Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-10-15
ASSESSORS ARE SUSTAINED
Sherwood House Will Remain in
Tax List at $4,000.
City VIII Sue Employers Liability In
surance Corporation to Recover
Amount of Verdict in the
Leary Cnse.

Meetings OF the board of civil au-
thority and the board of aldermen were
held last evening and both transacted
important business.
At the meeting Of the board of civil
authority, which was called first, the
question of the appeals from the
ouadronnial appraisal was taken up.
There was only one case before the
hoard and that was the appeal of T. II.
Murphy, proprietor of the Sherwood
House. who claimed that his hotel prop
erty had been put in the list at too high
n figure He was represented by At
torney Charles r. Black, who stated the
case 1t appears that the Sherwood
House is now in the list for Sl26,o", hav-
ing been raised $1,000 since the roof
garden was established. This appraisal
represents the building and the lot.
Attorney Black said that Mr.. Murphy
thought $1,000 was fair appraisal of
the property. At the present time the
rents from the stores in the building
amount to 1850 yearly, this of course
being exclusive OF the hotel business. In
vestments of the amount represented
should he equal to an income of about
ten per cent. If this property was
actually worth $4,000. as assessed, ten
per cent income on it would be sl2,Goo
Deducting from this the rents received
would leave about 5000 which is the
same as paying rent fer the hotel and
would bo a high figure
Assessor r o. Beaupre stated that in
figuring the rents paid for the stores
the profits of the saloon and dancing
hall had not been figured in.
Mayor Burke said that the true APP
no no
that it would readily sell for In money
And he added, If there Is gilt-edge
property on Church street It is the Sher-
wood House. The lot is appraised at be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 and the last part
of the building that was erected cost
about $4,000. This season, when the
ouadrennial appraisal was made, there
were $50 pieces Of property raised IN
valuation, but the Sherwood was not IN
cluded among them. Exclusive of the
hotel business, there is an income 81
1900 or 5000. The mayor was OF the
opinion that the property was not ap-
praised to over 60 per cent. of its real
value and that it was worth at least
100000 He compared it favorahly with
the Hotel Vermont property which had
been assessed at $4,000 and there had
been no objection. The mayor moved
that the appraisal as made by the as
SCISSORS be sustained.
Alderman Dwyer was of the opinion
that there were other corners on Church
street that were more productive OF in
come than the Sherwood corner and he
added that Mr.. Murphy had developed
the property and was entitled to some
consideration on that account
Alderman Buell. took the stand that the
assessors were competent officials and
their opinion was better than that OF other
people He seconded the mayors motion.
Attorney Black stated that one should
not consider In fixing an appraisal OF
the property the character of the bust
ness done there, referring to the profits
of the saloon, which were estimated as
very large. He did not either why
the building should be compared to the
Hotel Vermont
Assessor Beaupre stated that the
Church street property was assessed
for SO front foot or $3.50 foot
for corner property. All property is
appraised at it's cash value and all of
1t on Church street is in the list at
more than so per cent. of its real
worth.
The motion of Mayor Burke that
the appraisal of the assessors be sus-
tanned was carried.
City Attorney Sherman, reporting on
what standing those who wished to
take appeal from the quadrennial APP
praisal had If they had not made
their appeal in writing read the
amendment as to appeals in the laws
of 1910, which provides that those who
would appeal must give notice in
writing to the assessors and city
clerk After this had been read, the
mayor announced that he could not |
see that John j. Flynn, who wished to
be heard on the new Lumiere property
appraisal, had any standing before the |
board of civil authority. In reply to
this Mr.. Flynn said that he thought
the law was an imposition as it really |