The herald., 1893-08-01
A STREET IMPROVEMENT C|NCH
The Dangerous Provisions OF
the Bond Act.
Row Contractors Ara Enabled to
Confiscate Property.
Mayor Rowan Has His Indignation
Aroused At tho Ubiquitous Wrong
or the Street Law-The OBJ
jectionable Provision.

Few people are aware of the extent to
which the bond act in relation to street
improvements presses unfairly upon the
property owner who is unfortunate
enough to come under the penalties OF
its sweeping provisions.
At hrst sight it seems very nice
thing for the property owner that he
should be allowed to pay in ten equal
annual instalments, with interest, the
amount which it has cost to improve his
lot with fine paved street along his
frontage. Instead OF making him pay cash
down in lump for his improvements
he is given 10 years in which to do 1t
and the amount is an encumbrance on
his property like tax lien, and can be
paid in tho same manner. as the confid-
ing owner has been told and naturally
believes. But when taxes become de-
linquent there is always reasonable
time allowed to elapse before the prop
erty is sold, and even after that bad day
has passed the owner can come in and
redeem under certain conditions.
But the street bond law is peculiar in
this, that the failure of the owner to pay
duy luSb6lllAoAb Vi 4ntOkOSb VI RlAhOAO0A
when due works q forfeiture of the
whole remaining amount due on the
bond, and such amount rs delinquent
on the dsy following. The whole of the
property may then be sold without
power OF redemption, and the only
chance the bewildered property owner
has left is to make terms If he can with
the omnivorous contractor or his Shy
lock assignee.
This matter has come to focus since
the delinquencies that occurred on the
Let of July last when the contractors
closed down on those who were forget
ful or unfortunate and declared the
whole amount of the payments, sup
posed to be spread over 10 years, i'm
mediately one and payable and pro-
ceeded to sell the lots upon which the
liens were attached.
Mayor Rowan has been called upon
by number of these unfortunates who
have lost their property under the
working of this law and his sympathies
and indignation have both been aroused
at the knowledge of the unfair advan-
tage which the law in its present state
gives to the holders of street
bonds. 1t is the suddenness with
which snap judgment is taken upon the
property holder, against which the
genial mayor most strongly protests. At
the same time there seems to be no help
for it until the law can be amended. So
many people, however, may lose their
property through ignorance of the strin-
gent provisions of this law, that it may
prove of public service II the obnoxious
section be given in full, and for this rea-
son, and at the mayors suggestion, it is
here appended:
Section Al. Whenever, through the
default of the owner of any lot or par
eel of land to represent the assessment
upon which euch bund has been issued,
any pay ment, either upon the principal
or of the interest, shall not be made
when the same ia due, and the holder of
the boond thereupon demands, in writ
ing, THAT the said city treasurer, proceed
to advertise and sell said lot or parcel OF
land, as therein provided, stheh the
whole bond or it's unpaid remainder,
with it's accrued interest, shall become
due and payable Immediately, and on
the day following shall become de-
linauent; and the city treasurer
shall have and shall act thereafter
with all the powers and duties, nof the
tax collector in the collection Of unpaid
| state ana county taxes, ana enRtl 1Oftn-
with proceed to advertise and sell said
lot or parcel of land by proceedings in
all respects the same as are provided by
law for the collection of delinquent state
and county taxes. All such provisions
and proceedings, after taxes have be-
come delinquent. Including the certifi-
cate of sale, the right of redemption,
and the deed. with the respective costs
thereof, are hereby made applicable to
this pasa