Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-24

SIaOIs

This shows an increase OF 50, SOP, max
ing the total of damages" S35, ,295 SO, or
81 per cent. OF the entire price of the
lands, which was 81 l20 per acre. The
assessed value Of the portion appro-
priated for streets, was S.. 600 per acre,
or nearly three times that paid in the
purchase. To this was added the costs
Of the proceedings, which were not
small, including $3.50 for the legal SER
vices of the substitute for City Solicitor
Hurd.
There was at the time much discus
sion of the merits Of these proceedings,
which were generally regarded as un-
just toward the city. Other owners, as
stated, in plating property for sale, had
supplied streets at their own expense,
and in many cases graded and other
wise improved them before putting
their lots on the market. Why these
parties should not do the same, but in
stead demand that the city purchase
from them the requisite land for streets
for their lots, paying them down in
bonds, more than one-half the total cost
of their entire plat, was not easily un-
derstood. Hence the serious opposi-
tion to the case which became 80 great
that apprehension OF proceedings TO
prevent the delivery of the bonds, led
10 their clandestine Fastening into the
hands of third parties and their prompt
transfer to the bank where they had
been negotiated, by which means
the way to interference was cut oil, and
no opportunity given to the tax payers
concerned To protect themselves against
what was believed to be gross wrong.
The whole proceeding was regarded
as improper, and as a means for com
pelling the city TO lend its credit TO pay
for lands bought on speculation, with
too great reason for apprehension that
by some juggle or technically the whole
sum would be thrown on the general
fund.
But Mr.. Hurd and his associates
claimed that the city was entirely secure
from tax, since the amount Of the bonds
issued would be assessed upon the prop
erty itself, and thus be provided for be-
fore the bonds would become due. Still,
the fear OF some legal slip or trick by
which the taxpayers OF the city would
be made to assume the debt and the
owners of the lots evade their Just lia-
bility was very general, with much dis
satisfaction. What caused special OBJ
lection to the plan adopted, was the fact
that it was unusual, the almost univer-
sal practice in such cases being for own
ers TO dedicate the requisite land for
streets, alleys, &c. At that very time,
Messrs. II. S. d III. ID. Walbridge were
preparing "Erglewood," tract Of l43
acres, for market, their plan providing
the streets (neluding AZ acres, and AZ
acres in parks, by dedication. the cost OF
which amounted TO over $50, 900, but
at 5000 per acre, tne price allowed Mr..
Hurd and partners as damages" to
their property in supplying it with
streets, the amount would have heen
Sl39, 500, or $500 less than the pur-
chase price of the whole tract. Besides
all this, $4,000 was expended by the
proprietors in opening, Improving and
ornamenting the streets, parks, &c,
making a total donation of more than
$3.50, 500. With equal claims with Mr..
Hurd and associates TO municipal aid,
the Messrs. Walbridge regarded il
as more fitting TO prepare there 0Cn PR p
erty TOR mdrket, and they did so. No
doubt an advance OF $3.50 500, or even
Sl39 500 in city bonds, would have been
very acceptable 10 them, had they
deemed such contribution TO be Just.
But 30 they did not view the matter,
and they acted accordingly.
Six years have now transpired since
these proceedings took place. The
bonds Issued TO Mr.. Hurd and his part
ners in pay ment Of damages TO their
property IN supplying it with theslreets
necessary to its sale, have all matured,
and hsye been taken up by erehange Of
other bonds Of tte city. The meantime,
the accruing interest on these has been
paid out of the city treasury. The only
step taken, thus far, toward relief 10 the
tsI-pay ers, consists in the reduction OF
the rate Of interest from seven TO six
per cent.
And how stands Mr.. Hurd and his
real estate syndicnte2 What have they
done toward meeting their engagement
TO return, in taxes, the large sum adj
vanced TO them by the cityf Tho an
swer is plain. THY have done nothing.
Isstsad of mailing good their aszursnss