St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-25
BONE OF CONTENTION.
Meeting Of the Directors OF the
Chamber of Commerce
Yesterday.
They do Nothing but TO Repeat the
Same Arguments Regarding
the New Bridge,
The Hostile Day Resolution Killed and the
Subject then Laid Over Until the
Next Meeting.
City Attorney Murray's Report of thu
Bonded and General Debt of
the City.

At the meeting Of the board Of directors q
the chamber OF commerce yesterday morn
ing, the proposition to construct bridge
over the river from the foot Of Robert stree
on this side to Ducas street on the south
side, was taken up and formed the only sub
iect of discussion. Nothing new of any i'm
portance was developed during the long mr.
gument that followed. All that can be said
for and against the proposition has been
said on more than one similar occusion.
The matter came before the board in
the following way: At former
meeting DR.. Day offered a resolution against
constructing the bridge, and Gen. Bishop
offered as an amendment the following reso-
luton:
ResOiUod, That the chamber of commerce
approve the location OF the proposed wagon
bridge at Robert street, and will approve its
construction upon the following conditions
only: First, that no more than 5000, 900
already authorized shall be expended on said
bridge at the general expense Of the city, and
second that If said bridge shall cos { more
than $500, 900, the excess shall he levied as Il
special assessment upon the property in the
FIRST ward and Second and Sixth wards that
NAV be Immediately and directly benefited
by the construction of said bridge, authority
for such special assessment TO be obtained ii
nec ssary from the legislature.
After discussing tue matter a week ago. IL
was finally laid over till yesterday morning
for the purpose of allowing the committee to
obtain statement from John w. Roche, the
comptroller as to the bonded and general in
dcbtcdness of the city. Mr.. Murray, chair
man of the committee, bad filed his report
which will be found below with the secretary
OF the chamber, ami DIR. Day called up the
bridge matter. As soon as it was brought
up. thr question was raised as to how they
should get hold of the subject. Many thought
that the amendment Of General Bishop should
of amendments. The Dr., however,
said this would not be legitimate
because the amendment was not an amend
ment in any sense of the word, and it could
not be considered as a substitute as Il was
not german. The agument commenced
in this way but instantly drifted into the
consideration of the general question of
bridge or no bridge, and the secretary read
the report of the committee referred to the
above as to the finances of the city as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable, the President and Cham
Der of Commerce of The city of st. Paul:
Gentlemen-In obedience to your order
Of the 18th inst, have procured from the
city comptroller statement of the indebted
ness Of the city of st. Paul and its board of
education, which statement transmit here
with.
The total as shown by Mr.. Roche's com
munication is So, 227, I40.71. In addition to
this we will require authority at the next ses-
sion OF the legislature to issue bob DIS for the
extension OF the st. Paul water works to the
amount OF S5OO,OOO for sewerage purposes
100000, for the ST. Paul work house S25, 900,
for incidentals for which no appropriations
have been made $4,000, and $500, 900 adj
dltional for the bridge across the Mississippi
river at Robert street, unless it should be
determined to pay the cost of said bridge in
excess Of 5000 600 by assessment on the
property benefited, these sums aggregate
S95O,OO0, TO which add 1875, 900 of unissued
bonds already authorized and we will then
have total Indebtedness of 81, $50, 14O. II.
1t must be borne in mind, however, that the
interest on the water works bonds is paid
out of the revenues Of that department and
not with levy of taxes for that purpose. If
the cities OF Minneapolis and ST. Paul should
determine to purchase fair grounds between
the two cities it may become necessary for
the city Of st. Paul to issue bonds for its
share OF the purchase money. Our ordinary
taxes, state, county, school and city, does
not by any means represent the public bur-
dens of our people. We expended this wear
approximately 5000, 900 for grading and
paving streets, constructing sewers and side
walks, etc, and while the improvements
were necessary and proper in a great
many cases, they caused great hardship to
property owners of limited means.
1t is thought advisable by MANY that the
assessment laid should be so changed as tn
allow property owners to pay their assess
menIs In instruments, say one-third cash
and the remainder in one and two wears.
with per cent. interest, the assessment tn
be lien upon the property. If this change
be made the city will then have to have an
thority to issue certificates of indebtedness
to pay for the Improvements as thew are
made, to be redeemed from time to time
from assessment collections. Respectfully
w. P. MURRAY.
CoMPTRoLLER's STATEMENT,
Dear Sir: The bonded debts of the eitv
of st. Paul and board of education are as fol-
lows:
n VI o. auI. 81, 9G7,14O II
ooaro OF education. ............. 25O.OOO 90