, 1875-04-04

There is an apprehension gaining ground
that the city is in danger Of being mulcted in
an enormous sum,-one that will throw the
recent condemnation damages of the Colehou1
tract into the shade. In that case it was
Hyde Park, Lake, and South Chicago that
was "stuck." In this it is the whole city
which is in danger. The case is the con-
Gemnation and assessment Of the rear Of lots
fronting on Third and Fourth avenues, which
are given new front on Dearborn street
by the extension Of the latter. Dearborn
is now open from the river to Jackson
street; it is also open from Fourteenth
street south. Between jackson and Four
teenth there is 12-feet alley running north
and south on the extension of Dearborn. To
open the street to width Of 50 feet it is
necessary to take about a. feet from the lots
on each side. The owners of this property
were almost unanimous in their expression Of
desire that the street be opened. It WIS
remarked at the time the petition was fled
that there had been rarely. if ever, case in
which so large proportion Of pr2operty-hold-
ers agreed upon proposition Which affected
their interests one way or the other. The
petition represented nearly every property
owner in the entire tract, and all believed
that their property was to be enormously
benefited That they were right is proved by
the sudden and material rise in the prices OF
this property after the opening Of the street
was ordered.
Something more than year ago, in con-
demnation suit, the amount Of damages to
each lot was ascertained, and the Commis-
sioners then proceeded to estimate and fix
the resulting benefits to the came property.
Some Of the lots, Of course, we're more DAM
aged than others, particularly the corner lots
A few OF these fronted On the cross-streets
and the taking of thirty -fow feet from the side
left them an insignificant frontage. The
purpose of the assessment YVES to divide the
damages fairly, and it was supposed, as {.
matter Of course;c that the full amount would
be paid in fair proportion by the property
benefited The total amount Of, damages
footed up $1,o94,211. It is now question
Of assessing the benefits. From the proceed
ings thus far there is serious danger that the
assessment Of benefits will not exceed $40o, 600
or $500,ooo. The law provides that the
damages awarded shall be assessed to the
extent Of benefits upon the property espe-
chilly benefited; tie remainder Is to Be paid 5y
the city out ef general tazatios. The pro-
gramme Of the property-holders is to force
the city to pay from $500, 200 to 500, 900
for their benefit. That is, the property-own-
ers, on competing streets like Clark and
State, must be made to pay for the opening
Of competition, and the residents Of the West
and North Divisions must contribute for the
extension Of street in which they have not
the slightest interest. This is the programme,
and the parties chiefly interested are in fair
way to carry it out.
The Commissioners appointed under the
law have assessed the benefits at something
over 81, ,000, 600, and left the remainder to be
paid out Of the general taxes. In view Of the
facts that the general taxpayer has no inter
est IN the opening Of the street, and that the
property assessed enjoys the great bulk Of
tie advantage of this opening, this Assess
mont seems to be entirely fair. Yet the very
men who clamored 1oudest for the extension
Of the street are now conteshng the assess-
,neat in court, aud, With the aid Of the best |