Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-04-06
THE CITY PLAT BOOK.
Alexandria, Vs., April 4.

10 the Edtt0r OF tho dte10n0sS0 U0zette:
Dear Sir:-In the Gazette of We'd
nesday evening you refer to meeting
of the joint committees on finance, gen.
eral laws and streets held to consider a
proposition from the Virginia Title
Company regarding the purchase OF a
plat book OF the city of Alexandria.
AS the natural Inference in the minds
of tee general public OF Alexandria
from this notice would be that the book
offered 10 not worth the money asked,
il might be of interest to the taxpayers
OF the city to know few of the facts as
they exist today.
The writer several days ago had an
interview with the present commits
sioner of revenue, Mr.. Callahan, in re-
gard 10 the value of this plat book to
the city OF Alexandria.
At this interview Mr.. Callahan did
not express the opinion to the writer
that the plat book offered at o
price OF 80 500 was not worth this sum
TO the city. He explained the meth
DDS in vogue in his office and be also
stated it was largely optional with the
holder OF this office as 70 the methods
20 be pursued 10 the making of the city
assessment and the keeping Of the re-
cords of the same. While the
writer believes the present incumbent
was and is conducting the office con-
scientiously and to the best OF his sbil-
ity with the information at hand, there
is no guarantee that his successor will
either pursue the same methods or be
as active in obtaining oil available iD-
formation looking towards an equlta-
BILE and fair assessment.
The law does not say he shall 20 to
the clerks office aud ferret out plats,
Dimensions of lots, &C. The facts III
me case, and / believe they will be so
found on careful investigation, are
these:
ANY commissioner of revenue can
adopt any method ss, in his Individual
judgment, seems best 10 making ON as
sessment, ignoring or conforming TO
any methods pursued by his predeces-
aor, be they bad or good. In at least
rs per cent. of the squares in the city
he makes bis assessments (snd it is no
ref sction on him, in the absence OF 'n-
iormation) in utter ignorance OF either
the frontage or depth in feet OF lots In
dividually or relatively, resulting in
taxpayer with q lot so feet front by
100 feet deep probably being taxed only
one half the amount OF his neighbor
who owns q lot 16 by rs feet, the i'm
provements thereon not being consid-
cred.
The commissioner of revenue has
neither the time, means or mon
ey at his disposal to search
the city's records for the legal
owner of each lot in the city OF
Alexandria, obtain its dimensions and
make plat of each square to know
whether he has made proper assese'
meot based upon the relative depth
and frontage OF lots, nor whether he has
assessed all the property 10 square
To .obtain this information. and the
writer knows whereof he speaks from
experience, would cost alone the city OF
Alexandria far more than is asked 6y
the Virginia Title Company for this In
formation. understand some hve
years seo from 800, 900 to $50, coo, per-
maps 100000 of property in this city
was untaxed. As an actual fact know
at the time the data of the Virginia
Title Company was being prepared
manv hundreds of dollars of property
iu this city was unassessed. The Com
missioner of Revenue thinks he now
has all properly included, 80 he has
stated to the writer. Under the pres
ent system it will never be known pos
itively whether it is or not.
1t is believed, and I am not alone oy
any means in this opinion, that every
lot and block in this city should be
bered, the present methods changed
and lot, instead of heing indefnltely
Identified, as for example "a lot on the
east side of WashinRton On street, between
King and Cameron" should be lot NO.
! in block. To do this involves no
great fret outlay OF labor with the To-
iormst on as offered by the Virginia
Title co., aud IT enables a fixed sys-
tenn to be adopted easily kept up to
| date.
Their proposition is to furnish plat
book with all lots and blocks number
ed. the dimensions of the same with
all alleys as recorded to April l, 1900.
and a list of the owners OF record OF
each lot on that date.
There are few if any fixed monu-
ments designating streets in this cit :.
The squares as built up nearly all
either exceed or fall short OF the legal
length,
10 survey lot or fix the corners Of
any square the City Engineer should
have at his command plat OF the di.
mensions of each lot as recorded In that
square. C,u
| Engineer who surveys a let or gives
t,e lines for building most assured
Iv assumes large responsibility.
The writer will not consume
more of your valuable space 10
stating other reasons why the Virgins
Title Company, composed largely o.
residents OF this city and tax payers
here believe the plat book offered Is no'
4 ihyo ~o1 paoosaarv to tue C1Ly