Evening journal., 1913-08-07
MAY ADOPT
PURDY PLANOF
VALUATION
Wilmington Delegation Much
Impressed With New YOrk'S
Assessment System
OFFER TO SEND EXPERTS
TO ASSIST In WORK

Following the melting OF City
Council tonight, the Board OF AS
sessment. Revision and Appeals will
meet and organize. probably in the
mayors office. This body Is COM
prised of President OF Council Will
liam p. White, Colonel w. 4. Stover.
chairman OF the finance committee,
and Building Inspector William John
son. All three we're in New York city
yesterday, Mcssrs. White and Johnson
making the trip with the committee
on assessment OF the Chamber Of
Commerce, The members of which had
prearranged a meeting with Lawson
Purdy. the deviser Of the system
OF assessment in that city. said to be
one Of the best in the country. It
is likely that some move will be
made tonight toward adopting new
plan Of assessment.
Judging from what those who made
the trip say all we're much impressed
/ with the Purdy method of laying the
assessment and the system of record
ing it. AS explained on previous oc-
casiOns, the land Is assessed separate
ly from the Improvements on ii. I'm
der the Purdy system as explained by
Mr.. White. to a reporter for THE
EVENING JOURNAL today, the valu-
alton of real etsate is arrived at by
thoroughly experienced men, who are
termed field men. There are about
rs in New York whereas but two
or three would be required here
These men, he said, are experienced
in values. the experience being got
ten from long service and from MAX
ing a special study of assessments.
they come under civil service rul-
ing and their jobs are not dependa-
bic on the kind of assessment they
make. The assessments they make
may be appealed from, however" Mr.
i White said. These field men get
4 the rental value of the property, The
4 mortgage on it. character Of the
n building, names Of prospective pur-
4 chasers. what the owner paid for
the same, etc. A record is kept in
field book, a duplicate of which is
kept on file in the Office. AS a result
of The information the field man gains
he frequently can tell the owner
more about his property than he
himself knows"
Mr. White said that Mr.. Purdy
agreed to send one of more expert
enced men from the New York Office
NO Wilmington. TO aid in making the
assessment here, should the Purdy
Nplan be adopted. These men would
have TO be compensated for the time
they are here.
In speaking of another system that
g under consideration, Mr.. White re-
y marked that il had some good points,
but the question was whether as much
8 good can be accomplished and the
work done cheaper by having men
fome here from New York and, with
bther local people, make the assess
nent or buy the second system out
right and have the people owning it
make the assessment.
The method of arriving at values
Ilnder this second system, it was ex-
# blamed. is a sort of collective opinion
pf the community. In other words
she assessment people will first place a
alue on the property, say in one
lock. and then ask those living in the
ocality their opinion as to the value,
8 nd i'm this way arrive at a conclusion.
According to Mr. White. there seems
6 10 De one objection to the system in
s uestion. and that is the rule fixing
he value on corner properties He
6 lams that the rule is arbitrary. as
Conditions are not alyays the same
s lie said, however, that the system had
$ good points, and the whole ques-
on now was whether the city can
the work as well and more
& Economically or pay the owners of the
M ystem to do it.
From information we now have,
I:s rel we ran mako tho aeeoesmont and
E ave the city money. No definite
s. onclusion, however. has yet been
eached," said Mr.. White.