The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-27
ALLIES TOOK $4,000 PRISONERS;
BULGARIANS OFFER TO QUIT WAR
SOME REDUCTIONS
ON APPRAISALS
Largest Was $4,000 on Plant of the
Barre Gas Co.--Some individuals
Got Lower Valuations.

| Reductions aggregGting $l9,500 were
made by the board of civil authority last
| evening as the result of appeals taken by
local property owners from the quadren-
nial appraisals of the board of assessors.
The largest reduction was granted the
Barre Gas Co., which appealed from an
appraisal that changed the valuation of
its Depot square plant and mains from
$4,000 to $4,000. Two appeals were
taken on home properties and in each
instance reductions of $500 were granted.
In notable instances the assessors gave
as their reason for jumping the apprais
ais the claim that the valuations made
by them four years ago were too low.
! The board convened at o'clock in the
court room at city hall and after Justice
of the Peace James Mackay had admin
istered the oath TO each of the IL mem
hers present, Frank G. Rowland was
elected chairman. There were only six
appeals, but no suspicion of snap judg-
ment can attach TO the action of the
board, as nearly an hour was devoted to
the consideration of each case. All six
appellants had complied with the law,
which requires written notice Of a desire
to appeal, with a copy served on the as-
SCISSORS as well as the city clerk. Alder
man Stephen Rizzi, who appealed on the
! valuation Of his North Main street prop
| erty, filed a copy with the clerk, it de-
veloped, but through misunderstanding,
he did not leave copy in the office of
the assessors Although the assessors
entered protest against the stand, the
board voted TO hear Mr.. Rizzi
Claiming that the appraisal of its coal
sheds, silos, Office, house, etc, on Smith
street, as fixed by the assessors, was
| 81 300 too high, the d. NJ Miles Coal Co,
asked for a reduction from $4,000 to ST.
| 700, the latter being the figure at which
il was appraised four years ago. The
assessors explained that their appraisal
in 1914 was too low. ID. M. Miles spoke
for the coal company and in comparing
the valuation with other appraisals said
that the figure inserted by the assessors
was unfair. The fact was cited that the
buildings, with the exception Of the silos.
and especially the so-called old sheds,
where the appraisal was raised, are rap
idly depreciating in value. Assessor A.
NJ. Rossi quoted Mr.. Miles az saying that
he would sell the property for $4,000, and
then assured the representative of the
company that he had found a purchaser
for him. To which Mr.. Miles replied
that his purchaser could have the deed
any time Later, when the case was con
sidered by the board, A. A. Sargent
moved that the appraisal be reduced TO
81, 800 W. D. Smith seconded, and the
motion prevailed.
Thereafter the chairman was frequent
ly moved to spur the board to action, as
there was tendency to dilate at length
on matters that already had been thor
oughly considered In the case of Mrs,
G. L. Bolster, the chairman threatened to
pass to the next case if his colleagues did
not act. Through her agent, A. +, Camp
bell Mrs Bolster protested against rais
ing the appraisal of her Granite street
steam plant from ST 900 to $4,000.
Again the assessors claimed a mistake
on their part four years ago, but Mr.,
Campbell declared that the property, by
reason Of the fact that the machinery is
very old is depreciating rapidly. A re-
duction Of $4,000 was granted on mo-
tion made by j. A. Healy and seconded
by James Brown The request for re-
duction from 81 900 TO 5000 on the Depot
square building occupied as saloon was
dismissed on a motion made by d. J.
Sullivan and seconded by A. A. Sargent.
1t was argued that the increased revenue
justified the increase, although a mem
Der of the board pointed out that the
location, which is taxed with adjoining
property, accounts for the increased rent
.sal, and not the building
In appealing from an increase of $500
on his North Main street home, Stephen
Rizzi cited the disadvantages of living in
neighborhood clouded with dust and
smoke and infested by locomotives He
told the board that he had to expend
nearly $500 on the property when the
city laid paving, and in closing he alleged
that the assessors increased the yalua-
tion from $500 to $4,000 because he had
objected In che city council to paying
them salaries aggregating $72 a week for
SO long a period. He asked for reduc-
tion to $4,000. On the motion of Mr.
Smith, seconded by Il. A. Glysson, the
appraisal was reduced $500.
Supt. j. M. Nelson, in appealing from
an increase of $4,000 on the Barre Gas
Co.'s property, asked for return to the
old appraisal of $4,000 and then sub
mitte1 figures to show that the company,
after meeting the requirements of the
franchise by paying the city 2 per cent
of its gross earnings, is not reaping any
dividends The sentiment that the com
pany is not moneymaker seemed to
obtain, and while the assessors cited the
report of an expert accountant who
placed valuation Of $ii25O0O on the
plant, it was explained that the report
was made for promotion purposes. Mr.
Healy's motion to grant a reduction Of
$4,000 was seconded by Mr.. Brown and
carried.
w. j. Clapp, in asking that the ap-
praisal of his Washington street home
be reduced from $4,000 to $4,000, where
it rested four years ago, said that he had
not improved the property, beyond paint
ing it. He compared mis- house and loca.
tion with other homes and thought the
assessors had increased the valuation un-
fairly. Others seemed to concur, for Mr..
Clapp's request was granted on the mo-
tion of Mr.. Smith, seconded by Mr.. Sar-
gent.
|. Three parcels Of realty were mentioned
by H. F. Cutler in his appeal He said
the appraisals of 1914 were not changed
this year, but that absence from the city
four years ago prevented him from carry
$1,000 .,,.,.