The daily gazette., 1883-06-19
OUR AWFUL TAX-RATE.
COUNCIL WRESTLING WITH
THE FINANCES.
THE CITY ASSESSMENT MUDDLE
No. Increase for Ten Years Despite the
New BuildIngs-The Water Department
Receipts

An adjourned meeting of City Council wat
held last night for the express purpose oi
fixing the tax rate but the session was con
siderably lengthed by argument upon the
prorriety OF sprinkling the streets of the
city.
The ordinance providing for the annual
appropriations was reported approved by the
Mayor.
The market ordinance was returned tt
Council by the Mayor without his signature
with the following letter giving his reasons
GENTLEMEN,I / herewith return the orlin-
ance passed the 31st of May last, entitled
| IAN ordinance to amend an ordinance en-
titled an ordinance establishing aud regulat-
ing the public markets of the city of VIII
mington," without my official approval and
signature.
| In my opinion the time has come for
| abolishing open street markets for the sale
of meats, vegetables and general produce,
and for con6ning the retail sale of these
articles to market houses especially erected
| for that purpose, either by the city or by
| private enterprise. The present custom has
little to recommend its continuance and is
| Objectionable In many respects. For hours,
| indeed for.two out of the six secular days of
| the week, the sidewalks on King street are
practically blockaded for the transaction of
| any business, other than the sale of meats
and country produce, to the great incon-
venience and discomfort of the residents
thereon. The same may be said of Madison
| street., on which new market has been
| recently established.
Anything that obstructs public travel,
either by vehicles or on foot is public nut
sance and it cannot be questioned In SO far
as property owners and residents on King
aHd Madison streets are deprived of the free,
open and unobstructed use of the footways or
streets on which their dwellings are located
The cause of such deprivation is public
| nuisance. 1t should be borne in mind that
these residents are not subjected to merely
| temporary annoyance and inconvenience
| arising from the traffic that is carried on
| during the hours of two forenoons and two
! afternoons In every week, but that they are
also disturbed during two nights In the
week by the preparations for the market.
In view of these facts it is a question that
appeals to your sense of justice, whether it
is right that one portion of our fellow-citi-
zens should be compelled to bear and suffer
under this particular burden from which
the residents on all other streets are free.
The street markets were established when
Market street was the chief thoroughfare of
the town, and when there were but few
houses east of King or west of Shipley street
or north of Seventh street. The markets
were held on Market street for upwards of a
century and the residents on that street had
adapted their business habits to the custom.
That custom had become law by long and
uninterrupted use. The change to King
street few years ago and the establishment
of a market on Madison street are both Of
doubtful expedency and authority. The
Council has no more right to obstruct
gi6nwalE q Az
a remedy for the present evils, and in view
of the rapid extension of the city in every
direction and the yearly increase of its
population, requiring larger and more fire.
quent marRet would respectfully suggest
that instead of extending the markets on
King and Madison streets an ordinance
should be passed prohibiting all open street
markets, except for the sale of hay, corn,
ETC., by wholesale, after the first day of
July, A. d. 1884. This will afford sufficient
time to prepare suitable market houses in
different parts of the city and for persons
attending market to prepare for the change.
Respectfully submitted,
j. P. WALES, Mayor.
Messrs. Garrett and Blake advocated the
extension of the markets, and upon a vote
being taken, In which there was not dis
sentiug voice, the ordinance was declared
law, Notwithstanding the Mayors objections.
Mr.. r.Pickels of the Finance Committee then
made the following report which was finally
laid over until the meeting on Thursday
night:
To the President and Members of Council:
GENTLEMEN-Your ON mittee on Finance
beg leave to report that the city assessment
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1883,
amounts to twenty-five million nine hun
dred and sixty-two thousand and eighty five
dollars 1925 962 085
The assessment for school purposes
amounts to the sum of $26, ,115,2 ,2S6.
The appropriation for city purposes
amounts to S407, ,647.
The appropriation for school purposes
amounts to 10000.
To raise the amount required for city pur-
poses, after deducting for errors and per
centage allowed on payments made in July,
1t will require tax rate of S1.25 on each
S100 assessed for city purposes.
To raise the amount required for school
purposes 1t will require a tax rate of 40
cents on each Sl00 assessed for school pur-
poses.
The rate above stated will realize for city
purposes after deductlng for errors and
abatements made on taxes paid in July the
sum OF $307 ,29s.
For school purposes and allowing for
errors and abatements on taxes paid in
July the sum of 500, 1873; estimated revenue
from all sources, 100000; making total
amount of $566,671. Respectfully sub
mitted, H. f. PIcKELs,
f. B. F. MILLER,
ID. j. MENTION,