St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-25
THE NECESSITY FOR REVAL-
UATION is URGENT.
INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS ON 1T.
REPLIES RECEIVED BY COUNTY
ASSESSOR SENG IN RESPONSE
TO HIS QUESTIONS.
PEOPLE GENERALLY OF ONE MIND.
Before Another Assessment Has
Been Levied Some Radical
Changes Are Necessary.

The citizens of st. Paul seem to be
unanimous in thinking that the neces-
sity for revaluation of the real estate
of the city this spring is urgent. At
least so far as County Assessor Seng
has been able to discover, property
holders generally favor an assessment
on revised basis. AS stated in the
G b e at the time, the assessor sent
out letters Of inquiry to a number Of
heavy property owners and men rep
resenting property interests asking
their opinion Of the necessity for re-
vision of the valuation of city prop
erty and on what basis new valua-
ton should be made. Nearly every
man to whom a letter of inquiry was
addressed has responded, and the
u o e this morning prints number
OF the replies. 1t will be seen by these
that every man thinks there is a neces-
slty for a change and the same opin-
ion is expressed in all the answers.
The question is how this is to be
done, and that will be considered at
meeting this afternoon, when Mr.. Seng
of the st. Paul commercial bodies
The assessor is willing to do the
work, providing he has the approval
and support of the citizens.
1t is now known that In q great
many cases, and in nearly every Sec
ton Of the city, the assessed val
uation of property is greater than the
present selling price. This, it is claimed,
is radically wrong. Property should not
be assessed for more than it will bring
if placed on the market. In revising
the valuation the rate of assessment
must necessarily be raised in many
instances to keep up the revenue. How
this increase is to be distributed is
one of the questions which will have
to be decided upon. Following are the
letters of suggestion which the assess
or has received:
GEN. J. w. BISHOP.
Your favor of the 9th inst, asking sug-
geSt1ons as to the coming assessments of
In answer to your first question, 1 think
the better plan of making the necessary re-
adjustment of our assessment valuations and
rate Of taxes in this city is to reduce the
assessment valuations to a proper and rea-
sonable basis, not higher than such valua-
tions are in Minneapolis, and not relatively
other cities, or generally throughout the
state. When this has been done, the rate
of taxes will, of course, be adjusted to meet
the necessities of the city as to revenue l
think it is not only of no advantage but is
a very serious disadvantage to our city, to
have the assessments stand as they now do
on a large proportion of state taxes. / think
the real estate valuations now standing at
about $109 600, should be reduced at
least one-fourth, or, say to $50, 100000, and
that it would be better still to reduce it
one-third.
AS to your second question, whether any
portion of the city should be raised or low
or reduction would be advisable, can hardly
answer definitely. l think in general way,
that the property in the so-called "St. An
ately higher than other parts of the city.
This assessment, so far it affects several
tracts that own. was raised at the last
one, which was already too high, and the
sessments are generally now at higher valu-
alton than could be realized on sale Of the
property.
l would not assume to suggest any percent
age of reduction. however, without careful
examination of assessment roll in other parts
of the city. There is no doubt, however,
that the coming assessments should be made
with exceeding care as to relative values in
different parts of the city, and that the ag-
gregate assessment should be reduced very
largely over the values of the last one. If,
when this is done, we find the rate too high,
it will stimulate us to economy in city eX-
does not at all help anybody to have a low
rate of taxation, based upon excessive vala-
tions. Yours very truly,
A. H. L1NDEKE.
Your letter of the 21st inst. was forwarded
to me here, and has just come to hand.
Under no circumstances should any of the
real estate valuation be raised but quite
good deal must and should be lowered.
Third street, from Wabasha down to Rob-
ert, should be reduced so per cent; from
Robert down to Sibey (or farther) 80 per
cent; Jackson street, 80 per cent; Seventh
the West side, 40 per cent on most streets;
Summit avenue % per cent-present valua-
tion $3.50 and $500 per front foot entirely too
high 1 think the entire Daytons bluff dis
trict and all outside unimproved or acre lots
should be reduced one-half if it can be done.
I am in favor of raising the rate. say to
done, all valuation on real estate as well as
personal property, could be reduced. Yours
very truly, "A. II. LinoeKe.
CLAIMING sEABURY.
In reply to yours of the goth, I have
to say that the same ground which
YOU now are considering was gone over and
discussed at a meeting of citizens, called by
your predecessor, Mr.. Johnstone, in the
MAYORS Office about two years ago. at which
conference 1 was present. think he fol-
lowed the general line of suggestions made
by different people at that time in making
up the assessment for 1894; namely, he re-
duced lower town districts somewhat and
Increased the residence district on the hill.
| think, he did, at that time, all in this drec-
tion that the condition of things warranted,
and do not believe that any other changes
are desirable. In making up the assessment
for this year, my judgment is, that there
should be reduction of valuations, uniform
ly. throughout the city, both real and per-
scnal, letting the rate remain where it Is, If
necessary.
If | understand the recent action of our
authorities, they have adopted, to a consd-
cradle extent, measures of reduction in the
expenditures of our city, and this is in accord
with the action of business men in all drec-
tions. This being the fact, 1t seems to me
that you can safely reduce valuations at least
20 to 25 per cent, and still with the rate of
taxes levied about the same), realize all that
will be required for our city and county
needs My chief reason for suggesting this
method rather than to reduce the rate, is
that my experience on the state board of
equalization during three years showed con-
clusively that we pay too much toward the
state tax, in proportion to all other parts of
the state, except Hennepin and st. Louis
counties. Farm lands in Ramsey county are
now assessed at an average of $50.S9 per acre,
while Hennepin county farm lands, of equal
value, were finally assessed, after our final
action two years ago, which stirred up SO
while the average assessed valuation of farm
per acre. You can easily see how with ours
assessed at over $50, that we are entirely out
of proportion to Hennepin county and dread
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