The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-05-13
THE CITY CHARTER.

oouOC ITO 'OluiulilOuSneSS gave
them the impression that 1t con-
tanned all that was necessary in
law TO obtain the means and pro-
vide the city with the several i'm
provements contained in it's pages.
But when we take the several
projects and their cost into con
sideration, we find there are two
essential qualities lacking, viz
population ana property. Of these
we have neither number nor
amount necessary according to
the best and general usage.
The business of a city must be
conducted on business principles.
If a man wants to purchase
merchandise, a lot, or a house, the
first question after the desire is,
where is the means? With the
city, all real and personal property
within its limits is subject to a
live-mill tax for general purposes.
For water, lights, sewers or other
improvements, the same property
is virtually mortgaged for the
amount of principal and interest
of such improvements until paid.
The assessed valuation of prop
erty the present year, from which
such tax could he collected,
amounts to $4,000. The estl
mated amount of improvements is
$3.50, 900, about % per cent. which
never can be negotiated except at
usurous prices and probable re-
pudiation.
The citizens of Tacoma, Seattle
and Spokane Falls have never
been considered backward in
forwarding necessary public i'm
provements, in fact they have been
to the fore, yet in all they have
accomplished they have done it
under the following Indebtedness ::
Tacoma, d per cent; Seattle, for
street, water and sewers. 3 per
cent; Spokane Falls, A. per cent;
Vancouver, 81 per cent. Yet,
even at this low rate many OF the
tax payers felt it severely. The
state of Washington has wisely
limited municipal Indebtedness to
5 per cent. When we try to
measure the propositions of our
too sanguine citizens we are as
founded at its enormity, when we
try to get at the probable cost we
are batfled; the subject seems to
glide away from us for we see
neither height, length or breadth
to it. However intangible the
end may now be to us, if under
taken, the annual reminders
would come, and trouble also.
The warnings We have written
may seem as if by the crank or
mossback, but let US see. Within
the past four years the county.
which includes the city, has erect
ed a court house at cost of about
$4,000; one year later Corvallis
school district erected public
school building at a cost of $2O,-
300, neither of which are entirely
paid for. Then again, last fall
The city council contracted for a
city hall the cost of which will not
be less than $4,000. When we
glance at those figures or at the
buildings, the mossback or crank
certainly cannot be around here,
certainly not when we take into
the limited means
'btainable as seen by the assess
lble amount of property from
which the means are taken.
Then again, there is a loss to
he tax payer of the city of the
AK lost upon $4,000 which is
assessed, but escapes payment
through Indebtedness which has
o be made up by those who pay.
Under these circumstances it is
veil to get wisdom or experience
rom where we can. We have
tated that the best of experience
# the substantial western states
lave found that an Indebtedness
# 5 per cent. upon assessable
is all that the property
an safely or judiciously carry.
We have shown that the cities ofI
ur neighboring state, Washing
Oh. follows in the same path, also
hat the world of finance strongly |
pprove of this amount as well.
lacing every safeguard possible
gainst too much indebtedness.
IN the other hand, the legislature
as empowered our council to go
, the extent of % per cent.
hen they may go to the next or
lture legislatures for further de
res. By the way, it is limited
nat they propose asking the next
,gislature for a five mill tax for
eneral purposes. Now, can any
ne inform us what there is about
ur property owners or city that
-e should be compelled to carry
n Indebtedness with the necessary
TX of five times what other cities
re called upon to meet9
There seems but one thing to
q under orr DreSent condition !