The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-01
asphalt is figured at half cost in tho
above, and more or less grading is in
cluded in this cost.

above, and more or less grading is in
cluded in this cost.
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
The tax for street improvements here
is levied upon AUDITING property for tho
| whole cost of such Improvement. This
tax is usually equal to the whole cost of
| work, based upon the prices for which
it is let by the board of public works.
After the improvement has been Or
| dered made by the common council, an
| assessment is made by the board OF pub
| lie works when viowing the property.
The actual tax is generally trife be-
low the assessment. The tax is paid
by the property owner with other gen-
eral and special taxes in December, and
the January following of each year.
The original cost of any street i'm
provement, whatever it may be, is
assessed against AUDITING property. The
exception to this rule are the street and
alley crossings, which are paid for out
of a so-called ward fund, derived by q
general tax against all property real or
personal, within the limits of tho ward.
The maintenance of such roadway is
paid for out of such ward fund.
If in the progress of time, tho street
or roadway is paved, such pavement is
in like manner paid for by the property
that the property has paid for in the
paving of cutters in the first improve
ment, which expense is payable out of
the ward fund. The tax for such street
improvement does not vary with the
character of the fronting street or tho
location Of such street, but only with
the character or amount of work.
All other classes of street improve
ment, like laying Of water mains,
sewers, drain connections, water service
pipes, etc, are paid for by the property
in front Of which such improvements
are made, limited however in the case
of water mains to ono half the cost of
a minor or six inch water pipe laid in
the street, and in the case of sewer
mains not to exceed so cents per running
foot, with deductions of one-third front
at the corner lots.
ST. PAUL, MIMI.
The first cost of all local improve
ments such as street grading, pavements
and sidewalks, and curbing, is paid for
by abutting property owners pro rata
per front foot. This includes street
crossing. The city pays no part of this
first cost, but pays tho entire cost of
maintenance. When new construction
is necessary, the cost is assessed upon
the AUDITING property, as in tho case of
the first Improvement. No discrimina.
ton is made whatever as to the charac-
ter or cost of the abutting property, but
occasionally when n street is graded
into rural district, the assessment is
carried for block or two each side of
the improvement, and graduated off as
the property is further away from the
improvement. The maximum assess
ment for sewers is S1.75 per front foot.
All excess in cost is paid for out of the
sewerage bond fund.
ST. LOUIS, MO.
In this city the total cost of street i'm
provements, including all street inter
sections, is paid for per foot of frontage
by abutting property owners. The cost
ofalloy construction, including entrance,
is paid for by the property and assessed
in similar manner; but if the amount
assessed against any lot exceeds 25 per
cent. OF the assessed value of said lot,
tho city pays all cost above this 25 per
cent. The city also pays for the grad
ing and the cross walks. In the case Of
the entire reconstruction of street, in
Guiding grading and cross walks, the
same rule applies as above, viz: the en-
tire cost except the oXcess over 25 per
cent. of the assessed value of lot is
paid for by the property owners.
The city pays for all maintenance of
roadways or streets, but tho sidewalks
are paid for by special tax against tho
fronting property, each lot being as
sessed for the repairs actually made in
front of it. Alley repairs are paid for
by similar special tax against the pro-
perty, except that repairs to the entrance
of alleys.
The committee deems it advisable in
this report to offer some suggestions re-
garding the maintaining of streets
where they have been paved,
1t is we'll established fact that one
of the largest items of expense for
street maintenance is caused by the
frequent breaking of the street surface
to get at underground sewers, water,
and gas pipe. TO avoid this as far as
possible, tho committee would recon-
mend that no street be paved with gran
tie block, asphalt or brick, until the
sewer pipe Gf any are to be laid in said
street,, water and gas mains have been
laid, and whenever council shall order
the paving Of n certain street or block,
it shall be the duty of the clerk of
water company of such contemplate ted
improvement. that they may have at
least thirty days to mako such connec-
tions as have not already been made;
and further, that when such street has
been paved, it shall be unlawful for any
person to break the street surface with
out first paying to the city treasurer the
sum of ten dollars $50 for each and
every break.
The ordinance committee should be
instructed to draw an ordinance cover
ing this matter.
We herewith submit tho letters which
wo have received regarding street i'm
provements, and request that they be