The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-08
Real Estate
Nedl E,'S'Id ::
MINNIE and LOS A.
Former Minneapolis Man Complains
Of Taxes in Southern Califor-
MIA Metropolis.
Compares Assessed Valuations Of the
Two Cities Unfair to Local
Property.

II. II. GORDON, now OF Los Angeles, OUT
for many years famous in Minneapolis as
LAUNDERING" Gordon, has taken up the
cudgels In the city Of his adoption In be-
half of smaller tax rate and more equit-
able assessments In making his argu-
ment he incidentally makes some COMPARE
sons between the manner OF assessing
property in Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
Among other things he says: -.
"By the census Of 1900 Minneapolis had
a population Of 202,71S. BY the same CEN
sus Los Angeles had 102,479, a difference
In favor Of Minneapolis Of 100,239. Con-
servatfve estimates (of city officials) place
the population Of Minneapolis to-day at
235, 1000. Conceding to Los Angeles the
highest estimate (by competent men) of
her present population, to-sFit. 125,000
Minnea polls leads Los Angeles by tic, 600
populations or nearly SO per cent The to-
tai assessed valuation Of the real and per-
sonal property in Minneapolis (1903 Is, In
round numbers, 1922, 600, O00 The total
assessed valuation Of real and personal
property In Los Angeles, as nearly as
can figure it OUT from County Assessor.
Wards assessment books, Is $125,000.000,
or more, at least $3,000,00o in excess of
Minneapolis, whose population IS at least
100000 greater than ours.
Herewith let us consider the following
facts, well known to many residents of
Los Angeles and to the majority Of well
informed business men thruout the United
States: Minneapolis is the largest actual
wheat" market in America and the largest
| -four producing town or city In the world.
(2) AS q lumber manufacturing center she
| outranks all other towns or cities in the
United States land, believe in the
worldly. 60 Aside from -four and lumber
her minor manufactures will be found (by
the census Of 1900-and to-day to exceed
In value all the manufactures of Los An
geles Of every name and nature. (4) The
wholesale trade of Minneapolis is five
times that Of Los Angeles. 90 The, 1usi-
ness and residence building in Minneapolis
IN number and cost greatly exceed those
Of Los Angeles.
"Yet County Assessor Ward has this
year assessed the real and personal prop
erty I'M the city Of Los Angeles at great
er aggregate valuation than such property
is assessed in Minneapolis. But certain
Of your readers who do not pay taxes on
property in Minneapolis may suggest the
| assessments In Minneapolis are too low.
I have paid taxes on property in Minneapo-
lis for many years and still pay taxes on
real estate in said city It is a fact well
known to myself and at least SCORE Of
residents Of Los Angeles who still pay
taxes on property in Minneapolis that the
average assessed valuation Of real estate
in said city for the last fifteen years never
has fallen below 60 per cent Of the actual
cash value, and in several years has actu-
ally exceeded it.
Lots Compared.
i II have lots on the market to-day in
Minneapolis at lover figures than they
are assessed for, and they are not wild
cat lots by a long chalk mark. Real estate
owners of Minneapolis have literally
groaned under their burden Of taxation
} for ten years (since the financial depres-
sion Of 1922 and the values Of real estate
\ In ga oft hav for nd
, to-day, depressed from 25 to Is per cent
! by heavy taxation, caused by extravagan1
| and reckless Expenditures, largely for hel
spread-eagle city hall and other unnec.
essary and bodied improvements.
1t Is only within the past year that city
. lots in Minneapolis, outside Of the princi
: pal business streets and the cream resi-.
dence sections, have been salable at any
price for cash or its equivalent. And ye
6 with population of $4,000 the public
debt Of Minneapolis was, in round mum
r bers, June /, 1903, $4,000, 600 only, while
: the public debt of this city Of the Angels
:. with 10000 less population, and far les
s commerce and manufactures Is Gnclud
g Ing the official estimates of the cost O
: running this city during the current fisca
year and the interest on our bonded in
; debtedness) the staggering sum Of So,
" 750. t f. %.r IT, :.
9 Nov this sum does not include the pro
t posed issue of s1,500,000 Cor more) of cit,
It bonds for the purpose of:purchasing sit
: and building thereon convention hall 1
g 1t not about time for our level heade,
= business men and all well-wishers of Oh
d splendid young city to call halt? Do W
:. expect boom times and spread eagle
IS ism to last forever? The day Of reckon
e ing surely will come, as it came to Min
: neapolis, st. Paul. Omaha Kansas City
d Denver and even to Chicago, whose rea
~ estate is to-day depressed from Is to 5
y per. cent by the heavy burden Of cit
taxes" III !: = ~
d A MlnneapoIItan's View.
n In speaking Of '"Thundering'' Gordon
"a discussion of the situation in the tw
y cities Walter A. Eggleston Of the David {
1T Bell Investment company, said: 1
t. LAS far as Minneapolis real estate
" concerned the comparison is odious. It
N very just and reasonable article, exce1
- where 1t refers to Minneapolis real estat
ID For many years Minneapolis re,
ty estate has been compelled to bear an ur
I'd just and unequal amount Of the burden (
~ taxation In this city. City Assessor Mine
le IS, am given to understand, endeavorir
!. to place at least some Of it's share of ta1
of alton on the personal property in this cit
e when he begins to tax automobiles b
orr cycles, diamonds, household goods ar
IN other things Of that sort, then it will
e, possible to tighten the burden on re
i estate. 1t is time that condition arrive
When 1t gets here it will be better f
l Min o,o5