Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-09
CITY COUNCIL.
TUESDAY EVENING. Marcl

TUESDAY EVENING, March 8, 1859.
= His Honor the Mayor in the Chair.
Preseut-Messrs. Ransom, Mueller, Cofflnberry
masters, Resner, Ovatt, Thompson, McLane Ford
johnson, Herriek, Weber, Rider, Hopkinson, Del
mer, Crawford
Minutes OF last meeting read and approved,
! PETITIONS.
Petition Of James Mason and thirty.six other.
relative 10 the setting of of portion of the cit,
and annexng it to the township of East Cleveland
according to bill now pending in the State Lcgis
lature-said portion to consist of the land lyins
east of Case avenue.
4 In connection with this petition Mr.. Ransom
presented the following:
Whereas, Information has been received of an
other attempt to dsmember the city and to annex
portion of its territory to the township of East
Cleveland, be it therefore
ReSoLUed, That the following remonstrance
against s1cn proceeding be adopted by this Coun-
ell, and that the Mayor be directed to forward a
copy of the same to the General Assembly of the
State aud that the Senator and Representatives of
this County be requested to use their exertions to
prevent so great an injustice to the people of this
city.
To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio
The City Council of the City of Cleveland, in be
Iyy
esty demonstrate against the petition of James
Mason and thirty six others, praying that the ter
rtory of the city, east of Case Avenue NAV be set
of to the township of East Cleveland and they re-
monstrate against granting the prayer of said pc
titon for the following reasons
FtrSt-It would be unjust to the people of said
CITY, by releasing the lands within the city of few
| large land holders, and the property of a few
wealthy individuals from taxation for city expen-
ditures, by which they are benefited in the in
creased value OF their lands as much as any other
citizens.
Second-To detach said territory would dis
member the city and destroy the proper form and
| proportions in which it is now laid out and would
misplace the large and costly edihces for school
purpoSes-erected in the vicinity of Case Ayenue
at cost OF more than twenty thousand dollars,
aud located with special reference to accommoda-
ton ofthe territory proposed to be set off from the
city.
Third. The city has incurred great expense in
improving the streets proposed to be set off, and
IN the excavation OF bitches, and in the construc
ton of an expensive sewer for the said territory
Fourth 1t is indispensable that the part of the
city proposed to be set of should continue to be
under the municipal government of city, from its
necessary connection with other parts of the city,
to be connected as branches with the large sewer
already established in the said territory as a main
sewer.
Fifth. The city of Cleveland by the construction
of Water Works has contracted an Indebtedness of
Five Hundred and fifty thousand dollars, bearing
an interest off per cent, which has to be provided
for wholly by annual taxation, and the city is fur
ther indebted IN bonds for school and other purpO-
ses IN about the sum of one hundred and twenty |
thousand dollars. All this indebtedness was Gre |
ated by the authority of the citizens residing upon
and owning the territory proposed to be set of, in
common with other citizens, and that part of the |
city is equally pledged with other parts to be tax.
ed for the payment of said debts and interest,"
And when the said petitioners propose to have
SAID territory when set Off still held liable for its
portion of the Indebtedness and interest they sug
gest no mode BY which this liability can be met by
taxation.
Can it be taxed, when in the township of East
Cleveland for this purpose, without violating the
constitutional provision, which requires taxation in
every city and township according to a uniform
rule Can it be taxed in the city of Cleveland
when it no longer remains in it And it is sub
mtted to the Legislature, whether the detachment
from city of part of its territory is not pro-
eeeding of such general nature, is required to
be done, when annexations are to be made, by
general and not by special legislation.
The applications to the Legislature will be as
numerous as the towns and cities in the State and
as common as is the desire of some citizens to es-
cape, if possible, the burden of city taxation.
SIIth. The territory proposed to be set off is
neither held or valued by its owners, for agrcul-
tural purposes, but is held as city property and
valued at city prices, and if exempted from city
taxation It will be the favored residence of the mon
led men of the city, who will derive all the advsn
tages OF the city without being obliged to bear any
part OF the burden in sustaining and supporting
them.
All Ofwhich is respectfully submitted
C. S. RANSOM
The resolution was adopted.
OF various business men in the lower part of the
city asking for the appointment of John C. Mer-
rick as bridge tender at Light House Street Bridge
Received and filed.
OWN. Day asking for the appointment of City
Sealer Received and filed.
Ofowners of property on Vineyard street, re-
monstratng against the passage, at present, of an
ordinance to grade and pave said street. as the ex
pense at this time would be unusually heavy upon
Them. Signed by ]. LOwman, l. L. Hewitt, T. NJ.
Kelly, J. B. Waring and Edm. Clark. Messrs. D.
A. Shepard Il Co. also sign such q remonstrance.
Received and filed
RESOLUTIONS.
By Mr. Rider, That the Board of City Improve
ments be instructed to place a walk across Pitts
burgh street at the termination of Miami street
Adopted.
By Mr.. Ransom, That the sum of $50 be paid to
the Orphan Asylum in accordance with the prayer
of Mrs Mittleberger. Adopted.
By Mr.. Herrick, That the Committee on Schools
be authorized to sell the Avenue School House
upon condition that said building may be used for
ward meetings and election purposes. Lost
REPORTS.
OF Special Committee to whom was referred
the matter of certain Euclid street residents who
are about to sue the city for damages from water
that they will settle for 81 200. Received and
filed.
OF Special Committee adverse to paying the ,
claim of W. N. Prentiss for extra work when he
was City Physician. Received and filed.
James Hill, Chief Engineer, presented his an
nual Report, asfollows:
Number of firemen now on duty as follows: