The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-26
WILL RATE BE Low?
Retail Merchants Think It Should
Be in View of Increased As
sessed Valuations.
Some Incongruities of Assessment
Which Were Submitted to State
Board of Equalization.

Gross inequalities in the local real estate
assessment have been alleged by the COM
mittee Of Minneapolis retailers that pro-
tested in vain Tuesday and Wednesday
at ST. Paul, before the state board Of
equalization. The basis of the committee
objections, as explained to T n j u r.
II a yesterday by one of the most active
committeeman, President w. l.. Harris
Of the New England Furniture and Car
pet company, is a cogent comparison Of
values that has been tabulated from the
assessors. books. The figures indicate at
a glance that a heavy additional burden
has been laid upon the principal retail
merchants. Said Mr.. Harris:
'1'bere has been an increase in the real
estate valuation, for purposes of assess
mert in the city Of Minneapolis, as fixed
by the city assessor and verified by the
city board Of equaliza ton, of something
over $19,000,000, as compared with the fig
ures arrived at by the state board of
equalization two years ago. If the state
beard should make no change in the fig
u"es as returned to it by the city assessor
and it isn't likely it will-the property
owners of Minneapolis will pay real estate
taxes this year on an increased valuation
OF something over $19,000,000 1t Is an
exceedingly interesting proposition which
now cOnfronts us, whether the much
Wanted statements of those citizens who
claim higher valuation of real estate will
involve q smaller tax levy, will material
lie.
THAT the returns made from the city
Of Minneapolis are an infinitely increased
percentage as related to the actual value
or real estate, when compared with any
other assessment district of the state, is
fact conceded by everyone at all ia
miliar with the situation. OF this cnor-
nous increase of $4,000, 900, $40, 100000, in
round numbers, is an increase on land
alone. The other $4,000, 900. represents
new buildings and the increased valuation
placed on old buildings.
1T is another interesting matter Of in
formation that practically one-half Of this
increa sed valuation on land has been ap-
portioned to the fourth ward; and Of this
apportionnent, 80 per cent, or 100000.
has been placed on the little area of prop
erty included in the district bounded by
Washington avenue and Eighth street
and Hennepin avenue and First avenue S.
Whether this is an equitable adjustment
is a matter regarding which many Of our
best business men and disinterested prop
erty owners differ enaphatically with the
city assessor. = - -.-.-
Some Changes Compared.
It is interesting to note some of the
comparativ changes in valuation. The
Minneapolis club corner remains at the
same figure as two years ago. The Nc
Knight corner, at Fifth street and First
avenue 8, has been raised per cent. The
Bank Of Commerce corner has been re-
duced 20 per cent. The Oneida block cor
ner is put at the same figures. The Phoe-
nix block corner-all these figures are
On land alone-has been increased 4 pei
cent. The Century building corner has
been increased 10 per cent
'Tn sharp contrast to these decreases
or comparatively small raises. in First
avenue property is the increase, as made
by the assessor, Of so per cent in the valu.
alton Of the Powers Dry Goods company's
property at First avenue and Fifth street
of 43 per cent on the New England Fur
niture G. Carpet company's property; Of
4S per cent on the corner Of Sixth and
First avenue diagonally opposite from the
Minneapolis club =, - =. 10.
comparing Hennepin and Nicollet
avenue properties, the assessor saw fit
to reduce the valuation Of the Eustis cor
ner, Sixth street and Hennepin,. 10 per
cent; to make no increase on the valuation
of the West Hotel and the Masonic Tenn
pie; to make, in fact, practically no in
crease on the property along the nortl,
side of Hennepin, except on the Temple
Court property, which was raised Is pei
| cent. Valuations along the south side OF
Hennepin, with possibly one or two ex-
| ceptions. show no increase, or not over IL
per cent.
LAS compared with these figures, the
! Glass Block property, on Nicollet ave-
| nue., was raised 80 per cent? the New
Store property IS per cent; the quarter
| block occupied by Yerxa's, the Powers
Dry Goods company's Nicollet avenue
entrance, and Browning, King & Co.'s, 81
per cent; the southeast corner Of Fourth
| street and Nicollet avenue, so per cent
the Andrus block. as fixed by the city
| assessor, IS per cent; the Syndicate block
| IS per cent; and Nicollet avenue property
| generally, between Third and Seventh
| streets, from 20 to rs per cent-an aver.
age Of 50 per cent. with the exception OF
sundry pieces which seemed to have es
! capped the assessors eye, notably thu
| lower half Of the block on the south side
of Nicollet between Fourth and Fifth
streets, which shows an increase of only
10 per cent, as against 80 per cent on thu
upper half of the same block, with al
actual decrease the property form erl.
occupied by the Metropolitan bank, Of
per cent.
Front Foot Valuations.
| comparing front foot values, the as
| SCISSOR values the corner Of Sixth stree
and Homeopathic Eustis corner-at $50