New-York tribune., 1899-01-10
THE TAX BOOKS FOR 1899.


The enormous increase Of real estate valua-
tions in the city OF New-York which the Tax
Commissioners announced yesterday had been
pretty accurately predicted by well-lnformed
persons. but the official proclamation Will not
on that account fail to arouse strong emotions
or course. the burden falls chiefly on the Bor-
ough OF Manhattan which Is put down for an
increase Of more than s3O7, ,000,0 900 Of the total
S4o1512 2s7G Presumably the first thought or
citizens In general will be that this is one or
the blessings conferred upon us by the consol-
dation scheme, and that original impression
will be confirmed by perusal OF the Commits
sioners' statement, which says with certain
grim humor: consolidation and the impera-
tive duty OF equalization imposed by the char
''ter is chargeable with this great increase IN
s'valuations In the boroughs Of Manhattan and
1.-The Bronx. and the taxpayers OF these bor-
"oughs can credit It with the placing on them
'of mortgage OF about $500, 10000 year for
call future time with tax rate ranging from
so 10 2A per cent, eQualng from S6'OoO,Oo0 to
''S7. .OOOO 900 year, all for the benefits which
s'may be derived. but which are yet IN the
s'future from such consolidation.
n will be observed with interest on both
sides OF the East River that in Brooklyn where
a passionate and seemingly hopeful protest
against consolidation was once evoked and
efterward suddenly hushed the increased valu-
etjon Is less than S45,0O0.OOO. or only about y
per cent, while in Manhattan and The Bronx
II Is nearly is per cent, In Queens about ~ per
cent and IN Richmond almost 6I per cent IL
has recently been represented that the original
antipathy to an organic union with the me-
,ropolis has been revived in Brooklyn. and that
q movement for the repeal OF the Consolidation
act is in process OF organization. 1t Is pos
elblc that a new sOlace may be derived from
an examination of the tax books, and that even
Mr. Walter B. Atterbury. who lately threw
large and fragrant bouquet at himself as
consistent anti-consolidatlonist. Will conclude
that the present situation might be worse; Dut
we shall be surprised IL the repeal project does
not win recruits on the farms Of Queens County
and Staten Island.
or course il is too soon TO And serious fault
with the way In which the problem OF equallza-
zion has been worked oJt, and we hope that
complajnts Of individual hardship will not be
more numerous than usual: but It Is an indis-
prtablc fact as the Commissioners intimate.
that the boon OF consolidation comes high.
There was no necessity whatsoever for putting
through an extraordinarily complicated under
taking in n prodgious hurry, while serious
doubts remained as 10 public sentiment respect
Ing the general proposition; and multitude or
persons are sure to conclude rightly or wrong
Iy. that another proof Of the folly OF the whole
business IS now supplied by this tax state
ment. But citizens will have TO reconcile thein-
selves 70 II as best they can. There IS no ION
~er any doubt that the debt limit has been
virtually reached II not exceeded, and that
margin for borrowing purposes must be ere
sted. II is reckoned that the increase In valu-
alton will permit further bond issues OF more
than $4,000, 600 the present year. ana by com
mon consent the expenditure OF large part OF
that sum Is indispensably required. How much
Of II Tammany means to lnveNt for the beneht
Of the organization rather than OF the com
munlty remains 10 be seen. Money that goes
FOR new schooIhouses and parks and the public
library will not bc grIdged. bat some schemes
have been broached and others are presumably