Evening journal., 1904-05-14
BOARD MAKES
AN EXPLANATION
Assessment Revision and Ap-
peals, Committee Assumes
to Explain Its Action
ONLY ONE COPY OF STATEMENT
Given to a Democratic Newspaper.
Pennsylvania Railroad Takes Up
Biggest Part Of the Boards Atten-
ton.


The much heralded statement by the
members of the Board of Assessment,
Revision and Appeals made its ap-
pearance last night, but it is under
stood that there was but one copy of
it, and that was given to a Democratic
newspaper. The gist Of the statement
which was given out in answer to the
criticism of the press and public con-
cerning the boards actions in reduc-
ing assessments, assumes to explain
why these reductions were made. Con-
corning the Pennsylvania railroad
property on which a reduction of over
half a million was made, the board in
its statement begins with the COM
pany's property at Front and West
streets, where the new elevated road
leaves the old right Of way:
Practically no reduction was made
there. The same was true of most Of
the other property Of the company
until the plot of ground bounded by
King, Front, French and Water streets
is reached when a considerable reduc-
tion was made. This block is now as
sessed at $4,000. The reduction was
made because several properties in
cluding at least two hotel properties
were removed from this block and so
far as is known it will not again be
/ built upon except upon the Water
| street side where the elevated structure
has already been erected. II the prop
erty Is built upon the Improvements
will be assessed.
The lot on which the old round house
and several other properties formerly
stood. was assessed at $4,000 with the
buildings upon it. The roundhOuse and
several other buildings, including some
small houses on Robinson street, were
torn down. The lot is now assessed at
S43, 900. When the land where the shops
had formerly been located was reached
the board changed the assessment to
what it considered to be fair valua-
tion for the land with nothing upon it,
At Todd's Cut, the statement Of the
committee is practically the same as
published several days ago. The board
went to the site of the shops, exam
lined the ground and the plans Of the
company and then assessed the shop.
at something over S169. 600. on which
a half rate will be paid. In some in.
stances where a shop stood partly upor
high ground ana partly upon marsh
ground, one-half or one-third of the
shop was assessed and the remaining
portion was exempted. After deduct
ing the portion of this property which
stood upon marsh land and which
could not betaxed under the law, the
value of the remaining portion was
fixed as stated. The assessment wa:
much higher than the railroad com.
pany thought it ought to pay.
Regarding the statement made tha
previous to the erection Of the new
= shops the land upon which they stood
had been assessed at $4,000, the boarC
says that the land never was assessed
e until the assessment was made for th'
] present fiscal year. When the last val
] uation was made, number of the rail
o. road buildings were partly completed
@ and the uncompleted buildings and tn
land were grouped together and as
sessed at $4,000. AS the railroad com
pany made no appeal the assessmen
stood at that figure.
The statement that the assessmen
on the property of the Pusey & Jone
Company was increased $4,000 is de
MED, and it is declared that instead o
increasing the assessment on the prop
erty Of this company the assessmen
was reduced SS.SOO
Market streets the explanation give
was as printed several days ago. name
= ~, that Mr.. Ford asked that the as
sessment be reduced TO $4,000, whicl
( is the amount Of assessment upo
which he has always paid taxes 70
, the building and this was done. i
2 reference to the property of Waite
Commissioner David ]. Lindsey it /
: declared that Mr.. Lindsey purchase
= the property for S2O,O00 that it was as
Y sessed at $4,000, that he asked that
e be reduced to S25,OO0, which he consid
cred was a fair valuation and the boar
fixed the assessment at $4,000.
\ Referring to the assessment on tn
\ plant of the Wilmington Malleable Iro
Company, the board says that tn
building inspectors books show tina
c the buildings of this company cos
S450000. The assessment was change
from s15O,OOO to SSOO,OOO, which is sti
e S15O.OOO less tkan their value. and tn
e company will only pay one-half rat
q on this assessment because the proI
Il erty is on the unimproved section. TIL
= board says there was no appeal mad
by the company