Evening star., 1911-05-28
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. May c7.-Is the mansion
which former Senator William A. Clark
caused to be built at the cost OF millions,
on the corner OF nth street and 9Th ave-
nue.. the only one OF its kind in the
world?
Here are the answers which were laid
before Justice Lehman In the supreme
court today. and upon which he is asked
to sustain or reject the city's assessment
upon this stupendous pile OF marble.
The city-"The Clark residence is
unique. There is not a palace in the
world of any king or emperor that can
match it. Therefore It should be taxed
for its rniqueness.' and not upon the
basis Of assessment OF adjacent prop
erty."
Ex-senator Clark-'.dy residence on 9Th
avenue should be taxed in the same pro-
portion as other property. 1t is not in
a class by itself so far as assessment is
concerned. 1t may be unique, but its
uniqueness should not be made the basis
for taxation
Dispute Over Building.
The certiorar proceedings to review the
assessment OF the city takers was brought
before Justice Lehman because former
Senator Clark maintains that the assess
ors have put too high a valuation upon
his property. 1t is conceded by the owner
and the city that the plot of land. 20o
feet by Il feet, on which the house
stands. is worth at least Sl,o00,000. The
dispute is over the value of the building.
The city assessed the property while in
course of construction. as follows:
In 1908. S2.OO0OOO; 1909, $3.50 600: 1910.
So, 10000. These assessments are pro-
tested by the owner He declares that the
actual value of the property is not over
100000, and that the assessment should
be not over $l,6SUO0O
The city assessors contend that the
money which 1t would cost to replace
such a mansion should be made the
basis Of taxation and that this Clark
residence is an extraordinary structure
and would, If sold. be put upon the
market upon the basis OF its uniquenese.
To justify this contention the city pro-
duced in court many of the skilled arti-
sans and experts. who worked for years
upon the unique" material that went
into the mansion.
Chief among these experts was Austin
Sergeant of the Pittsburg Plate Glass
Company. He testified that men IN his
charge worked for five years TO produce
the unique glass that adorns the bath
rooms of the Clark home. And Senator
Clark paid for it," he concluded
Sergeant said that the Carrara glass in
the two Turkish bathrooms is like marble.
and cost $14.7J0. The glass in the other
bathrooms cost $4,000
Senator Clark had the house planned.
the court was told, that every room
has a secret entrance in addition to the
patent one From his own mines in
Montana he brought copper for the build
ing. but wherever copper is used in other
buildings he had bronze placed in his own
structure.
Unique Features of the House.
Within the house. concealed from view,
is a completely equipped garage. On one
part of the roof is a sun parlor and on
another part an observatory. One OF the
rooms in the unique house is so ar
ranged that It can be completely penned
off for quarantine purposes.
The heating plant cost $4,000; the
plumbing. $4,000; the bronze work on
the roof, 100000; a single frieze is val
ued at $4,000; mantel design, 5000;
uncut marble, $40 900. The library con-
tains treasures of the printing press. and
the art gallery contains copies of the old
masters such as an art lover with an an
nual income of Sl2.0O0.O0o can purchase.
The quarries of the world were searched
for the finest marble for use In this man
sion. The staircase Of Istrian marble
contains blended stone from almost every
known marble quarry. The breakfast
room on the third floor Is constructed OF
English oak. 1t Is built of a cabinet OF
10 panels No two OF the panels con-
tain the same heavily carved design.
There is a conservatory, sculpture room
and a museum. In the loft is one Of the
largest chamber organs in the cou.itry.
A twenty pa ssenger elevator leads TO the
floor. There is a great swimming pool
These are some of the unique" fea-
lures OF the Clark mansion which were
presented to Justice Lehman. He re-
served decision upon she application 10
reduce the assessment.