This statement shows that a capital of $22,202,700 is already invested in over 700 miles of railroads in Massachusetts, on which there has been expended $26,712,123 57. It is estimated that railroads are now constructing or projected, which will be nearly of as great length, and require as great an amount of capital, as those already built. The following statement exhibits a view of the business done on these roads for 1845, showing the number of miles run by the different trains on the roads, the gross income and expenditures, and the rate of dividends made: In the above statements the roads marked (a) were not completed so as to be open during the whole year. Those marked (b) are now constructing, and but a small part only of them was open at all. If all had been in full operation during the whole year, the amount would have been increased in each particular. As they were, however, those whose business is specified above, show a gross amount of income of $3,426,831 80, and expenditures of $1,694,812 52. This is independent of those roads out of the state with which these roads connect. The several trains travelled 2,111,293 miles, a distance nearly equal to going twice round the world, every week! PUBLIC VALUATION, TAXES, ETC. Information on these matters cannot fail to be interesting, and much labor has been expended by Mr. Shattuck to present it so as to be clearly understood. CITY VALUATION AND TAXES. Table VIII. contains the valuation of the real and personal property of the city, the taxes assessed, and the rate in each $100 of the valuation, since 1800. TABLE VIII-PROGRESSIVE WEALTH. City Valuation of the Real and Personal Estate; the Polls; the Tax assessed; and rate per cent, for different years. NOTE. In 1842 the tax was first assessed upon the full valuation. For many years previous to that, the valuation was entered on the assessors' records at half its real value, and the taxes assessed on that amount. To present the facts uniformly in this table, the valuation has been doubled, and the rate of taxation halved, in the years before 1842. The following deductions are made from this table, showing, between specific periods, the increase of the valuation and taxes, compared with each other, and with the increase of the population : The next statement presents the increase per cent of the population, valuation, and the taxes, and the number of dollars of the valuation and These deductions show that the valuation and taxes increase in a greater ratio than the population. The great increase in the valuation of the property of Boston has led to the inquiry, how far particular estates have been affected? There is a general rise in the intrinsic value of real estate, but, in some places and sections, this rise is greater than in others. For the purpose of illustration and comparison, three estates were selected in different parts of the city, so situated as not to be specially affected in regard to their valuation, by any local improvement in their immediate neighborhood; and the valnation and taxes assessed upon them at three different periods ascertained; and the following results were obtained :— This shows that the same property was more highly valued, and paid a higher tax, in 1845 than in 1835, notwithstanding there is a vast increase in the real value of certain sections, and a vast amount of new property created; and it has been supposed that this "marking up" the property will partially account for the increase of the aggregate valuation of the city. A classification of the individual tax-payers according to the amount of tax they pay, affords a striking illustration of the progressive wealth of the city; and for this purpose the following statement was prepared by Mr. Shattuck, showing the number of tax bills, and the number of each class, at six different periods, at intervals of five years each :1820. 1825. 1830. Classes of bills. Poll tax alone,........... Under 25 dollars,. 1835. 1840. 1845. 1,852 4,523 5,777 7,546 8,700 13,105 According to this statement those who paid a poll tax, only, CITY DEBT. By a standing ordinance, the proceeds of bonds and mortgages held by the city of Boston, the sales of public lands, the balance in the treasury at the close of the year, and a special appropriation of 3 per cent of the debt, the same not being less than $50,000, is applied by the city to the payment of the principal of the debt. The interest has always been paid by taxes, or by the ordinary receipts of the city. The following statement exhibits the amount of the city debt, its increase or decrease, and the appropriations to pay the principal and the annual interest, for each year, ending May 1st, since it was first commenced, in 1823. From May 1st, 1845, to January 1st, 1846, this debt was further reduced $105,249 96, leaving it at that time, $1,058,016 66. There was then on hand, pledged to its reduction, cash $120,894 68, and bonds and mortgages $378,143 79, making the nett debt $558,978 19. CITY PROPERTY. The value of the property owned by the city, disposable and undisposable, may be estimated as in the subjoined statement; such as is marked (p) is productive, the remainder is unproductive. Common-45 acres, 1,960,200 feet, at $4 00,. "The Cradle of Liberty"-Faneuil Hall, (p). Washington Square,. City Hall, Court Square,..... Court-House,. Office of Register of Deeds and Probate,. City Building, (p)...,............. Faneuil Hall Market, (p).... Old State-House, State-street, (p). Leverett-street Jail and land attached,. 14 Engine-houses and fire apparatus,.. $7,840,800 200,000 392,040 200,000 200,000 50,000 35,000 500,000 100,000 90,000 400,000 616,217 50,000 103 Reservoirs, (36 built in 1845, costing $15,000,)....... 27,000" land, near the City Stables,... 8,940 Flats, near foot of Chestnut-street,. City Wharf, and stores on the same, (p)... Deer Island, (p)................... 600 feet on Ann-street, (p). $50,000 1,500,000 1,200,000 375,000 100,000 1,000 600,000 10,000 2,500 $14,512,557 The city has also about 92,000 feet, or 17 miles, of common sewers, of which 43,659 feet were built from 1837 to 1845. STATE VALUATION. Mr. Shattuck gives, in his appendix, a table containing the valuation affixed upon Boston by the Legislature at different periods, which has formed the basis of the state tax. As this is a matter of considerable interest, he examined the ancient valuation of the city, and ascertained its proportion of the whole state tax. Some facts on this subject are presented in this connection. The state tax, and the amount and relative proportion paid by Boston, appear thus : : This statement affords a curious illustration of the relative wealth of the city. If the state and city valuation in Mr. Shattuck's appendix be examined, there will appear considerable difference in the respective years. Comparing these valuations, and the valuations of the whole state, some important deductions are derived. The aggregate population, polls and valuation of the whole state, appear thus: The subjoined statement shows the proportion of this valuation fixed upon Boston, and the relation it has sustained to the whole state in regard to population, polls, valuation, and the state tax, at the period specified. |