Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-12-28
FRANKLIN ASSESSMENTS.

4
an all-day session last Tuesday in
hearing testimony of owners of prop
erty in Franklin as to assessments
which Collector Hallock deemed too
low. The Collectors idea of values
varied from 100 to 400 per cent above
those of the Assessor, as follows:
Thos Scott is assessed at $500 and
Mr.. Hallock thought his home was
worth $4,000 and $1,000 would be a
just assessment.
The Edmund Jones homestead, as
sessed at $4,000, he thought worth So
600.
| w. T. Jones home assessed at $2,,-
600, full value $1,000
G. Brill Newfield hotel, assessed at
$500, Mr.. lHallock thought was
worth $4,000 and should be assessed
at $4,000.
! Thos. S. Downs home assessed at
4 $500 he thought worth $4,000, and
| tenant house assessed at $500 he val
ued at $1,000
I Geo. b. Smiths farm assessed at
$1,000 he thought worth $4,000.
Thos. Wilson's farm assessed at
! 81 800, he thought worth $4,000
Jos. A. Handles farm assessed at
$4,000 he thought worth $4,000
| H. Finger, Jr., hotel, assessed at
$1,000 worth $4,000 should be as
sessed at $4,000
| Sam'l McCurdy's home assessed at
! $500 he thought worth $500.
The Collectors ideas of assessment
value ranged from two-thirds to three
/ fourths of what he considered total
value.
| His petition to the Board prayed
that the Board make such additions as
they deemed just.
w. T. Jones, president of the Board
asked to be excused while his assess
ment was under consideration and
this was granted.
Mr.. Hallock also petitioned the
Board to remove his personal assess
ment from Clayton to Franklin
Mr. Hallock testified to personal
service of notice of these appeals from
the assessment on Dec. IS, on all ex-
cept w T. Jones, in his case service
being on his wife.
d. O. Watkins, who represented
i the property owners, showed the,
notice which was served on Mr..
Jones, which Mr.. Hallock identified as
the one served. Scrutiny of the pa
per showed that it was not signed by
anybody, and the case against him
was dismissed with consent 81
Carr, Mr. Hallock's counsel.
When Mr.. Hallock took the stand
to testify to the value Of Thos. SCOTS
property Mr.. Watkins objected until
/ it is shown that Mr. Hallock was
competent to arrive at true value,
through his experience in buying and
selling real estate.
Mr.. Carr thought his experience as
Collector gave him that knowledge,
but the Board ruled against him.
Thos. Scott, who is a carpenter,
said his house was built 70 years ago,
and was purchased by him 25 years
ago. The lot comprises 2 1-2 acres
He could build house of its size new
| for $1,000, and barn like his for
1878. He denied having had an offer
for purchase recently
To arrive at the value of the land,
Henry Finger, Jr., testified to selling
two lots-one of an acre for $500 and
one of 3-4 of an acre for 5000.
Mr.. Carr argued to have Scott's as
sessment increased to $1,000, while
Mr.. Watkins opposed such an in
crease.
c.. Brill testified that he paid $16,-
600 for the Newfield hotel, furnished,
and the business. The house has IA
rooms and is on about an acre of land
David VanHook, a contractor, testi-
/ fed that the hotel building could be
erected for from 81 900 to $4,000, and
| that a lot, the size of the hotel lot,
was recently sold for $500. Mr..
Brill offered to sell the furniture for
$500 the amount of the assessment.
Thos S. Downs has a home, and
saw mill The house is room
story and half affair, 70 years old
| The mill is 1920 with engine room
li8 #. high with paper roof The
house is heated by steam heat from
/ the saw mill engine. He said his
could be built new for $500 and the
/ mill for $500. A tenant house near
/ his home he bought for $500 and his
own house for $400, but had fixed
! both up.
Henry Finger, Jr. owned the Frank
iinville hotel at the date of the assess
ment. On November he sold it and
! the business and one acre of land for
$12, 900, and had mortgage for So
000 against it. Bought it IL years
ago for $500 A Mr.. Rogers is the
| lessee.
Sanl McCurdy testified his home
and an acre of land cost him $500.
He had fixed up the house. His Office
and barber shop, which he would give
free to any one who would settle
there and shave the people, was on
another mans land Mr.. Hallock
offered to buy his house for $1,000 on
| the spot, but McCurdy said to come to
his office, this was no place to buy
land
Harry w. Jones testified as to the
value of the Edmund Jones homestead
now his property. He said it COM
prised the house, store, barn, ice
house, smoke house, water tank, water
closet and IL acres, divided by the
railroad and public road There