Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1892-07-20


property.
With a proper system Of sewerage
the Oil Mills would be protected in
the inst enjoyment of their property,
and being in the district, would have
to bear their proportion of the sewer
age taxes.
Now the only way we can get sew
erage in this district, or substantial
improvements of any kind in the
city, is for the real estate owners to
agree to additional taxation to raise
the money necessary,
In other words it is left to the own
ers Of real estate, who would be the
benefciarios, to say whether we shall
keep pace with our sister cities and
towns by making this much needed
I Improvement
The steps necessary to be taken for
sewerage taxation, the district having
been formed is for q majority in val
ne Of the owners Of real property
therein to petition the council to lay
an annual tax for the purpose OF
doing the work. Upon the presenta-
ton of this petition to the city com-
Gil a board of public improvement
consisting Of three owners Of real es-
tate III their district viii be appoint
ed be the council, which board will
make an estimate of the cost Of the
improvement proposed, and an ordi-
nance will then be passed assessing
the cost of the improvement upon the
real property in the district, assessing
each parcel of real property according
to its value as shoWn,by the last Coun-
ty Assessment.
If the estimated cost Of the improve
ment exceed one per cent of the as
sessed value Of the real estate in the
district the then ordinance must pro-
vide that the assessment shall be paid
in successive annual assessments.
The annual assessment for sewerage
IN Camden is "a mills,
The money so raised can not be
used for any other purpose than that
stipulated for in the ordinance laying
same.
And for the purpose Of raising the
necessary money to do the work be-
fore the taxes are collected, the Board
of Public Improvement are authorized
to pledge all unpaid assessments as
security for borrowed money,
The Obligations Of Improvement
districts issued for borrowed money
are regarded as first class securities,
and money may be borrowed at the
rates Of and 8 per cent
The Board Of Public improvement
are required to serve without com
pensation, and can not be interested
in any contract for the Improvement
contemplated.
We ought to have a good system Of
sewerage, if any at all, and nothing
can be expected but that it will be
expensive, although the cost observer
age here, on account Of the light sandy
soil, will be as cheap as that Of any
city in either Of the two States.
The exact cost Of sewerage in this
district can not now be estimated,
and this can only be known after tax
alton has been agreed upon and the
estimate made by the Board Of Public
Improvements The cost will depend
upon the specifications Of the board
have written anumber Of letters and
expect to have estimates made by per-
sons who will bid for the contract and
by this means, the approximate cost
may be obtained.
So far as the cost Of the work is con
ccrned | think the burden Of taxation
will not be great in raising the neces
sary amount Of money. The assessed
value Of the property within the dis
trict amounts to $59916O. A small
tax upon this amount Of property fol-
a few years would be sufficient. Thu
above assessment includes the Irol
Mountain Railroad and the Nationo
Cotton Oil Mills plant in ToXarkana
which two corporations pay upon al
assessed valuation Of $9J,560.
The City Council can have nothing
more to do in this sewerage question
until after the petition is presented
asking that the cost Of sewerage b.
levied upon the property in the dis
trict. They have nothing to do ther
except to pass an ordinance leyyint
the tax, and to appoint the Board o
Public Improvement The labor o
getting the signatures Of propert
owners deyolyos upon the citizens o
the town. Two or three men shoul,
uot be expected to do all this work
In ordor ia make this matter Il success