The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-27
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
An Important Ordinance for Assessing
Grade Costs.


Grade Costs.
An ordinance was introduced in the Board of
Aldermen TO regulate and determine the front
iootdge OF lot or parcel OF land in local
ment district The ordinance is:
Flrst-The actuul front footage shall be the
unit of assessment
second-If the lot is owned by different per-
sons, it shall be divided into four parts. the
ionrth fronting on the street paying 40 per cent,
the second fourth 80, the third 70 and the fourth
10 per cent. of the total cost
Ihlrd-lt the land be not plated into lots,
then the district shall extend back 40 feet from
the me OF Improvement.
Fourth-1f the land be divided into blocks.
the assessment shall extend back to the center
line of the block,
Fllth--If there shall be any lot or fractional
oock cuneiform or triangular bounded by two
or more streets, the whole number OF front feet
shal De ascertained, and front feet may be dis
regarded up To where a line running across the
angie snail measure ten feet: the rest of the tri
angular piece shall be assessed as provided in
tnlS ordinance.
sixth-lf there be a narrow strip of land ad-
Joining the street TO be improved and no street
separates the strip from the adjoining land,
then the Improvement shall extend, first back
l2O feet; second, II the adj3ning land be plated
INTO blocks 1t shall extend To the center; third,
II plated into blocks and lots, TO the alley;
fourth, ii plated into lots only, the line shall
run TO the center line of the lots.
Judge Jacobs in explanation of the ordinance
said: 'This was one OF the most difficult pro-
positions presented to him since he had been
corporation counsel. He had consulted some of
the best legal talent and they agree with him.
The revision committee has recommended
provision which would make this proposition
plain. Although the front foot basis is fixed in
the charter, the percentage of cost for improve
ments is not fixed. 1t does not provide what
portion OF an assessment each owner OF a lot or
block of land shall pay. The courts have decided
that taxation for local improvements can only
be sustained on the basis OF benefits derived by
each owner. Therefore, this ordinance is
pay, according to the benefit which Tor the sake
OF assessment purposes, the owner shall be
deemed 10 have accrued from the improvement.
Several petitions Tor liquor licenses were
granted and referred to the Judiciary committee.
Board OF aldermen bill prohibiting the main
tenance of stands for the sale of fruits, candies,
etc, without a license costing $50 per month
was read.
Dr.. Sweeney objected to the ordinance on the
ground that it denied the right of the poor man
TO live. Captain snyder thought it was a pro-
hibitory tax. Mr.. Miller was surprised that
Snyder and Sweeney should support a few Ita-
ians who were pedd!ing death and damnation
all over the city, when the merchants could not
sell their good fruit Wilcox used a lavorite ex-
preston, and said he was New Yorker ana be-
lieved in metropolitan ideas. He was in favor
OF the ordinance.
II was passed by vote OF 5 to4.
Property-owners on Joy rect petitioned for
street lights between Yesler avenue and jackson