Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-03-03
Old "EladpscssT" Street, Improving
(By the Assessor }


Style in the discharge Of his duties
last week. He was given a rather
cool reception. especially by the
+ colorsd 10 IS. who invariably took
him for o Of those ubiquitous IL
surance a gents. who make the ex-
istence 10 them miserable. Our
first imPr -ssion was tha, the assess
or is lOok-d upon IN most quarters
as a neces iary evil and must be tol-
Grated. II: doesn't even come N
der the heaa Of a servant OF tue
( people. BIT IS put in the position Of
an enemy = the people.
Despite tae fact that York street
IS looking b=,rsr now than It has in
Us history. or since We have enjoy
/ Cd its Acquaintance. We never saw
/ property OF 50 itS.e value
u The property Of the colored peo-
pie. many OF whom live on the ex-
IRENE eastern end Of this street. we
found assessed up 10 the limit in
some cases. Ols had,been playing
taxes on a house and lot the past
ave years. but We failed TO find the
house. Indeed. there never has
been a house upon il. They come
nearer paying on a fair cash value
than the whites.
OF the Al lots on this street. 50
. are owned b. negroes and IL by
I whites. The homes Of the white
(and some colored) are nicely kept
Yards clean. aud have a genera sii
r | of comfort. On this street are sev.
n eral as desirable homes as there ar'
s 10 the city. One Of the neasest an,
most pretentious. however. is ruincs
by having next door TO and almos
:, touching Il a dangerous frame stu
are. fast falling 70 decay, which
7 occupied by a person whose repu
alton is Tar below the average O
aer class. The building simpl
spous the effect of what the thrirt
" leighbor has done in the way OF IN
provements to his. It's not encoul
aging to a man 10 have such cond
4 dons aud be pOwerless 10 have tneT
removed. This citizens property
G. reduced in value oy the presence
n this disreputable aud dangerol
m building. and tne assessor made
NJ aote or the matter. The city cou,
is eli ought 10 exercise control ov,
er / cases Of this kind. The owner
Il able to repair the rotting bnildini
IN out viii neitner repair nor sell. Z
n though repeatedly asked 10 DO bot
ey The suffering nsighoor will buy Il
-I mouse. but II is nor for sale az an
thing ike its assessed value.
A strange coincidence Of the vi
to York street was that il was ma
on Washington's birthday. and 1
writer assessed a house and lot
N longing 10 George Washingtc
al This George. being of the color
ly- persuasion, does not claim Telauo
snip TO Honest George.
The assessor tries 70 see and "a
5. with owners OF real estate before
puts down the amount that viii pro
er- ably stand for five years. gnlsss Z
p. court interferes. he IS trying
ne best &c give every ciuzen a sQas
~ and honest deal, DC he ncn or poC
-. black. white. green. gray or gTizzle
He is aot infalliable. neither IS ne
Solomon. But DO not go TO knoc
ing ysur property IN the hope of
Is low assessment. You viii have
ay bear your share of the tax ourd
IN just the same.
~ Francis street sill DC written
~ next week. AS We viii get II
some OF the real good patches OF L
town On this street. the report OF Z
result viii probably be more ints
nd esnng.
u We forgot TO say that Ihe total i