FIRST  BOSTON  OBJECT  LESSON

65
buildings,  and  the  city  lose  nothing  in  taxes  from
that  locality?
A  Tax  That  Defeats  Itself
Query.  Do  not  the  above  questions  indicate  not
only  that  the  taxation  of  buildings  has  defeated  itself
by  discouraging  the  increase  of  buildings  to  be  taxed,
but  also  that  the  city  is  deprived  of  a  much  larger
revenue  by  thus  preventing  the  large  increase  of  land
Value  in  the  whole  neighbourhood  adjoining,  which
Would  follow  the  erection  of  eight  million  dollars
Worth  of  buildings  on  Winter  Street?
Winter  Street  is  the  centre  of  the  highest  land  values
of  Boston.  It  is  485  J  feet,  or  less  than  one-tenth  of  a
mile,  in  length.  It  has  two  subway  stations  of  different ­
  lines,  one  at  the  Washington  Street  and  one
at  the  Tremont  Street  end.  The  city  is  spending  eight
or  ten  millions  for  these  subways,  besides  other  millions ­
  annually  to  provide  shopping  facilities  for  a
million  people.  The  result  here  is  $8,000,000  worth  of
land  value  for  the  benefit  mainly  of  the  land  owners  of
Winter  Street,  and  $600,000  worth  of  shopping  accommodations ­
  for  the  people.  Is  the  result  pleasing  or
Profitable?