The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-01-20
Pending Law Suit Said to Have Furnished Basis Upon Which List of Frank Miller Lumber Go. Has Been Added to-To. tai Valuation of Property for 1909 May Reach 1885, 00o,0oo.

Within a few days it will be known | to the public that the tax equaliza- tion program of Mayor Buckingham will have increased the grand list of l the city nearly $6O00,00O over 1908 and of this amount over s2,500,00O will have been added to the values of the properties of corporations. The re- mainder of the $S,OO0;O00 increase is made upon the valuations of proper 1 ties of business concerns that have been valued on the tax lists at less than they should have been. These equalizations will make the grand list for 1910 nearly 85,00O,0 ,00O. When the assessors get ready to an- nounce the figures, it will appear why the mayor has been in conference with the assessors so many times of late. It will also appear that the assessors have shown a disposition to assist in the first beginning of an equalization of taxes and only need the support of the administration.
 Among the increase, said to have been made is that of the United H. Illuminating Co.,, which paid taxes on a valuation Of S3O2,985, last year and which it is said on good authority, will be placed on the list this year, at about $6O0,0OO, or at about twice the assessment for last year.
 The big plant of the Bridgeport Nal leable Iron Co.,, which was on the books last year for $27S,O00, and which many prominent manufacturers said was far to little, is said to have had it's valuation brought up to half million.
 The Frank Miller Lumber ,Co., which was on the tax list last year for s136, $50. is said to have received a substan- tial boosting. A suit brought by a real estate agent for a fee brought out the necessary information it is said.
 It was alleged that the price the company asked for the plant was $6OO,00U.
 Another big increase is a voluntary one following a long agitation, made by the Bridgeport Gaslight Co. It is intimated that the company came in of its own volition and asked that the valuation of it's priperty be in- creased from $622,40O to approxi- mately $1,000,00O.
 The assessors finished the greater part of their work, today, but at the office of the assessors the members of the board declined to give out any information until the books for the
 
 and until all of those who have been increased receive notices of the change in the valuation of their property.
 Because of the state tax for two years amounting to $84,000 having 10 be paid this year the tax equalization program will not make it possible to make the tax rate what it was last year. But it will increase the revenue of the city materially and will light en the burdens of the small home owners who are paying on a full valuation.
 That part of the increase, which is called the natural increase, and is brought about by new buildings erect ed during the year is represented by about $1,25O,O0O. This represents the value of new buildings erected, Sept. 1, 1909.
 Mayor Buckingham has been in of- fee only 10 weeks. As tax equaliza- tion requires much thought and study the fact that he has brought about a substantial increase, in a short time gives promise for the fu- ture.
 Some valuations of big properties, in this city, as placed on the tax lists, last year, were the follows:
 Bridgeport Gaslight Co.,, $622,40O; Union Metallic Cartridge Co.,, $1,456,- 257; Singer Mfg. Co.,, $s1S,50O; Inter national Silver. Co.,, $171,OOO; Loco- mobile Go. of America, $341,34O; Warner Bros. Co.,, $414.35O; Bridge port Malleable Iron Co.,, $278,0O0; Eaton, Cole & Burnham Co. (The Lumber Co, $136,35o; Bridgeport Brass Co.,, $5O2,0O0; Bridgeport Chain Co.,, $74,OO0; Sewing Machine Cabinet Co S35O00