Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
REPORT OF ASSESSOR
Large Increase in District
Real Estate Values.
A NEW ASSESSMENT
TRIENNIAL ESTIMATE OF PROP
ERTY VALUE COMPLETED.
Difficulty of Making Appraisements
Under Personal Tax LawS-Li-
censes and Water Rates.

Under Personal Tax Lavish
censes and Water Rates.
The total assessed valuation of real es-
tate in tine District OF Columbia for the
fiscal year 1906 is s2}9 461 $50
This Is the most important statement in
connection with the annual report of As
SCISSOR II. II. Darneille, which sub
mtted to tine Commissioners this morning.
This assessment, which only recently
completed. is for three years, beginning July
!, 1905 The valuations are distributed as
follows.
Washington City-Assessed valuation of
land SfoJ. 166.O9T; assessed valuation of i'm
provements $50 ,5G2, 16G; total assessed valu-
alton. $3.50, rs 500.
Washington county-Assessed valuation of
land. S3i.6II so. assessed valuation of i'm
provements. SIS, 05J, 500; total assessed valu-
alton $40, sS3. 100.
On this basis is charged the real estate
tax for the fiscal year 1906: Washington
city. 50, s45, 932. 90; Washington county, SI45,-
996.S3; total real estate tax, $3,591 500 IS.
As shown I'm the appended figures for 1919
the increases in assessed valuation for the
ensuing three years total Sl2so4'o's III
Washington city, and SS,9S9Gll IN the
-
corresponding rise in taxes will be $32i,-
SOJ.34. The total tax on real and estimated
tax personal property for the fscai year
1906 VIII be- - 90 -
Real .................- So. .9f, 900. IS
Personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6l5,OJoO9
e.
Appeals from the new assessment, it is
stated, were heard until June so last by
the board of equalization and review. 1t
was then necessary to complie the return
books of the board of equalization and re-
view, and from them, and the other records
IN the Office to prepare the triennial numer-
zeal book. For the first time in the history of
the Office the numerical book has been COM
piled and photolitho2raphed before the list
of November, the date upon which taxes
may be paid, thus rendering it possible for
real estate men. property owners and 9TH
eIs interested to ascertain the new assess
ment before paying their tax bills.
The expedition with which this work was
accomplished has proven great conven-
fence, both to the citizens and the govern
ment. For many years Congress appro-
priated from 81 900 to 5000 for the pur-
pose of preparing this book. This year II
was accomplished with an expenditure OF
$1,000 only.
In an extended table It is shown that
The assessment for the fiscal year 1905
S23q. 4G1, $50 is more than $JO,OlO,0O0 in eX-
cess of the assessment ten years ago. when
tbo figures were $lss. go. 343. In 1856 the
assessment was $6,053.329, and In 1876 s95,-
Ij2, Gs4.
Compared with the statement showing the
assessed valuation in both city and county
for the present fiscal year the assessor sub
rnitted a table showing that the valuation
of land ard improvements in Washington
city last year was SIG SS4, TSJ and in the
county $40 743511. from which the real es-
tate tax 1924, A.
Personal Tax Appraisement.
On the question of personal tax Mr.. Oar
nielle stated that there is always more or
less friction in the operation of the law,
and he called attention to the difficult por-
ton of the duties of the board of personal
tax appraisers in reconcilng the widely
divergent ideas of values held by citizens
as to the same kind of personal property
It is estimated that the amount of person
al taxes collectbe during the fiscal year
1906. including street railway and fran
chise taxes. will be $6T5.Oo0, as against $685.
247, levied for the fiscal year 1898. This
will be an increase of approximately s., Io3.
The assessor states that the valuation of
personal property on which $685. 24T.2O taxes
were paid last year was S26,J15.s19.66 Ihe
value on which the current years returns
Is based II is thought will reach $2fUjo,OOO
1t has been suggested that great assist
ance would be rendered the appraisers If
every automobile owner in the District
would be required to register the make,
year and horse power of his vehicle when
applying for license to operate the same.
Concerning various details of work in his
Office the assessor says:
q
not adjourn until the second Monday in
March, as provided by law, and as a con-
sequence it is impossible a this time to
certify the levy for the fiscal year 1905 but
It is believed there will be a considerable in
crease.
The controversy with respect to fran
chise taxes against street railroad COM
panies has been settled, and all accounts
paid with the exception of about $l,4OO due
by the City and Suburban Railroad Com
pany, which case Is still In court, the former
receiver OF the company having asked for
instructions from the court with respect to
the payment. This amount represents the
earnings of the company in the state of
Maryland during the calendar year 100
During the fiscal year 1865 there were
by authority Of recorded deeds. probated
wills, etc, transferred the records of
this office lips parcels of land; l. G., 4,341 in
the city and 2.TST in the county. This is
an increase Of 500 over the preceding year.
This office maintains a card record, at all
times current, by which the ownership of
any parcel OF land may be readily ascer-
tained.
Licenses and Tax Certificates
THE total receipt from licenses during
the fiscal year 1905 was S55G,O41.T3. This
IS an increase over the preceding year of
SaGGO2i These figures include liquor Ii
Censes, both wholesale and retail, and all
classes of business for which licenses are
required The number of licenses issued
was I,Si1, lncluring DIG barroom and 13S
wholesale liquor licenses; also 1893 licenses
for engineers issued upon certificates of
the board of examiners.
During the fiscal year 1905 there were
issued 1893 tax certificates, for which a
fee of fifty cents each was paid, the reve-
nue. derived Jherefrom being S3,65l. 30. Dur
ing the preceding year there We're issued
6,I9s cert fcates of ttis character. the in
crease II. the fiscal year 1905 being 5O5 GER
tiicates. In addition TO these certificates
there were issued during the year PCS free
certificates, accompanying Subdivisions, tax
deeds, etc. During the preceding year
there were issued Gas such certificates,
showing an increase In 1905 of 32D certia-
Gates.
The act of February %, 1905, entitled An
act to designate parcels of land in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia for the purposes of as
scssment and taxation and for other pur-
poses. provided for the Encouragement and
redcsignation of all parcels OF and in the
county OF Washington, and for the purpose
of preparing maps and performing the
work contemplated. and carried an aporo-
jpriauon OF SlJ,nh. The work nc.dcnl 10
Ibis plan Is being pushed along as rap
idly as Is consistent with accuracy. II Is
hoped that before very long 1t wiz be com
al. ted nA h4V q y,rgn