Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-08-14
The Oak Street FIJI


The Oak Street Fill.
The article IN the Sun relative to the
proposition to Gil up the ravine on
Oak Street, is in many respects grossly
unfair TO the village council and con-
veys the impression that the scheme
was rejected solely because Of preju-
disc BY First Street men had against
the Improvement Of Oak street. The
article says that the object of the conn
ell in refusing the project is past COM
preflension. That depends upon how
much comprehension the Sun critic
has,. There are several good reasons
why the proposition was rejected.
First, the village treasury is empty.
Second, the proposition offered did
not take into consideration the build"
ing of culvert to allow the water Of
,thetraviae to escape. The village has
no more power to block natural
water way than an individual. IF the
ravine is filed without an escape for
water, the village is liable for suit
whether actual damage is done or not.
Flooding another mans land by artifi-
ciat means isl +acfienable. The back
flow of'water is d technical damage
and Insult ;would be SO held, and the
village forcedto,put in drain of some
kind; and naturally must put in one
that will be reasonably permanent.
The brick culvert under the First
street fills sixty feet long and cost
$175.~ The culYert under Oak street
shuld be about 100 feet long to provided
natural flow of the water, and would
proportienately cost 1921. Perhaps a
cheaper calyert could be put in now
for temporary purpose only to cost
more in the end.
Again no matter who made tho fill,
by the law of the stats it must be done
under the supervision of the council,
and constitute safe road way, any de-
feet causing damage would involve the
village in expense by future law suits.
Comparing the expense Of the fill on
First street with that on Oak street in
dependently. ofthe culvert the council
could not see facing them an expense
OF less than $500, which with the ex-
pense OF :he Gully ert would aggregate
81 100 at least. There is no money
to pay any part of the expense. The
Sun says it was understood that the
two members of the council who do
not do business on First street favored
the proposition. If that is 80, then
| the m~vers have clean majority, for
Mr.. Medved il willing to vote $500, if
that will secure good road with cul.
vert, and not one of the council is op-
posed to an expense :of $500, if that
would reach it, provided that it can DO
paid for with orders payable after Jan.
Is, 1886: It is generally believed that
la fill or a bridge must 60 in on the ra-
vine next year, ebut the present bridge
willlast till then, then why remove it If
we can get nine months wear out of it.
The village, by retaining the bridge
till then gets nine months service out
Of it, which should not be thrown awav
to please critic who cannot comp,e-
bend. -.
The village has been in debt for
sever&l years and started in last jan
unary over 81 800. in debt, it wa, the
wish of the council to clear this debt.
it had besides several large expenses
to meet, notably the painting of the
river bridge. The village is now about
square, all Indebtedness past or pres
ent, except less than 500, has been
paid, the fall settlement will extin-
gnish that and pay current expenses,
and the council will hesitate about in
curing any expense not absolutely
necessary, and if the bridge appears
to be reasonable effective for the next
nine months there is no reason to in
cur an Indebtedness. If it can be
demonstrated that tho improvements
can DO moro cheaply made now oman
empty treasury than next spring with
cash on hand with difference in fay-
or Of the present time large enough to
counter balance the loss ofthe use of
the present bridge until next spring,
there is no DOUBT that the council will
unanimously make the improvement.
OF course part Of the expense can DO
be assessed upon the owners Of the
abotting property, proyideda majority
Of the owners petition for it. No such
petition has been presented, and even
when presented if the owners do not
! voluntarily pay in their respective
shares it can only be collected through
the regular tax levy channels, and bat
little would be available before next
June, in the meantime the village
would have to advance the money on
orders.
| " - =; Horses Lost. 0
! strayed from my premises in Pike
Creek town, Morrison county, Mimi, on
July 81, 1885, one bay mare about Ten
years old, with white face and three
white feet, heavy name and tail; and ono
bay two year old mare colt with white
spot IN forehead and some gray hairs on