILLIAM B. DEAN.
Replying to yours of the 21st, relating to
assessments for this year. l beg to say that
there Is no doubt but the valuation of real
estate should be reduced; the same is also
true OF the personal assessments. This,
think, can be done; and with the smaller
amount to be raised by the city, the rate
can also be reduced and will be expected,
There are probably inequalities Of assess
ments throughout the city that should be
adjusted but l am not sufficiently familiar
with the Wnole list to express an opinion.
tours truly, William B. Dean.
GEN. JOHN B. SANBoRN.
In answer to your favor Of the 21st inst.
nave to say that my opinion is that each
piece OF property in the city of st. Paul SUBJ
} Ject to taxation should be assessed at it's true
value in money, as the law provides. To de-
termine the value of each piece Of property
on this basis is the great difficulty. OF course
the value cannot at this time be found or
fixed from sales for cash, for there are none
or comparatively none. Hence the value
must be found to be such as five or fifteen
or more conservative men Of good judgment
and familiar with values of real estate de-
term1ne the same to be. l know of no por-
J ton of the city whereupon the above basis
and method of determining value, the assessed
valuation will not have to be reduced The
} rents of improved real estate have been re-
duced so per cent or more, and of course this
reduces the value for all purposes. The
greatest actual reductions in value, l think
, in the city, are in those portions of the Sec
ond and Third wards lying north of Eighth
street. but the reduction is great in all por-
lions of the city. If we are to hold our own
in growth and prosperity compared with 9TH
er cities and towns of the state, we must
stop taking upon ourselves burdens which
they refuse to bear. We must stop paying to
, the state of Minnesota the state tax of two
, or three mills thirty of forty millions Of
dollars assessed valuation that we do not
and never did have. We can stand some ad-
verse conditions and unequal burdens, but
we have willingly shouldered too many of
these and given other cities and other por-
n lions or the state unQue advantages over US,
n which must be terminated now If our pros
a perity is to be restored and the city placed
: on an equal footing as to taxation with the
n other cities and towns of the state. 1 am
n most decidedly in favor of an honest, fair
y assessment upon a sound basis that cannot be
n shaken or moved, made with sole reference
n to the actual cash value of the property, not,
n of course solely with reference to imme-
n date sales, but with every circumstance and
n every condition taken into consideration and
a given due weight by the assessor and those
! | called into consultation with him on the
/ question Of values. Yours very truly,
. John B. Sanborn.
: FERDINAND WILLIUS.
Your favor of 21st inst. came duly to hand.
. In answer to you first question, beg to re-
fer YOU to section %, page 219, Minnesota
Statutes which provides that the valuation
O OF property, for the purposes of taxation,
shall be fixed according to its real value in
n money. The tax rate is an entirely separate
IN soeyer upon the valuation of property while
under consideration. 1t regulates itself by
10 the amount of money necessary to be raised
e by taxation, according to the tax budget, etc
The law is clear and precise in defining the
duties of the assessor and, unless he COM
e plies with It's provisions according to his
70 best judgment; if he permits himself to be
3, led astray by questions of policy or any
other considerations or influences, there is
10 danger that the courts may declare the whole
tax levy null and void. The experience OF
the cities of Fond du Lac and Neenah, Wis.
IS should be warning lesson In past years
there seems to have been utter disregard
80 of the letter and spirit of the law. The prop
er authorities seem to have been in the habit
80 to hitch the cart before the horse. In ar
effort to maintain the lowest practical rate
~ il seems to have been the practice to first