The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-04-30
a Plan for City Improvem..,.

hdit0rs FS0rididn: Being deeply interested !,
the growth and prosperity of our beautiful c,r
| deem it my duty, both as a private Citizen "a
q member of the City Council, to give to n.
public my views regarding public improyem.,,.
Ii is we'll known fact that in this malta,
are far behind the times, and unless someS;n.
is done and that Immediately, We will soon h.
like some OF our streets) beyond Mjemni;on
There are several very important things REQUIRED
which would have tendency to build IN M,
city, and If we as residents do not feel a pride i,
dong them we cannot expect non-residents to
come here and do them for u.s. | will mention
few items which we, as citizens, should cau,e
TO be contaminated at once, and these are
let. Holly system of wafer works, a cbsm
cal engine and hook and ladder truck for fire
protection.
I'd. The erection of a market house with
Mayors office and guard room.attached.
3D. An iron fence around our cemetery
4th. Sewerage for our streets
And numberless other improvements A. coula
be suggested. OF course, to carry out my views
il will be necessary TO have considerable amount
OF money, and many will ask. where is 1t to come
from l answer by saying:
Let as issue bonds to the amount OF cav
$2O, 600, payable in twenty years, at the rate Of
per cent per annum
Now, to accumulate sinking fund to pay this
Indebtedness, il will be necessary TO lew IA,
of say II mills each year, taking as a basis the
amount of property assessed in the city, which
is $500 900. The interest ON these bonds being
s, 200 per aunum, An additional tax of mills
will by necessary, thus making total special
tax of ~ mills only And as the value of prop
erty will be increased each year the rate of taxa
ton will naturally decrease
Say for instance that my taxable property i.
$oOoO pay special tax OF say 81 mills for these
improvements. which amounts to ST. 80 per au
mum. do derive no benefits from il surely
do; for my property is protected, nv business
Increases, can point with pride TO our beau
ful city, and in numerous ways derive benefits
from it,
We are now indirectly paying a tax for a So
called market house. Mayors Office and guard
house, which will virtually cease when we can
erect our own market house.
The law, as understand it, allows municipal
corporations TO levy a s mill tax for fire protec
ton, but l think this excessive in comparison
with the plans which | propose There are
very few cities the size of ours which are not
moving In these matters and progressing, and
the whole secret OF their growth is An expendi-
ture of money
Many will exclaim: Don't bond the CITY
We are not able to make these Improvement
But this is a sad mistake If we do not help
ourselves, strangers cannot be expected to do so
The amount have named is small in compari
son to our requirements, ut let us make a start
and the rest will follow.
My object, Messrs Editors, in placing this mat
ter before the public is to have it we'll ventilated
Let every citizen do All in his power to build up
our city, and throw no obstacle 10 the way of
and We will ere long congrau-
late ourselves on our success Let strangers see
that we are doing our duty, and they will sooD
join our ranks. 1t is my intention to submit this
matter to the Council al their next meeting, and
IL there are any who have reasons to give why
We should lei our beautiful city go to ruin by
nre or otherwise, on account of small outlay Of
money, let them come there aud state them.
very respectfully, JACOB r. COHEN.