New Britain herald., 1917-02-03
Iown Topics

That New Britain is growing by leaps and bounds is indicated in no way better than by a comparison of grand lists. From 1906 to 1916 the grand list jumped from $25, 198,644 to $48,075,053, an increase of $22. S76, 4O9 in the last ten years. The grand list for 1906 showed an increase of $1,- 234, ,229 over the previous year. but this years increase over the previous year, amounting to $2,465.095, is S1,230,s66 more than was the gain @ decade ago. The increase of the per- sonal assessments is also remarkable. Twenty years ago the property owned by J. B. Talcott and assessed at $90,- 115 was the biggest in the city. Ten years ago P. s. McMahon, assessed for $S2,000, was the largest single taxpay- CT and Fred Beloin, who this year is the heaviest individual tax payer, assessed for $226,750, was assessed for only s57,6O0 on the 1906 list. But while there have been many changes in the assessm ents of individuals dur ing the past ten or twenty years, the almost unbelievable growth and con- seQuent increase of the factory assess ments Is a thing of wonder. Twenty years ago, Landers, Frary & Clark was assessed for only $1SO,000. Ten years ago the amount had increased to an even million. while this year 1t has been raised to $2,397.000. North & Judd, twenty years ago assessed at $ll6,oOO. was rated at $450,00O on the 1906 list. This year the figures are $l,09O,5O0. A score of years ago the American Hardware corporation old not exist, but three of the four divisions which now comprise it did. On the 1896 list the Russell & Erwin company was rated at $5ss,s0O, the largest assessment in the city. The C0rbin Cabinet Lock company was listed at $100,000 and the P. & F. :Corhdn company at $51S,00O. Com pare these figures with those of the present list where the R. & E. Is as- sessed for $1.a5s,00o; the c. c. L. at $1.607.1o0; and the P. & F. Cor bin branch at $2,4O6. 300. In 1896 the stanley Rule and Level company was taxed on 3237, 900. Ten years ago that amount had grown to $987, 900, while this year it is $2,551,900. then a small plant, was assessed on t~ $1,276, 400 and this year it has jumped to $2.263, 300. In the past ten years alone other concerns have shown re- markabie growths The New Britain Machine company assessment has Jumped from $95,000 to $526, OOO;s the National Spring Bed company from $35, 900 to $89,714; the skinner Chuck company from $77,100 to $193,00O; Traut < Hine from $157,100 to $424,- Is00:, the Union Manufacturing com pany from $177,z00 to $453.500; the Hart & Cooley company from $8O. 300 to $278,300; and the Vulcan Iron Works ( Eastern MalIeable Iron com pany) from sis7,2oo to $25o.s72. Thus, while tho city has grown won- derfufly as regards population in the past score of years. it is evident that it is to the manufactories that it's growth II dependent and 1t is the enormoqs amounts paid by these fac tories In taxes that keep the city go- 1nS: N~And 1t Is right that they mould, for it is from New Britain that they get their wealth and they should pay for it.
 While most of the local concerns have increased remarkably the assess ments Of the American Hosiery have decreased in an unusual degree. Twenty years ago this concern was assessed on $273, 900. Ten years ago the amount had increased more than four times to &1,256,00O. Tn the past ten years the property of the concern has evidently deteriorated, for this year 1t is assessed only for $500, ,000.
 Another remarkable growth in the city, as evidenced by the grand list, ID in the number of automobiles owned by residents. Twenty years ago there was not single machine m the city. In 1906 there were but sixty-six automobiles on the grand list. valued at $35.O25 Tn that year 1t was estimated that there was one au- oomopHe Tn the city to every 530 peo-
 pie. In the decade since 1906 the mum per or automobiles have increased to i,zo1, valued at $518,275, and es- tinaIeo at one to every forty five peo- pie. Ine average value of New Brit am cars m lS08 was $63O, while the average today Is but $418 reflecting 1ne large number of low priced cars on the market
 Despite the greatly increased mum per or automobiles used in the city for both pleasure and business, the number of horses owned here is practically the same as it was ten years ago. In 1906 there were 79S
 horses Tn the city and today the mum
 Der totals 7S7. That the price of
 horse hesh has advanced with the years IS shown by the fact that the
 horses owned in 1906 were valued at
 only $os'o5o, while today a few less 1n number are valued at $72,375.
 The complaint made by E. s. Hart to the board of relief. declaring that land valued at s9,7oO and assessed to him, has been owned by the Stan ley Works for the past ten years but not recorded, recalls the conditions