The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-09
clear ACROSS THE TOWN,
The Council Decides to Open Law
renee Street for q Great
Thoroughfare.

Provided Property Owners Pay
All Costs and the City
Nothing.
ostting Ready to Make this = Levy
Permanent Stock and Dog Pound
Wanted : Othor Matters.
For opening Lawrence strest-Klstn,
Rtaele, Fuller. Hartwig, Reese, Harrity,
Hnnley, Wisbsr and Thompson.
Against opening Lawrence st~reet--Liss-
ner, Morris, Gamer and Wilmer.
Ahsont-Garrett
Lnwrencs street II to be opened az q thor
oughfars between the east and west sides,
provided the people who wish the improve
ment and those who are most directly inter-
estsd are satisfied TO accept the Judgment
OF the city council that they shall pay all
costs instead of two-thirda. This was set
tied at the meeting of tho city council last
night after q long and heated discussion.
The committee on Judiciary, to whom WAS
referred the ordinance for opening
Lawrence street east, reported shat the
passage OF the ordinance IL premature. Be-
fore We can authorize to take steps in the
matter. by which costs are assessed to
property owners. a petition from those
owning a majority of frontage must fest be
presented and acted upon. AS this - q
very important matter and liable to involve
n large amount Of money, the committee
would ask farther time in order to give
thoss that are interested in opening the
street to get the matter properly before
the council" The report was signed BY
Moses Morris, Marcus Lissner and Andrew
Harrity.
Alderman Thompson could not sec what
was to be gained by further time. 1t was
not necessary to have all the signatures.
The Improvement had been delayed from
time to time. II could have been done very
off the more it would COST. He asked that
Massena Billiard be allowed to address the
council on the subject.
Permission was granted and Lawyer Bull
lard stated that a petition was presented
feme time ago from property owners and
taxpayers in the limits effected, asking for
the opening. He quoted the law FLOWING
the council to assess property owners for
such improvements. on the petition OF those
owning = majority .v o. a,x, th e. ff sitx
I36t. Il0 bAH0 law kaSo sAV wy
the right to condemn property for
such purposes, a certain portion
OF the benefits to be assessed to the pro-
perty owners. The property owners had
asked it and it was felt by those best
posted that the improvements had suffered
month, every day, would only increase the
cost. There was not much time left this
ysar before cold weather would stop the
work. As things were now there was not q
single street from east to west that could
Alderman Thompson moved as q sub
ssituts for the report, the adoption Of an
ordinance for the opening Of Lawrence
street from Main eastward. 1t directs the
city attorney to flo in the district court
tho necessary lands, and declared
the opening a public necessity.
II further provided that shs
pay one-third Of the cost Of the land CON
demned, and the cost Of grading the street
when it sha.l be opened; that two-thirds OF
the cost of.the lands condemned shall be
paid by a special tax, levied upon the prop
erty benefited AUDITING on Lawrence street
and on Main street, and that the tax shall
DO levied according to the frontage foot on
each Of said streets; provided, that q ma
iority OF the ownsrs Of the property con-
sent to be assessed to pay two-thirds OF the
cost of condeming the property upon the
condition that no franchise shall be grant
ed over the street for any railroad, street
car, electric car, or any other such
mode Of conveyance or travel; that
whenever the cost of condemning the prop
erty required for opening the street shall
be ascertained, the city council shall make
the special levy of taxes upon the property
designated sufficient to pay two-thirds Of
the cost; and in making the levy all lots
shall be taxed at the same rate per foot, but
there may be a different rate for each block
if the council shall deem the same just and
equitable; that whenever the city council
clerk shall at once transmit to the city as.
SCISSOR the amount Of special tax levied
against each lot and block, and the assessol
shall thsreupon enter the tax in his asseas-
ment roll and it shall be collected as Other
city taxes; and when collected shall be GOV.
cred into this treasury for the special pur'
pose of,,paying the cost of the condemnation
proceedings.
Alderman Lissner protested against open
ing the street for the benefit of @. W. Can
non, Richard Hoback, r. Ii. Hale and A
M. Hotter. If those gentlemen would put
up fine buildings they would be entitled te
some confederation. What had they done
for the city that the council should be asked
to vote away so much money? When the
street was opened it would not be long be-
chise for afrailroad.
Alderman Thompson said that from hi
expressions anyone would think Alderman
Lissner a poor man. Here was a capitals,
pleading the cause of the poor man. Ill
believed all in the council felt the same to-
ward the poor man, only they did not make
public declarations Of the matter. l
had been argued that the city was IL
debt. When would 1t be less SOL Wher
could tho street be opened OF a fairer basil
than now? There was an element that wa
standing in the way Of the DEVELOPMENT O.
the city who were known more by what the,
did not do than by what they did do.
When Alderman IIissner got up again t.
speak Mayor Kleinschmidt said he woult
permit it this time but not again until al
Che aldermen had been heard who wished tx
speak. II have more time than money
said Alderman Lissner. IT will talk til
daylight on q proposition that affects ny
pocket. Let's be honest. Ii we vote away
that money We will never have a chance K
wear the carpet out on this floor again."
Aldermen Wilmer and Morris opposet
the opening under tho I thompson ordinance
confronting that the city might be able K
buy the property necessary more cheapl,
than it could be condemned.
Mayor Kloinschmidt referred to the ben
Gifts to be derived from the opening ant
expressed the hope that the improvement
would be made. II it we're done the i'm