Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1908-09-03
EXEMPT PROPERTY
AND NATIONAL DEBT
New York Has Property Valued at
More Than a Billion Dollars Which
Pays No Taxes-Country's Oldest
Thief Picking Pockets Since 1868
Gets Final Sentence.

SeIS maj sentence.
New York, Aug. 23.-(Special Core
spondence of The Republican, Ac-
cording to the latest reports the value
of the property in this city which is
exempt from taxation is about 25 per
cent greater than the national debt,
amounting to the tidy sum of s1.239,-
3,79S, as compared to $953,S09,S23,
the total of the nations indebtedness.
This figure is just about twice the
total of the citys debt, which in ap-
parent endeavor to surpass that of the
whole country now amounts to $685.
| 100000. Poor Father Knickerbocker
with his borrowing limit reached is
looking enviously at the untaxed prop
erty, but while the returns from it, if
taxed, would materially assist him
there seems to be no way of achieving
this end. Indeed in a large part it
would simply mean taking money out
of one pocket to put in another, since
of all the exempted property the city
holds SSO0.0O0,0O0 worth. OF this total
Central Park represents the largest
single item, being appraised at $215,-
100000, making it easily the most val
liable park for its size in the world.
In addition to the citys share, the fed
eral government has some $6O,00O,OO0
worth of tax free property here, while
the churches hold about S31 900, 900. In
this latter class Trinity church is cas-
fly the leader, the famous corporation
being given an exemption of $780,
600. A fact little realized is that the
subways owned by the city are valued
at 100000. The increase in the
value of the taX-exempt property dur
ing the year has been S1S3, 200, 900, a
feature which is causing considerable
worry to the city fathers. OF the va
rious boroughs. Manhattan, hat is that
part of the city below Harlem river,
leads all others with 100000 of ex-
empt property.
The Oldest thief in the United
States, both in point of years and
in length of criminal career has just
been committed to the home of the
aged in the person of Mary Struhan,
known to the police officials for three
generations, simply as Mary" Since
1868, or for nearly half a century,
Mary, who lays claim to being the
most confirmed criminal in the United
States has been a leader among New
York pickpOckets. She has pilfered
valuables from more different styles
of dress than any person now living;
the hoop skirt and the sheath skirt
being all one to her when it came to
Solving the mystery of their hiding
places for valuables. OF the last
forty-three years she has spent TWEEN
ty-two in penitentiaries, reformator-
les and the like, and it is estimated
that during her career she has eX-
tracted more than $4,000 from the
pockets of unsuspecting persons. In
spite of this, however, she has lived
in want for more than half century
although her undoubted right to the
title of Queen of the Pickpockets'
has never been questioned. OF late
her wonderful cunning has deserted
her and in comparison for her great
age-she is more than IS years old
she was given the comparatively light
sentence of a year in the home for
aged criminals instead of a term in
the state prison. An alternative fine
of $500 was offered her, which Mary,
though penniless, agreed to produce
If turned in the streets for twenty
four hours. In spite of the lightness
of her sentence in view of her record,
1t is not expected that the now de-
posed Queen of Pickpockets" will
leave the home alive.
If matters keep on in their pres
ent course, future visitors to New
York should be neither insulted nor
ashamed if, a special treat, they
are asked to take a trolley ride. AS
things are going now only John w.
Gates, ]. P. Morgan and few 9TH
ers of the very rich will be able to
patronize the trolley cars within a
short time. Cabs are likely to be-