Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-30
BoARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Park Avenue Assessment the Chief Bone
OF Contention,

[AobOSouuOAS
OF Contention.
A regular meeting of the board of public
works held yesterday forenoon, all the
members being in attendance but Mr.. Tim.
ime. ..
The assessment for grading Park avenue
was first taken up for consideration, Mr.. j..
F. O'Brien appearing in behalf of number
of owners who objected to the assessment on
the grounds that the street had been i'm
properly graded, and that the Improvement
did not meet tho requirements of the inhabi.
tants.
Counsel said that there were grave objections
to the legality of the assessment. A change
of grade had been made, and no assessment
had been made for damages and benefits re-
sulting therefrom, which SHOULD have pre-
ceded the assessment for the subsequent
improvements. The street was almost i'm
passable, and tho so-called improvement was
an absolute detr1ment to the interests of the
resident property owners.
The engineer explained that tho street
was wide enough for purposes Of travel and
that the work was progressing as favorably
and rapidly as possible. -.
Mr.. w. L. Kelly. representing several
property owners on Park avenue, said that
instead of beneft,ng the city, the manner In
which the street had been graded was abso-
lutely destructive to property.
Mr.. Murray stated that Mr.. Peter P6efer,
owner Of several lots on Park avenue, was
willing to donate sufficient ground to the
city for right of way if the board would con-
sent TO abate the assessment on the balance
of his property.
The proposition was favorably received by
the board, final answer being debarred
until the next meeting.
A discussion ensued as to the prOpriety of
abatipg the assessment, and, it was decided
that the members of the board visit the
street in person before giving their ulti-
matum. Mr.. Alexander Crawford appeared
before the board for the purpose of protest.
ing against the action of certain contrac-
tors in dumping dirt upoa his property with
out having the consent of the owner.
The subject was referred to the engineer
The clerk was instructed to give the first
confirmation notices for the assessment for
grading Martin street to University avenue.
The assessment for grading Arundel street
from Iglehart to Carroll streets was ordered
completed and the clerk was instructed to
give the confirmation notices. ..
Thomas Cochran, Jr., appeared for the
purpose of protesting against the assessment
for the grading of Mackubin street. The
speaker said that the present system of as
sessing improvements amounted to confs-
cation, and that upon examination the board
would find that the assessment was arbi-
trary and erroneous. .. -.. ..
A petition was read from parties residing
on Wabashaw street, asking that the assess
ment for the construction of sewer on that
thoroughfare be equalized concerning
two or three property owners, for the reason
that transfer of property had taken place
about the time of the assessment. The sub
ject was referred for investigation.
The clerk reported several corrections as
to the assessment for grading Olive street,
and upon examination the clerk was in
structed to give the confirmation notices.
Mr.. J. j. Eagan called the attention of the
board to the alleged disproportion of the
relative assessments for improving Iglehart
street. Counsel said that the assessment
lacked uniformity and that some of the res,
idents were assessessed too much in prop or
ton to the amount of property owned, az
compared with other assessments. Fina
action was postponed until the next meet.
ing. It was decided that the members OF
the board inspect Park avenue Immediately
after the meeting. Adjourned.