WEST ROXBURY PARK. 43 



as is shown by the increase of popnhation since 1878, of 

 fnlly 24 per cent., against 6 per cent, gain in the cit}" 

 proper. 



The following letters were written to the Chairman 

 of the Board of Assessors, protesting against the 

 injnstice of reducing the valuation of my I'eal estate, 

 preparatory to its being taken for public uses: 



Brookbank, Gloucester, Mass., Oct. 25, 1883. 

 Thomas Hills, Esq.: 



My Dear Sir: — In acknowledging the receipt of 

 my tax bill, as assessed on m}^ real estate for this present 

 year in Ward 2.3, I am impelled to express herein m}" 

 indignation that a certain section of my land on Walnut 

 avenue, being lot 17, within the Park area, should have 

 been cut down in valuation from $42,900 in 1874, to 

 $18,600 in 1881, or |24,400 reduction during the whole 

 time, or .f 10,000 less than in 1881. A most remarkable 

 reduction in so short a time, near a growing cit}^ 



This action in itself was not so objectionable to a tax 

 payer except that it was then immediately seized by the 

 park commissioners, and virtually confiscated; this 

 great wrong being committed for the luxurious enjoy- 

 ment of the citizens of a rich old city. You well know 

 that unimproved real estate, like mine, in the immediate 

 vicinity of any large municipality is seldom or never 

 intended to be assessed at more than half its true value. 



I therefore solemnly ignore the moral or legal right 

 of the park commissioners, acting in behalf of the city 

 of Boston, to treat my private property in this summary 

 way, regardless of my sacred rights, and I hereby enter 

 m}^ protest, declaring to you, as Chairman of the Board 



