The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-10-02
FLoRHAM PARK VALUATIONS,
Argument Of ]. D. II. Pitney Before
the Tax Board

AI8uDcHb u = ~ - 4AtucJ DSAoEc
the TAX Board
Last week the case Of the appeal OF
the F'lorham Park assessment was
before the County Board for the Equal
ization Of Taxes
John O. III. Pitney appeared for the
contestants. He said ElOrham Park
ought to be considered in connection
with the other municipal lities through
out the county and the burden of tax
alton should be spread equally over the
county.
When Madison was formed it took
the highest price property in Chatham
township. a strip j, goo feet wide along
Madison avenue Then Chatham took
the rest, leaving q strip to the north,
and out of this FiOrham Park has been
formed. In it are two large estates
formed by consolidating several farms
which do not add one cent to the valu-
alton OF the surrounding land. There
is no difference between the Twombly
and Ward places and the surrounding
land, only the former crafty their
Whims by building good roads and eX-
cellent farm houses.
The surrounding property Is mostly
6WdA1lp ldtlQ din oAbjCCU W OftLuOW.
The borough is not to be compared
with BOOntOn and Dover, manufacture
I ing centeTs, or MOrriStown, famous the
world over for its healthful climate.
These things draw people to these
places and increase the value OF prop
erty. There is nothing Of the sort in
Florham, where there is nothing but
farm land, and $50 an acre Is a high
price. None Of the acres bought by
TwOmbly brought over $50 an acre, ex-
cept where he needed some land and
the price was pushed up.
1.-THE city the rental value Of a prop
erty is criterion for its value, while
on the farm it's productiveness should
be the standard, and on this basis the
| property in Alton should not be placed
at fancy prices.
1t is ridiculous 60 assess one man for
one million dollars. There is no one
who viii go down in his pocket and
pay such price for a place, and there
are only a few men who could do it If
| they wanted to.
In assessing such place 800 an acre
would be a good assessment, i. e., al
lowing $50 for yield and $50 for the
fancy sights about it. There are fancy
buildings that are used for farm pur-
poses, no matter what the architect
ure. The farm buildings have not inn
1 proved the fertility Of the soil.
/ Mrs. Tw0mbly, he stated, was as
sessed for 100000 personal property,
and that her residence was where her
husband lived and that she should be
| taxed there.
He then took up the residence Of
! Twombly, which was assessed at $780,
/ 600, and wanted to know If any Of the
cOmmissiO thought that tie build
ing was worth such money.
Mr.. Cahill called his attention to the
statuary that adorned the building
aud which had been brought from Eu.
rope at great expense.
a discussion then arose between Mr..
/ Cahill and Mr.. Pitney In regard to the
! cost Of property. Mr.. Canill stated
4 that the property around the Twom-
bly, place ought to be worth $1,000 an
acre.
MIR. Pitney stated Chat the price was
! too high, as along Madison avenue 1t
was only So 900 an acre. In other parts
of the county the average increase was
only 20 per cent while in Florham it
was 100 per cent.
The County Tax Board had a meet
ing yesterday and took up the Flor
ham Park assessment. The assess
ment of $40 900 on Mrs. Hamilton Nc
Kay Twombly's personal property was
taken off on Che sworn assertion that
Mr.. Twombiy voted in New York and
not in FIorham. Mr.. Twombly's as
sessment Of S539, 900 real estate and
! S76, 600 personal property was discussed
and DR.. Leslie Wards valuation OF
Sll4, 900 real and $4,000 personal was
reviewed, and it was finally deter
mined TO raise Messrs. Twombly and
Ward so per cent. on their real es-
tate, and the rest of the property
owners 10 per cent. over last years as
seSSment.