Daily globe., 1879-01-29
THE SIXTH WARD.
A Cali for the Issue of $4,000 in Bonds
The Address Issued by Their Committee.

THE SIXTH WARD.
A Cali for the Issue of $4,000 in Bonds
The Address Issued by Their Committee.
general mass meeting of the citizens of
the Sixth ward will be held at schuman's hall
this evening, at which the following report will
be presented. The committee on legislation of
the city council will also meet this evening
and have this matter before them:
In the matter Of what Ia known as the Sixth ward
Ievee improvement, 1t is recommended that the re-
port Of the aldermen Of the Sixth ward, which was
adopted by the common council Feb. 9th, 1877 (see
council proceedings of 1877, page 49, be referred to
the board Of public works, accompanied by an order
to proceed Without delay to condemn the property on
the river front, and put said Improvement under
contract as the necessary legal forms OF
ceeding are complied with by the council and board
OF public works. the cost Of said improvement to be
assessed against the property benefited.
Another plan to pay for said Improvement would be
to frst repeal so much Of the Sixth ward annexation
law that exempts said ward from taxation to pay the
over the whole city to meet all its indebtedness
Then the city Of ST. Paul to issue it's bonds to such
| On amount (say $4,000, SO much thereof
ment,- and the whole city TO be assessed to
pay the principal and interest of these bonds
| IN IKE manner as for other city bonded indebted
ness. This latter plan would make the taxation for
cost OF this Improvement very light, and distribute
| the same equally upon all, and your COMMITTEES
| strongly favor Its adoption In preference to any
other plan suggested.
The Justice Of this proposition will be sef-eyident
W! ell We consider.
First-That the exemption clause in the annexa-
ton law is being made nullity far, that wherever
any OF the old city bonds mature, they are taken
and new bonds issued for which the Sixth ward has to
bear its proportion Of taxation to pay for the same
so that In course Of time all of the old bonded debt
OF the city, amounting to upwards Of $1,000 O0O will
be paid by the whole city, the Sixth ward paying its
proportion which is clearly in violation Of the orig
in the annexation law.
Already there is about $4,000 Of the old city bond
debt which has been taken up and new bonds issued
therefor, and the 9th ward is taxed with the other
wards to pay for the same.
Should the proposition issue bonds for this i'm
provement be carried out by the city, and as con-
ditlon the exemption clause of the annexation act is
repealed the result will be large increase in the
valuation of the taxable property Of the Sixth ward
ment Of principal and interest Of all it's ndebtedness
Seoond-There is scarcely citizen of st. Paul who
will deny the necessity of sucl. Improvement in
the Sixth ward to protect the lives and property of
the residents from overflow of the Mississippi river
Amt this necessity has been hastened the labi-
1ty to overflow increased very mater ally by the
structon of railroad and leVee improvements on the
east side of the river where there has been an actual
encroachment the navigabe waters of the Missis.
sppa causing the widening of the river and forcing
ordinary stages of water. These railroad and Ieyee
improvements have been made under and by au-
thorlty OF the common council of the city of st.
Paul. without any authority from Congress, the only
body IN whom is vested the authority under the con-
sttuton and laws of the United States to make any
such encroachments on the national highway.
objection may be made by some to this improve
ment being paid for by the city at large, claiming
tnat it is local matter belonging to the
Sixth ward and should be paid for by the property
Immediately adjacent to, and benefted by the pro-
prosed improvement.
The reply to which is, that it is quite as much a
general benefit to the Whole city, as the issue of
IN Qi6
which the Sixth ward is will be taxed. Or sewerage
bonds the proceeds Of which used for local I'M
provements The east eide, the Sixth ward is taxed
for them also, but as yet has not received a dollar
benefit therefro1n.=
Or the proposed bondsto be issued for the building
new market house, Also for the building Of High
school in the city.
Or city bonds to aid in the construction of union
depot in the city.
Also for the erection of machine shops for the
Sioux City railroad in the city.
For these and kindred purposes the aid Of the city
is invosed to issne its bonds and judging from past
history, the probability is that city bonds will be
with those already issued by the city, aggregate
Large amount towards which the Sixth ward must pay
its quota of tex levy.
That part of the Sixth ward in which this improve
ent Is 80 much needed for its protection, is prnci
paly settled by mechanics, artizans and laborers,
who own their little homesteads: they belong to the
wealth producing cla OF city: all they have In
the world is there. Would itnot be public calamity
should tn ir property, dwellings, ETC., be swept away
IN time OF storm or dood with the probable loss of
human life?
Such disaster would be felt by the whole city.
ana great suffering and prvation would surely follow.
And who can say this may not happen at any time?
!s 1t not therefore the part of wisdom, well the
duty OF the common council, to provide against the
possibility Of an such catastrophe? Are the peo-
PIE OF the Sixth ward titled to the relief askedr
III tact should they not have the preference over
any private interests or influential corporations.
This improvement is asked for on public grounds.
1t belongs to that class of improvements which, when
n1pho ioh
The Sixth ward does not ask any special privi-
leges, but only to have extended them the protection
OF their homes, security to their lives aud property
to pay for which they are ready and willing to be
| taxed equally with the whole city.
II therefore the position taken by your committee
as to the merits of the proposed issuance of bonds
tor the levee Improvement of the Sixth ward along
SIDE OF other bond propositions herein alluded to is
correct there can be little doubt but what the cit
zens of the Sixth ward all such propositions must
be submitted to vote of the people, would readily
support by their votes any other reasonable
proposition equally the same as they would if per-
mitted to vote on their own bond question. We be-
ieve this improvement will greatly improve the navi-
CATION of the river. Let the city do the work. aud if
at any future time Congress should be induced te
make any appropriation towards defraying this OK
pense, the amount could be turned to the cit
treasury.
The present proposition is to adopt the line of pro-
posed Grading Of Front street as per plan Of board
OF engineers SO far to commence work at the foot
OF the bluff above Yorg's brewery, and continue Oh
down the river to GAP street, thence along SAP
sGeet W ZIG DeluB Instance OF ABOUT
feet, upon an estimate of seven feet depth of en-
bankment, average width of forty feet, would re-
quire.
1O9 704 cub. IDS filling, at 90 cents, $2O7O4 90
$500 lneal it., rip-rappng the river front
of embankment, at Sl,............. $500 90
Lengthening triple piers of bridge,... 500 90
Sluce-gate at bluff on ga" street,. 500 90
Damages caused by condemnation of about
~ blocks at $500 per block, ............ 5,4OO 90
sss,7o4 90
Which, if assessed upon the property on the fiat,
assuming there are 1890 lots to be assessessed,
would make an average of S1A.66 on each lot.
Or if city issue, say 20 year bonds, to the amount
of 900 at per cent. per interest," that sum
being the original estimate Of board of engineers of
cost for the whole work, according to plan,
the assessment all the city would be very light.
Respectfully submitted.
E. H. WooD,
JAS. STARMEY,
T. J. CoNNELLY,
+. LANaEvIN,
Committee.
RIVER RUCTION.
Tho Ice Gorge ut st. Louis Gives Way and
Passes Down Harmless.
Qr To, - IL