The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-30
PERCENTAGE OF COST
Judge Jacobs Formulates an
Equitable Rule.
NO NEED OF CHARTER CHANGE.
Front Footage to BE the Standard OF
Assessment for Street Grades-How
Is Will Be Applied.

Il Will Be Applied.
The problem of street grade assessments which
has been such a source of vexatlon TO the city
council and u the property-owners seems at
length 10 be solved. The present method Is 10
assess all property by the front foot to distance
OF 40 feet back from the proposed street. II was
found TO be fair Oh some streets but inIqultous
when applied 10 Others. This question has
taxed the ingenuity of the charter revision COM
mttee, and il was at length resolved to propose
an amendment TO the charter, retaining the sys-
ten, but modi iying it SO that the property
should be proportional, the front thirty feet 20
pay 40 per cent; the next thirty feet 10 pay 81
per cent. the next thirty feet 20 per cent, and
the most remote thirty feet 10 per cent.
Who originated this ingenious and apparently
most equitable scheme does not seem TO be post
lively known. 1t was first broached at meet
ing OF subcommittee and was probably evolved
from the many suggestions made at various
times. g
Mr.. C. B. Bagley had the honor OF introducing
it formal proposition, but his right to credit
for paternity OF the idea was challenged, al
though never publicly, and the friends OF Al
derman Hall claim that he had a considerable
share in the conception.
To Judge Jacobs, however, belongs the honor
OF discovering that it is not inconsistent with
the present charter If it should BE- accepted by
the city council, of which there seems little
doubt, the first practical application will prob
ably be made to stewart street
The text of the ordinance which is TO embody
the idea is as follows:
An ordinance TO regulate and determine the
front foOtage of each owner OF lot, block or
parcel of land IN a local assessment district,
created under section seven "a OF article eight
IS OF the freehoideTs charter.
Be ii ordained by the city OF Seattle as follows:
/
plated into blocks and lots and the end OF the
lots front on the street and extend back to the
alley or center OF the block, then the actual
front footage shall be the front footage Tor
which the owner or owners OF said lot is or are
liable, and for which he or they
shall be assessed. Ii said lot consid
different persons. the lines of whose dominion
or ownership run parallel with the street to be
improved, or other local lmproyement 10 oe
made-then the front footage TO be paid by eacn
OF said owners shall be as follows: Inc lot
shall be divided into four equal parts cross
wise. the owner OF the fourth actually fronting
on the street to be improved shall be assessed
for and pay 40 per cent OF said actual front foot
age; the owner of the next adjoining fourth
shall be assessed for and pay 30 per cent.
of said actual front iootage; the
owner OF the next fourth shall De
assessed for and pay 20 per cent. of said actual
front footage, and the owner OF the next adjoln-
ing fourth shall be assessed for and pay 10 per
cent OF said actual front footage. II said lot be-
longs TO one owner he shall DE assessed for the
whole actual frontage; if it belongs to owners
OF separate and distinct parts OF the same they
shall be assessed for and be liable to the city
according to the rule above stated, and said as
sessment shall be lien on the land until the
same is paid.
See . Ii any of the land between the termini
OF said local assessment district shall be divided
into lots only, then said local assessment dis
trict shall extend to the center line midway OF
the length thereof. ana II from the front OF said
street to said center line the ownership OF said
lot shall be in one person or two or more per
sons Jointly or in common, he or they shall be
assessed for and be liable TO pay for each actual
foot OF the frontage OF said lot. II there be sep
arate and distinct ownership OF the part OF said
lot liable TO assessment as above for said local
improvement, then the proportion that each
shall pay shall be determined by the rule pre-
scribed in section one ~, OF this ordinance,
The assessment shall be lien on all and every
part of said lot so far the same is liable TO
se>sment, until the same shall be fully paid.
See. 3. If any of the land between the termini
OF such local assessment district liable TO as
sessment for such local Improvement shall not
be plated into either lots or blocks. then said
local improvement district shall ouiy extend
outward from the external line of sas actual
improvement one hundred and twenty (l20) feet.
anu the number OF front feet or from tage that
the owner or owners OF said strip of land shall
be assessed for and liable Tor shall be the actual
front feet thereof, and assessment OF the same
shall be lien on the land until the same is
fully paid. II said strip or parcel OF land shall
be owned by two or more persons by separate
ami distinct titles, then the portion that each
owner shall pay and the front footage that each
shall be liable Tor shall be determined by the
rule prescribed in section one % OF this ordi-
nance.
sec T. If any portion of the land between the
termini OF said local assessment district and Ii
able TO assessment Tor such local improvement
be divided or plated into blocks only, then
such local improvement district shall extend
from the external line of said actual improve
ment TO the center line OF said block, and the
owner or owners thereof shall be assessed for
and liable for each actual foot OF said frontage
II thare be SEPARATE and distinct ownership OF
different parts thereof liable 10 assessment in
said district then the proportion that each sep
arata owner shall pay OF said actual front foot
age shall be ascertained and determined by the
rule prescribed by section one ~ OF this ordi-
nance.
sec. 5. If in any local improvement district
there shall be narrow strip OF land of either
regular or irregulcr width Immediately adjoin-
ing the street 10 be improved or other improve
ments to he made, and no other street separates
said strip from the adjoining land. Then, first,
if said adjoining land he unplstted the improve
ment district shall extend out one hundred and
twenty Q2W feet from the external line of said
street. Secondly, if said adjoining land shall be
plated into blocks only. then said Improvement
district shall extend TO the center OF said block
Thirdly, if said adjoining land is plated into
blocks and lots, then said Improvement district
shall extend TO the alley III said block Fourthly
if said al joining land is plated into lots only
then TO the midway line Of said lot. In all OF
which eases the rights and liabilities of the re-
spective owners to assessment for the actual
front feet shall be ascertaiIed and determined
by the rule prescribed IN section one ~ OF this
| ordinance.
sec. s. The assessment in all of the cases here
inbelore provided for shall be based on the act
nal front foCtGrc in the assessment district but
| the number OF front feet that each owner oi
land in said district shall pay for snail be as
! certained and determined as in this ordinance
provided, and il is herein and hereby declared
| that the benefit 10 each OF said owners is in
| the proportion herein prescribed.
Sec. :. If there shall be in said local assess.
ment district any lot or fractional block of cum.
/ form or triangular shape. which said lot OF
| fractional block is bounded on two or all sides
with streets, OF which is the street to be i'm,
proved, the board OF public works in making
| out the assessment roll and in the ascertain,
| meut of the whole number OF front feet 10 be
assessed, may disregard any front feet IN "a
| where line running across the angle shall
measure ten feet; the rest OF said cuDiforn
/ shaped or triangular fractional block shall be-
assessed a los or block is assessed as provided