New-York tribune., 1898-06-08
ROCKEFELLER WILLING TO SELL.
THROUGH COUNSEL. LAND ASSESSED Al
5000 is OFFERED At T,50e-TAKEN
LIP By AN Assessor


In tho adjoining villages of Tarrytown and North
Tarrytovn IN Westchester County. yesterday was
, observed as grievance day" when all taxpayers
who are dissatisfied with their assessments send
their grievances TO the assessors and implore re-
duct.ons
The principal persons aGgrieyed we're John ID
and william Rockefeller, and their lawyers were
on hand early TO see that protests were duly anu
properly filed. The assessors Of North Iarrytown
met in the little corporation rooms with 'heir co",
sci at O'Clock. and were kept busy un'h carry
evening in hearing complaints. About hfty protests
were filed. and It Is thought that when the assess
complete the revised roll II will he abou' si"o~
less than the present total, s3.S3'sSs
Henry b Ely ~ Il. Brundeth. Mrs. A. S Hawes.
Isaac Beatty Robert Henry John S. Mclean. NJ
G. Chadeague HerIy F.elden. Michael Martin, a.
G. Ewing Mrs C. Stephens and Mrs. r. T. Wallace
were among those who flied protests
q little after o'clock Howard Fl. Morse. OF
North Tarrytown. and Harry It. Dykman. Of White
Plains. counsel Tor the Rockefrllers. appeared.
They brought with them a bunch OF legal papers,
containing typewriter statements concerning the
roll In general and the Rockefeller assessments in
particular. John D. Rockefeller is assessed for
1888 l6l on about two hundred OF land. VII
lam Rockefeller owns only fifty acres within the
village limits. known the See farm. The as
SCISSORS valued this at $4,000.
In the beginning of their complaint II said
that the assessments were about 30 per cent too
William Rockefeller's land. To prove
that he sincere. Mr.. Dykman made the an
nouncement that he had Mr. Rockefellers author
ity to sell the See farm for $3.50 This announce
ment caused big surprise. Mr.. Dykman had no
so )ner uttered the words than Jonn Cahil. one OF
the assessors took him up. He said 1t would he an
excellent investment for any one at such figure.
We'll, you can have II for that" responded Mr.
Dykman and the assessor then inquired how much
time would lie granted to him. He was told TWO
months. and replied that 1t was satisfactory, and
he would be glad to complete the deal The spec
tators did not seem to know what 10 make or the
offer, and many sceptical as TO whether or not
the transfer will be made. Little else was talked
OF In North Tarrytown last night, and many onlh-
Tons We're expressed. Some said that Mr.. Rocke-
feller will not dispose of the land so cheap but the
more conservative. however. recall the fact that
Mr.. Rockefeller sold his meadow land 10 the village
last year for 500 less than IL assessed.
After the William Rockefeller incident John d.
Rockefeller's protest entered. suppiemented
with a long complaint. In which IL was alleged that
the roll was erroneous. that the assessors had
shown favoritsm that the Rocket Hers were the
victims OF prejudice. and that the assessments
exorbitant. unjust and une1ual. 1t asked that
the assessments be reduced % the valuations
claimed by Mr. Rockefeller. His several parcels of
land. with the valuations as assessed and claimed
are as follows: ~