Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-29
QUARTER OF BILLION
Total Assessed Valuation of
District Realty.
INCREASE TEN MILLIONS
Assessors Report Shows Rapid Ad-
vance in Growth.
TOTAL TAX LEVY, $4,693,754
Amendment to Law Asked to Give
More Time to the Board Of
Equalization.
DISTRICT TAX FIGURES.


The assessed valuation of real estate in
the District of Columbia during the fiscal
year ended June 30 was $255 34 S34 an
increase of Ss.O1S.34O compared with the
preceding year. according to the annual
report of the assessor submitted to the
Commissioners today
Taxes from real estate during the past
year were $3.s29s72. of which amount
81. 9S5. .0S5 was for realty within the city
limits and $S44. 7S6 for property beyond
the limits. known as the county or sub
urbs. The total tax during the year for
personal tax amounted to 1868 .SS2. making
the total personal and real tax 81 .693. .154,
an increase of $120,275 over the preceding
year.
Accompanying the report is a summary
showing the new buildings. additions to
buildings and improvements made during
the year which aided in increasing the
taxes of the District. The increase in
the number Of buildings was 1.877, and
repaired was 4S5. The total number OF
| new buildings was l.S62. Of which 1.ol3
were brick and BAT frame. During the
year 4S5 buildings were removed. thus
making the total increase 1.377
Property Values by Sections.
Benjamin F. Adams. assistant assessor.
in whose name this report is made, I'm
view Of the fact he was acting assessor
for more than six months prior to the
appointment Of Assessor Richards. in
speaking of the buildings in the Dis
trict said the average assessed value
per building I'm the city is S4106. By
section he averages the valuations as:
Northwest. $S.s14 per building south
west. ,$L7s7: northeast. $685.. and
southeast, $1,239.
There are eighty-one fiat buildings"
or apartments. as they are more COM
monty called, in the city. OF this num-
ber IL are in the northwest, II in the
southwest, IL in the northeast and in
the southeast. The total assessed value
of these apartments is $9O8,6O0. There
are twenty-one located beyond the city
limits. their assessed valuation being
$3S9.60O. making the total assessed val
uation of apartments in the District OF
Columbia $1,297 800.
Mr.: Adams furnishes another table. in
which he shows the growth in building
in the District. and in which ii is noted
that within the past twelve years 1891
new buildings have been erected in the
District and c.S56 have been removed,
making an Increase of ll,ll5 in that pc
riod.
Another table is furnished showing the
value of real property In the District AZ
assessed for taxation from 1871 TO the end
assessed valuation OF realty was $79.SG.-
454. which shows that up to the present
time the valuation has increased $l75.-
321, 80
Increased Special Assessments.
The work in the special assessment diyi-
sion of the assessors office during the
past year was exceptionally heavy. havins
about dou4ied that of two years ago. The
assessments levied amounted to S32l.-
97S.32 an increase Of SOL. LOG. 73 over lJo1
OF the total special assessments levied
$12.929 was for opening alleys and minor
streets, Sl750lS for street extensions
so.S11 for main and pipe and suburban
sewers. $3.50 for construction of county
roads and $121,6O0 for assessment and per-
NIT work
In reporting upon the triennial assess
ment for the District which fixes the as
sessed valuation of all property in the
District for the next three years, Mr..
THE board of assistant assessors has
completed the triennial assessment of real
estate for 1909 1911 and returned the same
to the assessor of the District of Column
bia. as directed by law, and il Is now
being placed upon the tax ledgers of the
Office for the collection of taxes during
November. 1908, and May. 1909, for the
fiscal year 1909.
The board labored hard to adjust ths
a
same time comply with the law requiring
two-thirds value of all property in the
Dlstrict OF Columbia. While IL is admitted
that many inequalities still exist, the
board has accomplished much in this
direction In making this assessment, and
1 am strongly of the opinion that tina
board will be able in the next three years
to further greatly reduce this cause OF
complaint
Working Under Pressure.
1T is only fair to the board TO state
that 1t is working under difficulties Of
law that should be remedied. For in
stance. the triennial assessment must be
completed by the first Monday in Janu-
ary. after which the taxpayer is allowed
from this date to the first Monday i'm June
in which to appeal. and upon the latter
date, or as soon thereafter as practicable,
the completed assessment must be re-
| turned to the assessor. Experience has
shown that a majority of the appeals are
filed In the last few days OF the appeal
period and the board cannot give them
| the consideration to which they are enti-
tied II is therefore. earnestly recon-
mended that the law be amended so that
while the time allowed the board OF equal.
izatjon and review shall remain as al
present all appeals must be fled on oi
before the first Monday in April. This
would cause the taxpayer no inconvenience
and would allow the board about three
months TO thoroughly and systematically
consider all appeals. and. where neces-
sary. reinspect the property.
.As an evidence of the consideration.
work of the board, attention is invited ia
the fact that several thousand pieces of
property have been lowered in valuation
while the more valuable property hes