The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-10-03
Appeal From High Assess
ments on Hearing Before
the State Board.
DELAY REFUSED
Maps Of the Property in Evil
dence Delay Allowed in
Minor Cases.

The State Board of Taxation is in ses-
sion at the City Hall hearing the appeal
of the Central Railroad of New Jersey
from its assessments for the year 1900
and the year 1901, on its property, con-
sisting of lot No. %. block 2,154, on
Communipaw avenue, and lot l, block
1,497, on New York Bay.
Block lisa was assessed at 81, ,603, 900
and reduction to $S01.5o0 was asked
fer both years. Block No. 1,407 was
assessed at S771 900. and a reduction to
$685. for 1900 and TO $4,000 for
1901 was requested.
The Board convened in the Assembly
Chamber shortly after II o'clock. Prosi-
dent Henry J. West, of Camden, was in
the chair The other Commissioners
present were Charles G. Black, of Jer-
sey City; Major Carl Lentz, of Newark,
and Joseph Thompson, of Atlantic City.
Corporation Counsel George L. Record
and Corporation Attorney John Wall
Queen appeared fer the city. Tax Com
missioners Hoos. Degnan and Lindsay
were on hand to back up the assessments
Of the local board. Engineer Edlaw w.
Harrison was present as an expert for
the city.
MINOR CASES.
Before reading the Central R. R. ap-
p@l the board took up a few minor
ie appeal of the trustees of the
North Baptist Church from an assess
ment of $500 On No. 289 Paconia ave-
nue., was first taken up. The assessment
was cancelled because the property is a
parsonage and is therefore exempt from
taxation.
The appeal of William Gaul from an
assessment Of S2,500Son property at No.
137 Pavonia avenue, was laid over for
further consideration after Henry G. Al
ger had made a statement to the board
to the effect that the property returned
rental of SG0@a year. He said that he
was willing to sell the lot for $1,S00.
Tax Commissioner Degnan said that
the lot was worth So, coo.
IF you think that" said Mr.. Alger,
"I'n sell it to you for 1880, and pou
ran make the difference
In laying the case over the Commits
sioncrs said that Mr. Alger would be
given chance to produce testimony re-
garding the values of adjoining property
William Dougherty. who appealed
from an assessment of $4,000 ON a three
story brick house on the southeast corner
Df Henderson and Morgan streets, said
that he had bought it at auction for
s5,400. The assessment was reduced to
$4,000.
DELAY DENIED.
Former Senator William D. Edwards
asked for an adjournment of a week or
Ten days on the hearing of the Centrars
appeal. He said that he wanted time
FOR the presentation of maps which are
being prepared to show the value of the
ands.
Major Lentz opposed an adjournment,
saying there was no man in the county
who knows more about the CentraTs
property than Mr.. Edwards. He saw
40 reason why there should be any fur
.her delay.
Commissioner Black reminded MIR. Ed
wards that the Centrals case in the Su-
irene Court has been on for four terms
Ind hadn't been pushed.
If it was a personal matter with you
would go to any length to accommodate
rou," said Mr.. Black. But we've pub
ic duty to perform and we should go
llead with this matter"
i only ask for short adjournment, .
taid Mr.. Edwards Il think it is only
air. I'd like Ten days. If you will give
ne a week I'll come here with every
witness and will close the case''
Corporation Counsel Record said
Tile Central has begged for many de-
ays., nj the matter of the case in court
hey haven't yet filed their reasons. Tho
Board has nothing to do with the case
n court"
HEARING GOES ON.
The Board decided to continue the
learing, and Mr.. Edwards said that un-
Ter the circumstances he would do the
,est he could.
Engineer Edward Smith was the first
witness called by Mr.. Edwards for the
abroad maps had been introduced in evi
Ience.
SUBMERGED LAND VALUES.
Mr.. Smith said that plot No. % is
submerged land, shallow and undevel-
pedand must be dredged before it will
,e of value. He believed that the cost
# putting the property in the condition
( other property under water would be
rom $4,000 to SIC, ,000
He said the only way of arriving at a
rue value of property was By sales d
imilar lands, the only sale Of any magni
ude being the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
purchase at GreenvilIe in 1889.
A tract was bought for S246 500 and
he riparian rights cost $102.012.
The cost per acre Of this submerged