USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 140
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The valuation of the real and personal property in Brooklyn for the year 1881, and for 1880, aggregated as follows:
1881.
1880.
Real estate.
.$240,128,905
$223,620,277
Personal property.
15,137,040
11,215,704
Inc. in 1881. $16,508,628 3,921,246
Total. $255,265,945
$234,836,071
$20,429,874
This increase in the value of real estate was owing, in part, to the erection of new buildings. The amount thus gained in the years about which we are writing was $4,861,- 600, the greatest gain from this cause in any year since 1873, when the amount assessed was $5,087,200; the average an- nual amount for the years 1874-1880 was $3,487,100. The further increase on real estate is from the assessment of two classes of property, before that time permitted to be exempt, but which the Board of Assessors for this year decided were not, by any law, entitled to exemption; and they, therefore, assessed the same. One of these belongs to the lessees of the lands of the Brooklyn Benevolent Society (otherwise known as the Heaney estate). This Society was incorpo- rated in the year 1845; the next year the Legislature declared by an Act, tbat its real and personal estate "shall remain free from taxation so long as the revenues therefor shall be disposed of according to the directions of the acts of incor- poration." This property passed into the hands of lessees, and it was generally believed that the exemption we have referred to extended to the interests of these lessees, -inter- ests which are large, consisting of numerous valuable build- ings. But the assessors, for the years about which we are writing, took another view of the matter, insisting that the exemption did not extend to these lessees; and, as we have said, they were assessed and taxed, adding thereby consider- able to the treasury of the city-about $11,090. Some of the lessees, however, resisted, and commenced suits to test the legality of these assessments. These suits were tried in the Circuit of the Supreme Court, and decided in favor of the assessors. An appeal was taken to the General Term, and again decided in their favor, and the case again appealed to the Court of Appeals. The assessment of the other class of property to which we have referred, brought up an exceed- ingly interesting question, for it consisted of parsonages- the residences of pastors of churches. It was long claimed, and the claim was acquiesced in, that the parsonage was in- cluded with church buildings and lands, and the whole ex- empt from taxation ; but a critical examination of the stat- ute which declared the exemption, showed that it extends to "every building for public worship," *
* * " and the several lots whereon such building is situated;" but not upon lots upon which such buildings for public worship do not stand. Therefore, the Board of Assessors decided that this language was not applicable to the residences of ministers, and assessed all such in the city. The amount of property thus added was $426,770, and the tax thereon about $10,000.
The doubts arising as to the assessment of scrip called " certificates of indebtedness," issued by corporations and the gas companies, were removed for the future by an amended act of the charter passed April, 1881.
Local Assessments .- There was another kind of taxation which, in past years, pressed ruinously upon property owners in Brooklyn, which, however, had almost ceased at the time of which we are writing. This was the imposition of assess- ments, on the property of citizens, for local improvements, such as parks and other improvements. This class of taxa- tion amounted, in 1874, to $1,703,614, besides the tax levy of $7,821,509 of that year, which did not include assessments for sewers, which are laid in the Department of City Works.
Prospect Park Assessment .- The Board of Assessors, on the 30th of November, 1881, levied the fourth annual equal installment, amounting to $33,556.79, of the "unpaid
557ª
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
amounts of the assessment heretofore laid upon a district of assessment for benefits of lands taken for Prospect Park." This levy is pursuant to the provisions of the law of 1878. This amount is to be levied annually for thirty-four years, from January 1, 1878.
Equalization of State Taxes .- By the rules of law it is made the duty of the State Board of Equalization of Taxes to examine, once a year, the assessments of real estate in each county, and so adjust, by adding to or deducting from, the valuation fixed by the local assessors, so that all shall bear the same relation to the true value, and thereby secure a just distribution 'of the State tax. For many years it was claimed for the counties of New York and Kings that injus- tice had been done them by imposing upon those cities an undue share of the State tax, and efforts were made to have the same corrected. This matter was ably taken up by Mr. John Truslow, in 1881-2, while President of the Department of Assessments. At the request of a committee of the Board of Supervisors, he appeared before the Board of Equaliza- tion, at Albany, this year, and urged the removal of the evil. He had often been before the Board for the same pur- pose, without success, and the result was the same this year. The injustice continues, due to a determination that the rural districts shall have the advantage of the cities. This they easily secure; for the cities rarely, in any year, have more than one or two representatives in the Board, the mem- bership of which is ten. At this time-in 1881-2-there were no representatives of the two great cities in the misnamed Board of Equalization; and therefore these two cities, con- taining only about one-third of the population of the State, are compelled to pay about 56 per cent. of the whole State tax.
1882 .- For the year ending November 30, 1882, the valua- tion of the taxable real and personal property was, in the aggregate, as follows :-
1882.
1881. $240,130,905
Inc. of '81. $24,273,112
Real estate .$264,404,017
Personal property 19,334,300
15,137,040 4,197,260
Real and Personal $283,738,317 $255,267,945 $28,470,372
Of this personal property-$4,950, 760 in 1882, and $4,357,320 in 1881-the capital of certain corporations, was decided to be exempt from State taxes in the city of Brooklyn, because especially taxed at Albany for State purposes.
Real Estate .- The increase of assessments of real estate from those of 1881 is unusually large, amounting to $24,273,- 112. This is attributable to several causes; one of these causes is the number and value of the new buildings, which will be shown hereafter. Another cause-and one that is very interesting to property owners-the actual enhancement of values in many parts of Brooklyn. Still another cause is a correction of the valuation of previous years, so as to have all assessments bear a just relation to each other.
The following is the number of new buildings erected in Brooklyn during the ten years ending June 1, 1882, and their assessed value:
Buildings erected in 1873, 1,920, assessed value of the same, $5,078,200; 1874, 1,786, assessed value, $4,251,700; 1875, 1,469, assessed value, $3,617,300; 1876, 1,506, assessed value, $3.745,- 100; 1877, 1,270, assessed value, $3,349,300; 1878, 1,076, assessed value, $3,067,300; 1879, 1,125, assessed value, $2,958,- 100; 1880, 1,106, assessed value, $3,420,800; 1881, 1,207, assessed value, $4,861,600; 1882, 1,693, assessed value, $6,390,- 690.
Department of Arrears, 1878 .- A statement of the affairs of this Department for the year ending Nov. 30, 1878, shows that " under the present law relating to sales for taxes and
assessments, the expense is enormous, in comparison with what it should properly be, compared with the benefits de- rived therefrom. This is, in a large degree, due to the fact that no sale for taxes has been made in this department since the sale for taxes and water rates for 1872. There are now (November 30, 1878), subject to sale, taxes and water rates for the years 1873-4-5-6, together with numerous assessments.
It is estimated that the expense involved in making such sales would not be less than $175,000. For the sale of tax and water rates for one year alone it would amount to $30,- 000, or $5,000 more than the whole salary expense of this de- partment for the year 1879, when, says Rufus L. Scott, Esq., Registrar of Arrears for 1878, "one year's sales should not involve an expense of over $2,000. As illustrative of the workings of the present law," continues Mr. Scott, "I will briefly refer to a few facts attending the sale for taxes and water rates of 1872. There were 7,115 parcels advertised; the expense of advertising alone was $28,460. Only 35 parcels were purchased, realizing the sum of $3,758.62; all the rest was purchased by the city; and the whole expense for the time being borne by the city, except for the 35 parcels, involving an expense of $140; and excepting a small amount paid by owners of property between the time of first advertising and the sale. Another question of importance to thecity is, what shall be done with the taxes and assessments on a vast amount of unimproved property, whereon the same exceeds both the assessed and real value of the property, and which property has been practically abandoned by the owners? Of the $10,018,625.64. principal of taxes, water rates and assess- ments in arrears, several millions are so situated that they must prove a total loss to the city, unless some compromise can be made with the owners of the property."
The unpaid taxes, assessments and water rates, on Decem- ber 1, 1878, received for collection by the Department of Arrears, were as follows:
Taxes of 1876 and previous years. $4,440,676.08
Taxes of 1877. 1,984,077.28
Water rates.
$6,424,753.36 384,630.67
Assessments for street improvements, including sewerage, opening and widening streets, &c. 3,209,241.61
Total amount of principal unpaid Dec 1, 1878 .. $10,018,625.64
Unpaid principal as above. $10,018,625.64 Ten per cent. default and interest. 1,001,862.56
Estimated aggregate of collection unpaid. $11,020,488.20
1881 .- The total amount of collections during the year ending November 30, 1880, was $2,121,416.70; total amount of collections during the year ending November 30, 1881, was $2,975,961.93; difference in the amount of 1881 over that of 1880, $854,545.23.
Amount of taxes, water rates and assessments cancelled during the year ending November 30, 1881, by acts of the Legislature, orders of Supreme and City Courts, Common Council, Board of Assessors and Board of City Works: taxes, $929.08; water rates, $929.86; assessments, $60,604.94; total. $62,463.88.
The amount of arrears transferred by the Collector of Taxes and Assessments and the Registrar of Water Rates, for the year ending November 30, 1881. was $1,690,086.74; amount received as payment upon all arrears in this department dur- ing the year, $2,975,961.93. There was a decrease in the amount of arrears in this department since the last state- ment of November 30, 1880, of $1,285,875.19.
558ª
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Redemption Fund Account .- November 30, 1880, balance to credit, $19,604.78; amount of collections to November 30, 1881 (inclusive), $42,936.50; total, $62,541.28.
Warrants drawn on City Treasurer, $38,794.48; November 30, 1881, balance to credit, $23,746.80.
1882 .- Total amounts of collections during the year ending Nov. 29, 1881, $2,976,622.78; total amount of collections dur- ing the year ending Nov. 29, 1882, $2,615,188.57; difference of 1881 over 1882, $361,434.21.
Amount of taxes, water rates and assessments cancelled during the year ending November 29, 1882, by acts of the Legislature, orders of Supreme and City Courts, Common Council, Board of Assessors and Board of City Works, not including cancellations made under section 1, chapter 348, laws of 1882: Taxes, $49,168.44; water rates, $1,907.25; as- sessments, $112,908.26; total, $163,983.95. Amount of arrears transferred by the collector of taxes and assessments, and the Registrar of Water Rates, during the year ending Nov. 29,1882, was $1,435,893.92.
Redemption Fund Account .- Nov. 30, 1881, balance to credit, $24,058.63; amount of collections to Nov. 29, 1882 (inclusive), $41,544.12, making $65,603.05.
Warrants drawn on the Treasury, $38,118.62; Nov. 29, 1883, balance to credit, $27,484.43.
Department of Police and Excise .- As we have already · referred to the ordinance affecting this department, and its official organization, and as a general history appears in another part of this work (pages 557-562), we shall only give a brief statistical history of it, which cannot fail to interest all classes of people.
We shall first give the number of day and night posts in the thirteen precincts, and the eighth and ninth sub-pre- cincts, into which the city was divided, on and before Nov. 30, 1878, with area patrol, estimated population of the same, and number of officers to population, during the year end- ing Nov. 30, 1878.
PRECINCT.
Day Post.
Nig't
No. of Post. Registered Voters.
Population of Preeincts.
Officers to Population.
First.
9
18
9,732
49,633
1 to 1,012
Second.
8
15
5,629
28.707
1 to 755
Third
10
19
11,376
58,017
1 to 1,017
Fourth.
8
17
10,482
53,458
1 to 1,137
Fifth.
11
22
12,467
63,581
1 to
993
Sixth.
7
13
11,040
56,304
1 to 1,373
Seventh
6
11
4,979
25,392
1 to
875
Eighth
5
10
5,738
29,263
1 to 1,009
Ninth
8
15
4,244
21,644
1 to
491
Tenth.
7
14
7,713
39,336
1 to
959
Eleventh
5
10
3,915
20,166
1 to
695
Twelfth.
6
12
3,250
16,575
1 to
534
Thirteenth
4
8
4,421
32,547
1 to
939
Eighth Sub.
2
4
745
3,799
1 to
252
Ninth Sub.
5
8
1,993
10,164
1 to
406
Totals.
101
196
97,724
498,586
1 to
802
It will be seen from this table that the night posts are, in most instances, double those of the day posts.
The area of square miles in the city, is 20 9-10; miles of street in the city, 546 19-100; average length of each day post, 5 2-5 miles; average length of each night post, 2 4-5 miles.
1878 .- From the report of GEN. J. JOURDAN. President of the Department of Police, we take the number of arrests made during the year ending November 30, 1878, January, 1,779; February, 1,585; March, 2,148; April, 2,105; May, 2,167; June, 2,120; July, 2,477; August, 2,539; September, 2,374; October, 2,245; November, 1,887, a number much larger than
that of the corresponding months of previous year. The amount of fines imposed upon policemen for violation of rules during the year ending November 30, 1878, in the aggregate amounted to 2,741. The number of licenses granted, and the amount received for the same and paid into the city treasury from December 1, 1877, to November 27, 1878, were as follows: First class - hotel, inn or tavern, - 1,644; amount of license, at $50 each, amounting to $82,200. Second class - ale and beer, 837, at $30 each, amounting to $25,110. Third class - Storekeepers and druggists, 355, at $30 each, amounting to $10,650. Total number of licenses, 2.836; total amount received for licenses, $117,960. The re- port to which we have alluded speaks in the highest terms of the mounted squad of the Police Department, consisting of ten officers.
"The Telegraph Bureau is one of very great importance to the department, all its appointments being as perfect as it is possible to make them. (See note, page 558.)
More recently the telephone has largely taken the place of the telegraph, by which verbal communications are made throughout the whole city, and to New York.
For the year ending November 30, 1881, the total number of the police force during the year was 642, viz., 477 patrol- men, 45 on duty at the Justices' Courts, the ferries and other public places. This reduced the patrol force to 432, and, with other reductions, giving one patrolman to every 1,568 of the inhabitants. At the time of which we are writing, the regular police force had existed 31 years, having been established in 1850. Seven years later the Metropolitan Police Department was established. (See pages 486 and 557.) General Jourdan, in his annual report for 1881, says : "The population of Brooklyn in 1875 was 484,616; in 1880, 566,689, showing an increase of 16 per cent. The number of buildings in 1875 was 53,234; in 1880, 76,865; in- crease of 44 per cent. Police force in 1875 was 589; in 1880, 633-an increase of 7 per cent. During the present year, 1,730 permits for the erection of new buildings have been granted by the Department of Buildings. * * The * establishment of straight posts was effected in February, 1881, and has given the business people of the principal streets of the city additional protection.
Arrests .- From December 1, 1880, to December 1, 1881, 28,838 arrests were made by the police. In addition to these, 228 arrests were made upon warrants issued by the Commis- sioner of the Health Department, and 153 notices of com- plaints were served by those officers. During the same time, 727 violations of the corporation ordinances were reported to the corporation counsel for prosecution; and 773 reports of dirty streets, and the failure of the contractor to remove ashes, garbage, etc., were made to the Department of City Works .*
"During the year 1881, 14,522 males and 4,757 females were provided with lodgings at the station houses; 1,719 lost children (of which 692 were girls) were restored to their parents or guardians, or delivered to the care of institutions established for their protection."
* The word " street," as construed in the city ordinances, includes "avenues, sidewalks, gutters and public alleys;" and the words " pub- lic places," include "parks, piers, docks and wharves, water and open spaces adjacent thereto; also, public yards, grounds and areas, and all open spaces between buildings and streets, and in view of such streets; the word " ashes" includes cinders, coal and everything that usually remains after fires; the word " rubbish " includes all the loose and de- cayed material and dirt-like substance that attends use or decay, or which accumulates from building, storing or cleaning; the word "gar- bage " includes every accumulation of both animal or vegetable mat- ter, liquid or otherwise, that attends the preparation, decay and deal- ing in or storage of meats, fish, fowl or vegetables; and " dirt " means natural soil, earth and stone.
559ª
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Perhaps no city in the nation has more benevolent, practi- cal and effectual facilities for protecting lost children than Brooklyn, and no city is more watchful over the members of its police force, or more rigidly enforces all rules of disci- cipline. As an evidence of this, during the year of which we are writing, 837 complaints for violations of rules, neglect of duty or misconduct, were filed against members of the police force, most of these complaints being made by the command- ing officers; a few, however were made by the citizens. In 490 of these cases the complaint was sustained and penalty imposed; in 27 of them the penalty imposed was dismissal from the force; of the whole number of complaints made, 322 were dismissed for want of sufficient evidence.
An interesting matter connected with the police force, is the immense amount of property received by its mem- bers from persons who have gained possession of it either fraudulently or feloniously, or which had been lost by the owners; thus, there was delivered to the Property Clerk of this department during the year ending November 29, 1881, property, the estimated value of which was $118,047.65, of which $117,272.36 was returned to the proper owners. The estimated value of property remaining in the hands of the Property Clerk, on December 1, 1880, was $11,598 99. On December 1, 1881, there was in his hands property valued at $12,374.28.
Steam Boiler Inspectors .- Among the most important officers attached to this department are the steam boiler inspectors. It is the duty of these officers to thoroughly inspect all steam boilers in the city, to test them hydro- statically and otherwise, to condemn and cause to be re- moved all defective boilers, steam gauges, safety-valves, stop-valves, gauge cocks, and leaky joints. How well the officers discharged their duty, is evidenced by the fact that they examined during this year 1,327 steam boilers; tested hydrostatically 1,153, of which 24 were con- demned and removed, and new ones ordered in their places; 159 steam boilers were found defective: 231 steam gauges; 119 defective safety-valves; 43 stop valves; 154 gauge cocks, and 300 leaky joints. As a result, no accident of any kind whatever occurred from the use of steam during the years 1880 and 81.
The Police Pension Fund, on December 1, 1881, amounted to $35,570,68. The Police Department deposited with tlie City Treasurer, from December 1, 1880, to December 1, 1881, the following amounts: For excise licenses, $206,800; for salary account, $2,116.58, for general account (horses sold), $280.10; total, $209,196.68.
Board of Excise .- During the twelve months ending December 1, 1881, the Excise Commissioners granted licenses as follows: First-class licenses, 1,453, at $100. amounting to $145,300; first-class licenses, 8, at $250 each, amounting to $2.000; second-class licenses, 172, at $50 each, amounting to $8,600; third-class licenses, 1,019, at $50 each, amounting to $50,900, making a total of 2,651 licenses, for which the amount of $256,800 was received and deposited with the City Treasurer.
There were 138 complaints for the violation of the excise law, made by the police, 45 of which were dismissed. There were 11 licenses revoked, and 61 places where spirituous liquors were supposed to be sold, placed under surveillance. There was at the end of the year about $23,000, less the sum of $4,283.23, at the credit of this department.
1882 .- "The necessity for increasing the number of policemen in the city," says the President's annual report, "and for establishing a river and harbor police service, for the protection of the property along our water fronts, becomes more and more urgent as our population increases.
There were 2,013 vacant houses in various parts of the city reported to the police by residents taking their summer va- cation. To these the police were instructed to give their special attention. The wisdom of this course is demonstrated by the fact that not one of the said houses were entered, or a dollar stolen from them. The number of persons arrested during this year was $27,758; a report made to the Mayor showed there were 4,987 different trades in the city; 10,229 dogs, and 331 places where fireworks were sold. The num- ber of lodgers at the various station-houses during the year was 20,140, of whom 15,281 were males, and 4,859 were females. This was due, in a large degree, to the cheap lodg- ing-houses which had been established throughout the city, and the discontinuance of lodging-rooms at the First pre- cinct station-house. The influx of professional tramps from the rural districts on the first appearance of winter, furnishes a large proportion of the station-house lodgers during the cold months of the year."
The number of lost children taken charge of by the police in the various precincts of the city during the year, was 1,915, of which 1,104 were boys, and 811 girls. The Depart- ment uses every means at its command to discover the parents or guardians of such children; failing in this, it transfers them to the care of institutions established for that purpose.
Referring to the alarming increase in crime among the juvenile classes, Gen. Jourdan makes the excellent sugges- tion that efforts on the part of public-spirited men to estab- lish an institution in Brooklyn for the especial care of chil- dren, should receive the hearty co-operation of the city gov- ernment.
The estimated value of purloined or lost property in the custody of this department, December 1, 1881, was $11,455.42; the estimated value of property received from officers con- nected with the various precincts of the city was $95,884.82; making a total of $107,340.24. The value of property deliv- ered to owners, or persons authorized to receive it, amount ed to $96,296.16, leaving a balance of property in the hands of the department of the estimated value of $11,044.08. As there were no claimants for this property, it is presumed it was brought from other places-a startling disclosure as to the insecurity of property.
During 1882, telephonic communication was effected with the various station houses; complaints against the police force for violations of the rules, neglect of duty or miscon- duct, 618, of which 395 were sustained, 223 dismissed; 19 officers dismissed, 4 of whom appealed by certiorari from the decision of dismissal; inspection revealed 1,413 defective steam-boilers.
This year was submitted the first report of the Matron con- nected with the department. The employment of a Matron was then a new project; and much doubt had been felt as to its utility. But at the end of Mrs. H. F. Crocker's first term, Police Justices F. B. Fisher, Andrew Walsh and Garrett Bergen, in letters addressed to the Mayor and to the Matron, expressed their unqualified approbation of the office and the acts of its incumbent, The Matron's duty is to care for those females who are brought to court, either under arrest or sen- tence. Mrs. Crocker thankfully acknowledged the efforts of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, on "the Hill," in aid of her work.
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