The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-03
WORK FOR TAX ASSESSORS.
Personal PROPERTY TAX RE-
TURNS NOW IN ORDER.

Bicycles Not Likely to Cut "A Large
Figure ia the Cfty's Revenue, Even
If All He Heturned-Wiu Be Good
Policy for the BicycIists to Make
Returns Though-Assessmen Book
for improvements Made During
Treasurer to Have "a Busy Time
This Month.
The board of tax assessors and receivers
has given notice that'it is now ready to
receive tax returns upon personal prop
erty. The tax ordinance requires that
these returns be made by Jan. 90 If re-
turns are not made by that date it will be
the duty of the tax assessors to make the
returns themselves from such information
as they can secure and to assess double
tax upon the defaulters.
The bicyclists will do well to remem-
Der that Mayor MeldFim cast the deciding
vote against a special tax on bicycles for
the use of the streets on the grounds that
bicycles are personal property and should
be returned as such. 1t is estimated that
there are somewhere between 1900 and
5000 bicycles in Savannah Even if this
be true and every bicycle in the city is
returned for taxation the city's revenue
will not be greatly increased thereby.
The value of a bicycle is something that
only fuctuates in one direction, and that
is downward. Few bicycles that were sold
for 500 over six months ago would bring
$50 now. In the first place, it must be
tqlr int ior
of the wheels in use are of low grade, and
that in the total of over 1900 wheels sup
posed 10 be in the city, there is large
percentage of children's wheels, few of
which cost over $40. These also deteriorate
very rapidly in value. An average valua-
ton of $25 upon all wheels in the city
would be to give them their full value
and al this figure 5000 wheels would make
a sum total of only $l25000. At the city tax
rate of Sl.45, less 10 per
cent for prompt payment, this would
bring into the city treasury only 81, 631 %.
This is hardly enough to pay for the trou-
bic of collecting the amount from 5000
different people. AS the cost to each bicy-
Gle owner will be small, about 1872 cents
each it would be well for them 10 return
their bicycles for the effect it might have
in standing off a special tax next year,
There has been some IA k of the number
of mortgages which have been transferred
| recently. the supposition that this had
been done to some extent to escape re-
turning the mortgages for taxation. This
is one of the interesting and intricate mat
tiers which the tax assessors will have to
deal with.
The secretary of the board has given no.
tice that the assessment of new improve
ments made during the year 1897
has been completed and the book contain
! ing the valuations is now open TO inspec-
ticn. All persons concerned who have
| any objections to file to these assessments
are given notice to do so by Jan. IS, and
| Otherwise the assessments win stand as at
| present.
| The city treasurer and his assistants
! will have a busy time for the next two
! weeks. Business licenses of all kinds are
/ due and payable this month in order to
secure the discount of 10 per cent. allowed
! by the city for prompt payment. The taxes
! for the fourth quarter of 1897 and water
rents due for the first six months of 1895
must be paid by Jan. 10 IN order to secure
/ the 10 per cent. discount.