44 HISTORY OF THE 



of Assessors, that I will never accept payment for this 

 Land based npon 3 7-8 cents per foot, which was sold 

 in 1872 at 18 3-4 cents, a reduction of about 500 per 

 cent. Meantime the city has been constantly increasing 

 in wealth and population. 



This property was bonded to the city for ,f80,000, at 

 the urgent request of an agent, to Jan. 1, 1880. On 

 the 16th day of July, 1873, I oftcred for the adjoining 

 lot of land one hunch'cd thousand dollars, or ten cents 

 a foot for a portion of it, say about two acres, which 

 the city reduced the valuation of to f 42,G00, and after- 

 wards seized it at $48,400, being less than one-half the 

 sum I offered for it, and both prices were refused by 

 the owner. The city offered only 4 cents a foot. If I 

 were a bankrupt, I might be obliged, as some other 

 owners in the park area may be, to submit to this mean 

 usage, without the power of resistance. Is the city 

 willing to take the advantage of these poor owners, and 

 call "might right," or will it adopt for its action the 

 more noble and praiseworthy policy of paying for the 

 lands, now wanted for luxury, a fair, equitable price? 



I have written two letters to the park commissioners, 

 explaining more fully my views in regard to this matter, 

 which you can see if you so desire. 



Having paid my taxes promptly these last forty years, 

 I should be glad to do so now; but to pay on such an 

 undervaluation would be construed as approving, or 

 quietly submitting to this treatment; therefoi-e I must 

 withhold payment until I am fairly treated, and all my 

 rights preserved. 



Kespectfully yours, 



Samuel E. Sawyer. 



