The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

The assessment of st. Louis property, real
and personal, for this year is the largest in
the history OF the city, exceeding the total
assessment OF last year by s2s,Sss.2so. which
indicates in a most substantial way that the
wealth of the city is steadily increasing.
These facts were disclosed yesterday
when the Board Of Equalization adjourned,
after being in session four weeks. The mem
bers OF the board were: Assessor John J.
o'BrenSss-oficio president: James NJ. Car
penter. CAPITALIST. vice president: F. n. Jud-
son. attorney and expert on revenue law:
Malcolm Macbeth. real estate, agent. and
Frederick c. Bonsack, contractor and
builder.
During its session the board heard fifty
appeals against real estate. forty-three Rp-
peals against estates in course of admins
tration in the Probate Court, eight, cases
against the assessment of franchises OF
quasi-public corporations.
The assessments of franchises. which are
materially increased over Iast year. were
determined by Assessor O'Brien, according
to the requirements OF the law authorizing
those assessments. by ascertaining 20 per
cent of the value of the capital stock and
bonded Indebtedness. From this amount
was deducted the assessed value OF their
tangible property. real and personal
The total assessment against quasi-publio
franchises amounts to $40. Is .0O. as against
a total for 1902 OF A.ZS0.sl0. showing an in
crease for 1853 OF $3.50 The LacIede Gas
Light Company alone showed an increase
of A,S36.SO on its franchise assessment
TAX FAIR GROUNDS PROPERTY.
A notable feature of this years assess
ment was the taxing Of the property OF the
st. Louis Fair Association. comprising the
old Fair Grounds and the race track. This
property has been exempt from taxation in
~ 49, ..
acting under the written opinion OF City
Counselor Bates. placed the propery on the
assessment books. The Fair Grounds and
race track property is now assessed at
S796. $50.
Steam railroads. telegraph and telephone
railways are not included In the assess
ments made by the local board.
The tangible property and the franchises
of corporations controlling such public utl-
tiles are assessed by the State Board Of
Equalization at jefferson City. This board
has not completed its work and the amount
of the assessments made is not known.
The assessment by the State Board last
year on all st. Louis city property was
AS,0i9.2S. In the aggregate assessment In
the city of all real estate and personal
property as shown In the m amount
ing to S05. SIS, LEO. as assessment by the
State Board Is not included. those figures
representing the assessments as made by
the local department only.
Adding an assessment by the State Board
OF at least $3o.00.Ooo to the total It will
show. that the assessment Of all st. Louis
property is over 1886 10000.
The total assessment OF the city of St
Louis for the year 1876. the year previous to
the enforcement Of the Charter. was $685.
al. ITO.
WHERE INCREASES WERE MADE
The principal increases in real estate as
were made IN the Fifth. Seventh
and Tenth districts, the first being the CEN
trail business section. from the river to
Grand avenue and from Washington ave-
nue. to Market street.
The Seventh District is in the north part
OF the city. extending from Cass to Bro
men avenues and from the river to Grand
avenue while the Tenth In the fashionable
residence part. from Grand avenue west TO
the city limits and from Delmar boulevard
south to Arsenal street. In this district are
included Westmoreland place, Forest Park
and the Worlds Fair grounds.
The board adopted a resolution recon-
mending the adoption of-a more stringent
and effective system of personal-property
taxation. where money. bonds. notes and
other securities are In the hands Of trus-
tees. curators, executors and administra-
tors. for the reason that this class of prop
erty Is most difficult to secure returns upon.
Another resolution recommends thai the
State and county revenues be separated. be-
cause. under the existing system. property
in the city OF st Louis Is assessed at q rate
nearly double that at which properly is as
sessed in the State at large. the effect of
which is a heavy discrimination against the
city in the payment OF State taxation.
The board also expressed an opinion in the
form Of a resolution that the act of March
.. 1901. providing for the assessment and
taxation of franchises be amended BY pro-
viding specifically the manner in which the
valuation Of such franchises should be de-
terminec. In the absence of such amend
ment. II is suggested that the Assessor re-
quire the corporations In st. Louis whose
franchises are subject to taxation to make
a complete return Of capitalization, bonds.
stocks. GROSS and net earnings. and other
that may be requested.
Assessor OBrien was commended in a
resolution adopted by the board for cour- |
tesies, and for his fidelity In the administra-
ton OF the duties OF his ONCE.