The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-27
srREE.r IMPROVEMENTS.

Fashioned ~ tenucry,
Soplump and so fair
STRICT IMPROVEMENTS.
Some Suggestions as to Now System G
Building the olty's ThoroUghfares.
TO he Editor Of he IatelligeHer:
STR: Now that tho question Of maxim
some changes in the laws governing cit.
officials is before the people would it no
be well to make some radical changes ii
the method Of raising revenue for stree
improvement and sewerage, also themeth
cd Of expanding the same. The most o
our large cities have long since abandon
ed the system in vogue here at this tim,
and substituted something like the follow
ing, which, although it has It's disadvan
tages, as all systems must have, is consid
cred the best that has yet been tried for thu
following reasons:
It prevents any debt being contracted
for improvements without the knowlcge
and consent Of the property owners inter;
ested.
Improvements can be made as fast Us
the people feel able TO pay for them, and
the tax they pay Is used on the improve.
ment from which they derive their benefit
1t prevents the possibility OF any trouble
between the City Council and Board oil
Public Works, the duties OF each being
clearly defined.
1t prevents the possibility OF blood
money being used to secure the improve
ment OF one portion OF the city to the
detriment OF other portions.
1t prevents the necessity Of this ward or
that ward pushing ahead any particular
man for that board in order that this or
that work shall be built, and selection can
be made with qualification alone.
II leaves the matter OF what improve
ments shall be made with the people
twhere it belongs, thereby regulating tho
amount OF special improvement tax they
shall pay.
Many people in this city are ready and
anxious 10 improve the street,. Under
the present System they are unable to do
SO. II will allow the people in any out
lying ward to improve their portion OF the
city.
Chapter LXXX, acts OF West Virginia,
passed March II, 1881, provides: "rhat
any street may be improved after three
fourths OF the property owners interested
shall petition for such improvement, and
that the expense shall be assessed against
such property, in proportion as the bene-
fits derived from such improvement shall
appear to the committee making such as
sessments, and that this special tax shall
be paid withinsixtydays aftertheschedule
shall be placed in the collectors hands.
1t also provides penalties for non.pay-
ment."
Now there are several reasons why the
people will not avail themselves OF the
provisions OF this Act. Prominent among
them aretlle iollewing:
The amount each Individual is to pay is
an unknown quantity, and depends on the
report OF committee and the subsequent
action taken by Council, and from this
decision THERE'S no appeal. This alone
will act as bar against its general use.
Again, the benefits derived from any
street improvement cannot be correctly
determined except by actual test Of time,
and it is impossible, in any case, for the
benefits to be equitably extended by the
City Council, rs in many cases the bene-
fits are not tangible, and may add more
in the way OF comfort than money value.
Tho time allowed to pay such special
tax without penalties (sixty days. is too
short and people will not take the chances
| of being called on to pay an amount much
more perhaps, than they might reasonably
have expected would be their proportion.
Further, ii we understand the matter,
| in case street should be improved under
the provisions Of this act, it would not ex-
empt the property from paying also, the
| 10 cent levy for general improvement and
from The very nature OF this law, 1t will
remain imperative and would in most
cases work injustice. 1haa
Now in order to change from the pres
emit system 10 the one outlined below II
would be necessary to discontinue the ten
cent levy, or continue it at suchlower rate
as would provide funds for general repairs
and minor improvements to be placed on
unimproyed streets. as crossings, alleys,
&c.
In the place Of the 10 cent and general
levy make all permanent improvements
by special ordinance providing for q
special tax to be assessed on the AUDITING
property along the street, and authorizing
the Board OF Public Works to improve the
street at a maximum cost of-dollais.
which amount shall BIO determined from
the City Engineers estimate OF the cost oil
proposed work. Providing also for the
improvement Of any street or portion Of
street between Two eross streets alter 9
petition shall be presented to Council
signed by tho owners OF three-fourths Of
all the front along such proposed i'm
proyement. Also providing for the i'm
proyement OF any street in the city, which
In the opinion Of the City Council, tile In
terests demand it, and the AUDITING own
ers do not petition for the same. In this
cage tho tax must be assessed and collec-
ted il advance OF the construction Of snoll
work. This condition OF things nigh,
exist in case Of a short cross street be-
tween two paved streets,
In any case the tax Is to b. assessed per
foot front, for average depth Of lots on
both sides OF the street along that portion
where improvement is TO be made, and
not on valuation ai property, or estimated
benefits. The ahutting property should
pay the entire cost, less cost OF street in.
tersections, and 1-50th of tho whole cost
OF work, which should be paid out OF the
general levy. The tax may DO collected
IN advance 81 the work when the expense
i not loo heavy, 10 be paid In ono year
In which case bonds may be issued on the
street, or that portion Of 1t improved, and
provide for interest and redemption fund
BY animal special ts4,,
The advantages Of this system over thu
one now in use are many and may be
stated as followsi
The city In any ease does not incur
debt for improvement, Us all debts crcateC
are liens on the property actually i'm
proved, and II every street in tho cit!
Ishopld he banded In this way the trad'
journals would not not report WheelipI
In debt.
No bonded debt can be made except b.
request Of property owners interested,
The people would derive immediat
| 4, aek e fnhy,, t1,aiy iFnnpovnnnnnt fnx mn