Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-01
BLOOMF |ELD TAX
APPEALS HEARD
BY STATE BOARD
One Appellants Case Taken as
Test-Westen Union Seeks
Reduction.

The State Board Of Equalization of
Taxes today, at the City Hall here,
heard appeals from assessments on
land In Bloomfield. There were eigh-
teen appellants, among whom was
the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany, the poles and wires of which
in the Bloomfield district had been
assessed at $1,000. The company de-
sired the valuation to be reduced TO
$3.50.
OF the seventeen other appellants
fifteen were represented by Riker q
Riker, attorneys, of this city.
Adrian Riker suggested that mat
tiers would be facilitated If the prop
erty of but one appellant was con-
sidered as d test case ana made ap-
piicable to all the others. As all the
property involved is farm land, the
board agreed to this and singled OUT
the property of Henry Hepburn,
assessed at $500. The County Board
of Taxation reduced this to 5,400, but
Mr.. Hepburn declared that it should
be further reduced to So, 400
Mr.. Riker contended that the origi-
nal assessments were made on a spec
ulative basis, whereas it should have
been made on a purely farming basis.
Mr. Hepburn, called as a witness,
testified that the actual value OF his
property was not more than 500 an
acre. On cross-examination by
Charles F. Kocher, town attorney, of
Bloomfield, he admitted that he would
not sell his land for $500 an acre.
But that is not because it pos
sesses that value,' he added. ut has
received my care for years; have
laid out the land to suit myself, and
it is my home" he said.
President Frank B. Jess, of the
Equalization Board, suggested that
the golf links established near Mr.
Hepburn's property might have i'm
proved it's value.
ION the contrary" said the witness,
II consider the golf links detriment
to my property. There's a lot OF tres
passing. The damage they do to my
property would not be paid for by
500 a year."
why don't you put up No tres
pass sign?'' asked one of the COM
missioners.
II did. and what's more | had po-
liceman stationed there for two whole
days" replied Mr.. Hepburn. "But no
one was caught" he added with a
sigh.
The next wit6ess, Wilbur NJ
Brokaw, has an appeal involving a
farm of thirty acres. 1t was assessed
at $11, 400. The county board reduced
this to $1,000, and Mr.. Brokaw asked
that it be further reduced. to $6,ooV
He said that farm property situated
as his is-about Sk miles from the
market in Newark, 31s miles from the
centre of Bloomfield and u mile from
trolley-is worth 5000 an acre at the
outside.
"If a man has to make living out
of a farm of that kind he can't az
ford to pay more than that, he saio.
ST was a market gardener for thir-
tv-fiye wears, but retired from that
business six or seven years ago MY
son is conducting it now
Mr. Brokaw said that there had not
been "a bona fide sale" In his secuon
for a very long time.
IT would not sell my land at a much
higher price than 1t is worth, he salu
..heosuse I have had 1t more than
twenty-four years, and before that II
belonged to my grandmother"
other witnesses who were called
were also appellants, They were Jo-
seph Van DIESEL, who has eight acres
assessed at $1,000. lowered by the
county board to 81, 800 and which ne
wants reduced to 1880, and announcer
property of is acress assessed at
az 000. reduced by the county poard 10
s5 600. on which he asks a furtner re-
duction to $4,000.
Aldan r. Fisher, 81 acres, assessed
| at s11. 300, reduced to $3.50, and Tor
which a further reduction TO so'oVo
is asked; John Hyde, "a 79-looo acres,
assessed at $4,000, reduced to sll,SVo,
and on which he asks Tor Iurther
| reduction to $4,000
other appellants are; George n.
Haines, 21.8 acres, assessed at SS,lOO
reduced to $4,000. He wants Sthis
lowered to $4,000; Frank G. Boehine,
| Q 44S-1O00 acres, assessed at S10O, re-
duced to $500, and further reduc-
| ton to $500 is sought He also has
a 6 2S5-1000- acre property assessed at
| 81. 600. reduced to $4,000, and which he
wants reduced to $500; George =.
Rowe. who wants a $1,000 reduction
reduced to $500. 1t was originally
assessed at $4,000; Thomas A. Pax
TON. 9 acres, assessed at $4,000. re-
duced to So, 800, and further reduc-
tion to 81, 800 is sought; William and
Robert Hepburn, 111a acres, assessed
at SO, 900, and seek reduction to $2,SO0.
The county had dismissed their APP
peal.
other appeals were by Joseph M.
Jacobs, IA acres, $6,000 reduced to
| 81. 200 and seeks reduction to $4,000;
/ philip Bach, As acres, $4,000, reduced
to $4,000, and wants 1t further re-
duced to $4,000; John Reinhardt, a
| lot 65 by 21S feet, with a two-story
| frame house, assessed at 1,50O, which
he wants reduced to $1,000. The
county board had refused to make
any reduction.
William r. Raab, former assessor
at Bloomfield, testified as to the man
ner in which he arrived at the valu-
atoms of property. With an address
| by Mr.. Riker for the appellants and
| by Mr. Kocher in behalf of Bloom
| field, the hearing on the appeals mem
| toned was concluded
| Mr.. Kocher contended that, so far
from being over assessed, the yalua-
| ton was not half enough.
"The reason the property owners
do not want to sell" he said, "it be-
cause they realize they have valua-
BILE property If the school sought to
acquire any land that 1t might need,
I feel confident it couldn't get it at
$500 an acre."
The board thereupon adjourned to
take up, at it's Office in the Kinney
building, other appeals, also relating
/ to Bloomfield. These are by the Uni
versal Development Company and by
Jacob Metzger and the Western
Union case.