Evening journal., 1905-02-04
LETTERS FROM
THh PEOPLE
Aasessor coverdaIe's statsment.

A33CboOF CoNGIQulCb QkdhGIUNUNs
TO the Editor Of The Evening Journal
The last two issues Of the Delaware
Pilot contained attacks upon me and my
work as assessor Of Lewis and Rchoboth
hundred. which feel II my duty TO an
swer IN widely read and respected news
paper. When Il is understood that the
Delaware Pilot is "a iank Democratic,
partisan paper seeing no good In Re
publicans OF Republican policy and prais-
ing and commencing everything Demo-
cratic, II will not be dlnlcut to arrive at
the causes of attacks upon me or any
other Republican office holder, The Pilot
articles are full Of false statements, and
to prove this assertion on mg part ! will
take up. at random. a few Of the Pilots
charges Of unfairness
] l. Il states that Mrs. C. Marshairs
property is assessed al $500. whereas the
assessment Is $780,
? 1t states that Charlrs Martin front
yard Is assessed as a lot and says Il
should not be- As a matter Of fact the
lot In question is a very arge one. on the
most desirable corner IA Lewcs. and is
SO situated as to permit large building
TO bo erected on IT, without IN any way
]
residence on the property.
3. II states that the sessment OF Ar
thur conwcll's property Is unfair, as COM
pared with that Of DR. Orrs Both prop
critics are assessed at $1,000 They are sit
uate on Front street wi h a most attrac-
tive view Of the bay and ocean. The
house on DR. Orrs property is a very old
one. whereas Conweli's is "A new one. The
property similar to Conwells ard adjoin-
ing his sold a short me ago for 5000.
and On the other side similar properties
to Conwelrs arc assessed at two and three
thousand dollars.
4 II says that John NJ Barnes farm
in Gils Neck is assessed at so per acre.
whereas DR. Orr's in the same neighbor-
hood and just across the road from the
Barnes farm Is assessed at only $50 per
acre. Tho renson for this is that the
Barnes property which contains only %
acres Of improved land. with bu ld.nEs
thereon, is valued at not less than $500
whereas the Orr farm contains 20 acres
OF land less improved and buildings OF nc
value.
s. II says the asses sment Of s.. .0C0 on the
Annie Thompson property is too high Re.
proved, and the buildings on 1t rent fol
sie per month.
The purpose of the Pilots articles is &c
show that I have favor, Republ cans in
making up my assessment II such is IN,
case. why is It that the Pilot says that
: my assessment on ihe property of Dr
! Hiram r. Burton Is too highy ! hav,
tried 90 be absolutely fair and Impartial
IN making the assessment. II is true thai
I have made changes compared with pre-
vious assessments, but IN every case
felt not only Justified but that It was M,
duty to DO so. In my effort to make a fai
, assessment J have consulted the best in
formed people In my hundred, rs man,
Democrats as Republicans II any on
r objects TO my assessment, the law pro
I vidcs the right of an appeal TO the Lev.
3 Court. and n IN any case have mad
an error ana can be so convinced, not onl
will l not object to correction bein
made by the Levy Court, but will do al
, in my power to have any wrong made b
me righted by that body. Had the edito
. OF the Delaware Pilot desired 10
e truthful and fair ne would have mad
s some inquiry into the subject matter q
4 his attacks upon me before publshin
. them, but he has a reputation for nc
proceeding in that way. He makes HI
attacks and charges first and his invest
.. cations afterwards, and when he find
n that he Is wrong IN his statements he Sc
n dom n ever makes any corrections {
apologies for the harm and wrong
has done. David coverdale.
Lewes, Feb. T.