Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-09-06
FOR TAXATION PURPOSES.
Financial Status of City Ascer-
tanned by a Special Com
mittee.
Fair Facts Concerning James
towns State Exhibition
Local News.


day evening E. s. Lawrence and fifteen
others, residents or property owners
along Fifth avenue, protested to the
council against the improvement to side
walk contemplated under ordinance No.
"a, passed Aug. 9Th, and which became
operative Sept. 1st. They asked for the
repeal Of the ordinance. The ordinance
states that between the first day OF
September 1894, and September 1st,
1895, incombustible sidewalks shall be
laid on Fifth avenne at the expense OF
the property owners. The protest was
tabled.
Geo. Singler, A. $. Walsh and r. E..
Giese asked the council to reduce their
dray license to $40 per year, payable six
months IN advance, commencing July
1st. 1894. The matter was referred 20
the license committee. The city attor-
ney was given no explicit directions to
take in regard to the present unpaid
licenses, and it is probable that the dray-
men will be pulled unless they come up
to the scratch and pay the license as pre-
scribed by the ordinance.
Alderman Wells, as chairman of the
committee to whom was referred the
question OF compiling financial state
ment of the finances Of the city for the
past year, estimating its revenues and
expenditures and ascertaining IN con-
| nection Herewith the probable receipts
and disbursements for the fiscal year Of
1894 -'95-this committee consisted of
the mayor, the city attorney and the
chairman of the finance committee, Mr..
| Wells--presented an exhaustive and
complete financial statement and gave
the ltemlzed receipts and disbursements
for the fiscal years of 1928. 1S93-94
and 1894 -95, together with other detailed
information in regard to the probable in
come for the present fiscal year. The
report was asked for ID connection with
the making Of the tax levy for the pres
ent year, to ascertain the financial foot
ing OF the city and thereby to regulate
the amount of taxation for the coming
year. In connection with the report the
chairman OF the committee stated that
in gong over the books and examining
the items OF expenditure, it was believed
that in numerous instances. If the coun-
cil could have the moral courage to dis
cuss bills that are presented to that
body fairly and openly, and express the
same opinion regarding them, tha: they
express on the outside that great and
considerable saving in disbursements
conld, be made without in the slightest de-
gree affecting it's efficiency. There had
been neglect in the manner OF collecting
revenue, aud the committee was satisfied
that If the present ordinances were en-
forced it would increase the revenue
from one to two thousand dollars per
annuD, and this without framing any
new ordinances. One of these neglected
items was that of the poll tax. The
books showed a taxable population OF
400, and yet but about 800 had been
collected. There had been expenses in
some instances that we're not entirely
necessary, and saving could have been
made in that direction which would have
been OF much benefit to tile treasury.
The city clerk reported sl55.5O col
lected during the past month.
VIM. u. Allen OF Fargo, took out a
plumbers license and presented bond
for $1,000, which was approved by the
council.
In connection with the making Of con
nections with the main sewer it was
found that there are no regulations gov,
ernlng that subject and it was deemed
advisable to regulate the same by ordi-
nance and an ordinance in regard to the
subject was read for the benefit OF the
council and then referred to the judiciary
committee for their approval and cor
rection wherever it was deemed neces-
cary. Until this committee can report
in regard to the same, the city
engineer was instructed to see that all
connections made up to the date Of the
passage Of the regulations be in con.
form,ty with the rules just read.
The sidewalk on the west side OF
Fourth avenue from the north eide OF
Pacific avenue. north, to the north side
Of lot No. IA, on the east side Of block 80
vas ordered rebuilt.
BILLS ALLOWED.
jamestown Telephone Co, rents 90
Gieseler, Blewett 4 Co, hardware ! IS
Joe Mason, constructing side.
walks and crossings. ......... l3O 75
H A Blood, returning ballot box. 90
josiah Piersou, drying hose. 90
filling IN crossing. IS
burying dead horse 90
labor on sidewalks 6 10
B P Tiiden, engineers services. l25 90