Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-17


Judging by the rate Of taxation, the cit
izen Of Omaha is taxed more than three
times as heavily as the resident Of Wash
ington, and the citizen Of Chicago more
the low assessment of these two cities, the
Omahaite pays less in actual cash Into the
treasury than the Washingtonian and the
Chicagote only a trifle more.
In view Of the effort to raise the standard
and amount of the Districts tax assess
ment by increasing undervaluations instead
of lowering overvaluatfons, 1t Is to be re-
membered that the local assessment is al
ready in the aggregate grossly excessive
when compared with those Of other Ameri-
can municipalities. The slightest examina-
ton in detail of the tables already printed.
and of other figures furnished by Extra
Census Bulletin No. 65, demonstrates con-
clusvely the truth Of this statement.
The Assessment of Warrington.
The assessed and taxed fraction of Wash
ington is less than one-half of the entire
area, the government owning the exempted
remainder. 1t appears that this half of the
capital is assessed at more than seven times
the value of all Omaha, more than three
times the value Of all indianapolis, 20 per
cent more than the value of all the great
city of Cleveland. and ten millions more
than two-thirds Of the assessment of Chi
cago, with Its vast area-mOre than 1,00O,-
600 inhabitants-and Its numerous and
costly buildings and fine residences.
Washington population 1883 according
to the census of 1890 had less than one
fifth of the population Of Chicago (popula-
ton. ,099, 500. while its assessment was
much over two-thirds Of that Of Chicago.
In other words, Chicago had more than five
times the population and only one and one
third times the assessed valuation Of the
taxed half of Washington. The assessment
of the whole of Washington. including the
governments exempted half, would amount
TO Of
all Chicago.
The assessed half Of Washington (s123.-
110.219) is assessed at nearly million more
than the combined assessments Of Cleve-
land, Ohio (s72, 1874 800, and the following
largest cities Of their respective states
thrown in for good measure: Portland. Ore
SOS, 1853; Des Moines, Iowa C$11 1884, .44O;
Sioux Falls, 8. Oak. ($5, 100, OOO); Cheyenne
Wyo (@3ooo,ooO: Kansas City. Kan. ST.
941 $3.50; Fargo, N. Oak. 81 $50 ,479); Tue
son. Ariz. 07s1, 1eOl; Virginia City. New.
(ss6S, S4S)-$122, 376, 975.
The aggregated population Of the cities
in the above list amount to 437,339, as
against 1875, $50 for Washington, as follows:
Cleveland. 26l 1853: Portland, Ore, 1895;
Des Moines 50003; Sioux Falls, 10.177;
Cheyenne, II 500: Kansas City, Kan, IS. 31G;
Fargo, 1854; Tucson. $50; Virginia City,
SSH.
The assessed half Of Washington (popula-
ton, 1ss. 1872: $123, 11O,219) exceeds by more
than 81 600, 900 the combined assessments Of
Detroit, Mich Cs105 $685. 7s), and Omaha,
Neb. (s16315, 645)-$121, $40 .123. Detroit Co.'s
$50 was more populous than Washington.
Omaha was nearly as populous (4O,452).
Both are richer cities. Detroit far richer in
property and resources.
OF these cities the aggregated populations
are 346.32S, as follows: Detroit, 2O5, S16;
Omaha, 140.452
Turning to the south, the assessed half
Of Washington G123. 11O.219) exceeds the
whole of New Orleans, with 2.O39 Of pop
ulation. over $4,000 larger than Washington
in 1890, with a number of other cities, the
as follows: New Orleans, ss7. $50 400; San
Antonio, Tex, SIG. 2s2, ~; Mobile. Ala,
50, 1877 ,755; Wilmington, N. G., s., 1855 $50;
Key West, Fla. s.: 49,. 161; Vicksburg, Miss.
the aggregated populations are s62, 297. as
follows: New Orleans, 242, O39: San Anto-
MO, 1858; Mobile 3l,O76; Wilmington, N.
1888.
The twelve municipalities Of Georgia ex-
ceeding 1900 in population, including At
lanta, Savannah, Augusta etc. have COM
bined assessed valuation OF $S7 81, S59 The
ten municipalities of Alabama exceeding
1900 in population, including Birmingham,
Mobile, Montgomery, Admission, etc, have a
combined assessed valuation Of $43. 697, TAG.
Georgia and Alabama municipalities COM
bined aggregate $131 ,569. 605. Thus the as
sessed half of Washington is valued at
only $SOOO,OOO less than the combined val
uation of all the cities and towns Owenty
two in number) in the great states of Geor-
gia and Alabama.
The assessed half of Washington Is as
sessed at seventeen times as much as the
whole of the city Of Newburgh, N. Y, while
Washington has only eight times the pop
ulation of Newburgh Its assessed valua-
ton is about the same as those Of Roches-
ter and Syracuse combined. while the ag-
gregate population of these two cities ex-
ceeds that of Washington by more than
10000.
Assessed