increasing the ability to pay, operates to decrease the rea! burden of taxation imposed on other property of a more tangible and accessible character.

It is also to be noted, that if the new plan of assessing personal property recommended by the State board of commissioners, and which is to be presented this winter to the Legislature in the form of a definite code, is adopted, namely, doing away with the direct assessment of individuals for personal property, and substituting therefor, as an equivalent, the assessment of individuals on a valuation of three times the rent or rental value of the premises by them occupied, the amount or equivalent of such property returned for assessment and taxation will be very greatly increased; and the financial resources of the city be thereby correspondingly augmented.

INCREASE OF NEW YORK IN POPULATION AND WEALTH.

In estimating the prospective ability of the city of New York to sustain and liquidate indebtedness the recent and prospective increase of the city in population and wealth constitutes an element of not a little importance. Thus, from 1820 to the year preceding the outbreak of the civil war, 1860, the average rate of increase for each successive period of five years, was 28 per cent; a continuous rate of growth, probably without precedent, in any country. During the period of the war, or from 1860 to 1865, the population of the city decreased 94 per cent. Since 1865, or during the five years from 1865 to 1870 inclusive, the gain in the population was 2634 per cent; thus indicating that the average rate of increase experienced prior to 1860, was again likely to be approximated.

The increase in the valuation of the property of the city and county for assessment purposes, during the ten years. from 1860 to 1870, was 822 per cent.

The present increase in the value of the real estate of the whole city for assessment purposes, is estimated by experts to average about five per cent per annum.

RELATION OF TAXATION TO POPULATION AND PROPERTY.

It is also interesting to note the relation which taxation sustains to population and property in New York and some of the other leading cities of the country. The following data are derived from the most authentic sources.

City of New York. Population, 1870, 952,292; aggregate State, city, county and school taxes, 1870, $25,403,859; special taxes as estimated by officials, $2,000,000; total taxation, $27,403,859. Taxation per capita, $29.08.

Boston. Population, 1870, 250,526; aggregate of all taxation, 1870, $9,050,420; taxation per capita, $36.

Chicago. Population, 1870, 298,977; total taxation, general and special, 1870, $9,256,333; taxation per capita, $30. But as in the opinion of some experts, the burdens of taxation in any community are properly represented by the relation which the aggregate of the annual levy of taxes sustains to the value of property assessed, attention is further asked to the following comparisons:

In Boston and Philadelphia real estate is returned for assessment at nearly its full marketable value. On this basis, the relation of taxation to real estate valuation in these two cities would be as follows:

Boston. Real estate valuation, 1870, $365,593,100; aggregate taxation, 1870, $9,050,420; ratio of taxation to real property valuation, 1 to 40.

Philadelphia. Real estate valuation, 1871, $491,844,096; aggregate taxation, 1871, $9,026,753; ratio of taxation to real property valuation, 1 to 54.

Cincinnati. Real estate valuation as made anew for 1871, $123,427,888; aggregate taxation, 1871, $4,004,035; ratio of taxation to real property valuation, 1 to 30.

In the city of New York on the other hand on valuation of real estate acknowledged to be only about 40 per cent of the real property, the ratio of aggregate taxation to real property valuation would have been in 1870, as 1 to 27; but

:

if the valuation of the real estate of New York were advanced in proportion to the value taken for assessment purposes in Boston and Philadelphia, the ratio, instead of being as 1 to 27, would be much more favorable than in either of the cities above mentioned, or in the approximative ratio of at least 1 to 65.

It is therefore evident, that in comparison with the actual accumulated and tangible wealth of the city of New York, any liability, on account of indebtedness, which the city has yet incurred, or is prospectively likely to incur, is very insignificant; and, with a reasonably honest, efficient and economical government, such as public opinion and legislative authority, guided by recent experiences, seems certain to compel, there can be no good reason why the interest bearing debt obligations of the city should not be regarded as the most desirable of investments.

I am, yours, most respectfully,

DAVID A. WELLS,

Chairman Board of Commissioners for revision of the laws of the State of New York, relating to the assessment and collection of taxes.

To Hon. JOHN T. HOFFMAN, Governor of the State of New York.

I have also received a letter, dated 29th December, 1871, from Hon. Andrew H. Green, Comptroller of the city of New York, in which he says:

'Immediate legislation is essential for the maintenance of the credit of the city by the meeting of the obligations maturing early in January and to make provision for past claims which are due and which are of pressing importance. Equally important is prompt legislation to make provision for the maintenance of the government of 1872.

'As the law appears now (chap. 583, sec. 3 of 1871,) no authority exists to make appropriations until May next,

leaving the four first months of the year 1872 without any provision by which payments of necessary expenses for these months can be made.'

I respectfully ask your immediate attention to those suggestions, and such early legislation with reference to them as may be necessary and proper.2

29

JOHN T. HOFFMAN."

January 3. To the Assembly: Transmitting the report of the Commissioners of Quarantine in response to his request that they examine into alleged abuses; and the answer of the health officer thereto. For report see Assembly Document, No. 10.

January 11. To the Assembly: Transmitting the annual report of the Adjutant General; also a letter received from Col. I. C. Woodruff of the United States Engineer Corps, asking the passage of an act giving consent of the State to the purchase by the United States of a certain tract of land in Clinton County for light house purposes, also the draft of the act proposed by him.30

29 Chapter 1, passed January 10, authorized the comptroller of the city of New York to pay bonds falling due in January, 1872, by funds to be raised on the issue of new revenue bonds.

Chapter 9, passed January 30, created a board composed of city officers, whose duty it was to estimate the amount which would probably be needed to defray the expenses of the public business in each department and the purpose thereof from the 1st day of January to the 30th day of April, 1872, both inclusive, and appropriations were to be made by city authorities for the payment of such expenses.

The bill was approved by the Governor, who on the same day it was signed sent to the Legislature a message containing some observations on the measure (see special message of January 30), and recommending an amendatory law correcting certain specified defects. Thereupon the Legislature enacted chapter 29, on the 9th of February, which among other things limited the amount of expenses which might be estimated by the Board created by the original act to $7,500,000, and authorized the comptroller to borrow that amount.

30 The Legislature responded to this request by enacting chapter 369, on the 25th of April, which ceded to the United States jurisdiction over certain described land in Clinton County as a site for the light house keeper's dwelling.

January 15. To the Senate: Transmitting the report of a majority of the Commissioners appointed to revise the statutes.

January 15. To the Assembly: Transmitting the annual report of the commissioners of pilots.

January 19. To the Assembly: Transmitting the annual reports of the Lenox Library and of the Commissioners of Quarantine and the health officer of the port of New York.

January 22. To the Assembly:

"EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, January 22, 1872.

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"I transmit to you a memorial from the Stockbridge tribe of Indians now dwelling in the State of Wisconsin. They are the remnant of the once powerful tribe known as Mohegans, which, at the discovery of this country, occupied a large territory on the Hudson river.

They represent that the title to their lands in this State has never been extinguished by purchase. If they have any just claim upon the State, it should be promptly adjusted. I recommend an inquiry on your part into the subject.

JOHN T. HOFFMAN."

January 30. To the Legislature:

Approving a bill entitled "An act relating to appropriations and deficiencies in the city and county of New York, and the audit and payment of Salaries and claims in said city." [See note 29.]

"I have done this with reluctance. The bill appears to me to be faulty in its structure; yet not so perhaps as to preclude arriving at an intelligent construction of its intent. It is, however, seriously erroneous in principle. It provides not only for the audit and payment of claims ac