Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-21

Appeals from the quadrennial appraisal
of real estate by the listers were heard
by the board of civil authority Saturday
afternoon in the selectmens room. Ag
grieved taxpayers appeared in IA in
stances, the assessed valuation of their
real estate having been increased from
$57, 260 to $S1, OPS, an increase of $23, 815
over the valuation previous to this year.
The hearing was set for o'clock, but 1t
was continued to 2 o'clock Tuesday. Then
it was discovered that in continuing the
hearing beyond Saturday there was dan
ger of invalidating the whole list, so the
members Of the board of civil authority
and the aggrieved taxpayers were called
together hurriedly Saturday afternoon
The first case taken up was that of Mrs
Bridget Wood of Cedar street Her prop
erty was increased in valuation from
$1,000 to 1875. Mrs. Wood used pictur-
esque language in denouncing one member
of the board of listers, which was the real
spicy feature of the hearing. After hear
ing Mrs. Woods appeal the board of
civil authority decided to hear all the APP
peals before announcing any decision. AT
this point H. B. Chamberlain, of the
board of listers, said that II was the
unanimous wish of the listers that be-
fore making any change in valuations
the board of civil authority examine per-
sonally each piece of property considered
and compare it with adjacent or ad-
joining property. He said that all prop
erty was assessed at 60 per cent of es-
timated market value with no regard
whatever for former valuations.
Holden & Martin appealed from the
assessed valuation of their factory on
Frost street and the overall factory oc-
cupied by the Hooker, Corser & Mitchell
company, the list being $4,000 as
against 2,675 heretofore. L. p. Holden
said the new addition to the overall fac
he MIA ~ mr.
that the old mill was depreciating in
value and would have to be replaced by
new mill soon, also that the firm had
got to put in a new boiler. He said that
in estimating the value of the overall
factory, based on rentals, the listers had
not taken into account the power fur
nished the overall company by Holden &
Martin. Mr.. Martin said 1t probably
would not have been practicable for the
listers to confer with every property
owner in the limited time at their dis
posal, but he thought they had been mis-
led. John L. Barney, of the board OF
listers, then remarked that the Bellows
Falls listers did not go out of their office
to make appraisals.
John A. Lindsey appeared in behalf OF
his mother, whose house on Harris place
was increased from $3.50 to $4,000. Mrs
g. b. Lamson appealed from the assessed
valuation OF five houses on Washington
proved since the last appraisal. They
stood in the list at $7100 as against
s62S5. She quoted figures on the cost Of
each and made a good argument. L
III. Richardson was represented by c. G
Fits in an appeal from the assessed
valuation of the Salisbury building, neal
the old American House site, which
stands at $1,000 as against $4,000, and o.
the Frost property north of Emerson &
Sons store, which stands at $500 a.
against $4,000. He thought the list wal
out of proportion to that of nearby
property. 1t was shown that Mr. Rich
ardson paid the Frost estate nearl.
$4,000 for the Frost building within two
years.
d. NJ. Brosnahans appeal was from
the assessed valuation of his homestead
on Elliot street increased from $500 L
s14OO F. e. Barber, in behalf Of c. A
& f. e. Barber, objected to the LISTED
value OF their farm, which was increased
from 1925 to $4,000. He said no othe
pperty was listed as high as farm
bperty. and that this particular farm
,As not worth over $4,000. A. F. Schwenk
of the board OF civil authority, aske'
Mr.. Barber how much he instructed I
certain real estate agent to ask for thu
farm, and Mr.. Barber replied; Seventy