Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-01-04
County Ditch Question.

Ed. NORTHWEST As we understand
the practice OF procedures In surveying,
locating and estimating the cost OF con
struction of bitches termed county ditch.
es), by surveyor or engineer. said esti-
mate to be assessed against the lands
adjacent or benefited by such improve
meni, 10 be audited and collected by the
treasurer OF the county as all other taxes
against said property, the owner OF said
lands so assessed by said surveyor or en-
gineer having only an equal right as
competitive bidder against foreign and
professional ditchers, and by such COM
petition said Improvement may often run
far below said estimated cost by said sur
veyor or engineer. and by the completion
of said ditch by the party bidding off the
same at perhaps 100 per cent. below said
estimated cost. gives no relief to the per-
son against whom said estimate was as
sessed to recover back by order from Au-
ditor all excess of such assessment above
actual cost of said improvement.
For example,: A ditch is located and
cost estimated for construction, and as
sessment is made against certain man
for two hundred dollars as his appor-
tionment. and on the day OF sale OF said
ditch competition bidders run it down to
one hundred dollars, half the estimate,
and on paying taxes can only get an or
der from the Auditor for actual cost, 500.
to balance estimated cost. 5000. Now,
we ask where is redress for this extra
S1OO? II is said it goes into the county
ditch improvement fund.
If such law is between the lids of the
statutes of Ohio it should be amended at
once and place people on an equitable
footing. 1t does not follow in justice
and equity that the man who has been
SO unfortunate as to settle in neighbor-
hood where an extra amount of ditching
is required that he snail pay his just pro.
portion of actual cost and one hundred
per cent. on top of it, because estimated
| by surveyor or engineer, and no redress
! to recover back the excess.
Our opinion in this case is, that the law
should Be (if it is not that when this
ditch is completed according to specifica'
tions and accepted by the proper party,
that his certificate to that effect should
cancel the entire assessment for said i'm
provement, and all che benefit of compe
titive bidders running it below estimated
cost shall accrue to him against whom
such assessment is made, the only object
of such assessment being to make sale
improvement.
In the Revised Statutes, page 1119, Sec
4508, we find the following: There shall
be, and is hereby, constituted a county
general ditch improvement fund, to con
sist of taxes collected on county anG
township levies, and all balances remain
ing unexpended of special ditch improve
,ment funds arising from excess of assess
] ments made on ditch improvements aftel
the expenses thereof have been fully
paid.
/ If the above Sec. 4508 is the authority
| for present procedure, so grevious to al
who are subject to pay in excess OF ac
,Ituai cost of constructing bitches without
redress, we believe we are expressing thu
universal verdict of every intelligent ant
honorable man, that it should be 81
amended as to make the completion o.
any ditch acceptable to the proper au
thorities full compensation to canoe
said obligation against any individual o.
property, and let the general leyies con
l stitute the general fund provided for OF
/ page LII, Secs. 4501 and 4502. for gener
al ditch fund, instead of robbing one in
\ Idividual to give. to another. Let th'
1 whole county be taxed alike for count.
/, purposes. and not take $40 from one maj
by special assessments to make up gen
/ eral fund and then stand his equal shar'
Of the general assessment, where anothe
only pays 10c into the general fund OF
same amount of taxable property.
AS before stated the man who is assess
!. ed $500 for neighborhood ditch at tn
estimated cost by the engineer locating
same, which is sold out and completed
for $100, the other $100 goes into the gen
eral fund for use of the whole county
Let every man raise his voice agains
such injustice and have it abated. It i
time that the people looked to their in
terest, and elect no man to a place
honor or trust who is not qualified, 0
4 will not do all in their power to do equa
i justice to all the people.
i When the accursed practice of yol
help me and I'll help you is laid aside
4 and only competent men and true ar
chosen for guardians Of the people we vii
have laws more just and more justly ad
Iministered. We ask Representative Ty
! Ter and Senator Norton, who were elect
ed on that principle, in the name Of tn
A people TO use their best endeavors tn
j present coming session to adjust al
wrongs in behalf Of AL their constituents
4 II M ~, &o G. G. Young.
LIBERTY CENTER, Jan. i, 1888. ~