Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-04-04
A SPLENDID SHOWING.
jamestown Most Economically
Managed of any North
western City.

Taxes Two-thirds Less Than
in Other Cities of Same
Class.
Alderman Wells, chairman Of the
finance committee, presented to the
council last evening statement in refu-
tatlon of the attack made against the
city by Taxpayer, who charged the
present administration with "prohigate
* Is * management of public affairs"
and who said that jamestown ''called a
city, had been run on scale of expense
equal to many eastern cities of four times
It's population" and who also spoke of
the city as "prostrate." Mr.. Wells stated
that he had, ut considerable labor and
time, examined the warrant books and
vouchers for every dollar expended in
the city for the last four years; examined
the records of tha meetings of the coun-
Gil and had made himself familiar with
the affairs of the city As evidently had
not the man who assumed the right to
criticise Its management in the past. He
deemed that public notice should be
taken OF the charges made against the
city administration, for even lie, If re-
peated with sufficient vehemence, will
convince a portion of the public. He
gave taxpayer" ricb, brown roast.
Mr.. Wells said that Taxpayer" when
denounc,ng the "prohigate management"
Of the city, did not know that James.
town is the most economically managed
city of its size and influence in the north
west. In support of this he exhibited a
table showing the detailed expenditures
OF the city for each of the past three
years, showing the tax levy for the past
six years, and the aggregate amount Of
tax.
"The figures" Mr,2Ne said, "were not
given in defense of any particular ad-
ministration nor to facilitate compari-
sons between different years, but that
tax payers may not be mieled and
deceived by the false statements and the
malicious moutbings of few people who
have little else to occupy. their time"
The figures presented showed that for
the fiscal years ending April Let, Of 80 8,
SO and '35 the aggregate expenses
675.27, s2O,314.S3 and SIS, ,71O67 respec-
lively. The delinquent sidewalk a.
sesment was in 80 S3O250, 81 nothing.
92 $592.63, 93 nothing and IN "a
The tax levy and amount 90 raised
during the following six years were:
'89, 10 mills levy, s15, III; 10 80 q mills
levy, S21. Ill; in 81 q mills levy, $40, ,43l; !;
in 90 20 mills levy, Sl6,925; in 93 20
mills levy. sl7,l64, and in "a 25 mills
levy, $19,573. The average levy for SIX
years was 81 mills.
In comparison to this he showed that
the tax levy in Aberdeen was 80 mills
II mills for schools and 20 for city; in
Grand Forks 1856 mllls-10.2 mills for
schools and 25.4 for city; in Devils Lake,
where they have no water, no sewer, no
lights and last year received from public
resort licences s3,695, 3O15 mills-l4 for
schools and 161155 city; in Wahpeton, also
with no lights OF sewer, GO mills-14 for
schools and 46 for city; in Fargo 38.5
mills-13 for schools and 25.5 for city,
and in Minneapolis 60 mills.
These figures show that the admins
tration of 1890 and 1891 had the use OF a
221a mill tax, each year realizing S2O, $50
of revenue; and almost no sidewalk or
street repairs we're made during those
years. The levy was then cut down for
1892 and 1898 so that il all the taxes
were paid it would have realized but
$1,000 each year, ($3,75O less than each
of the two preceding years., and during
the latter years the streets from the
"Severn coulee' on the south to the
cemetery on the north have required
repair. The water mans have been OK
tended, the water revenue increased
four fold over any previous period, $3.50
of city bonds retired, and q sewerage
system inaugurated.
The comparison with other cities is
based on figures furnished by the county
auditors and shows that our taxes are a
little more than one-third as much as
Minneapolis or Wahpe,ou (two extremee)
and less than two thirds as much as
Aberdeen. Grand Forks, Devils Lake or
Fargo. The school expenditures are
included und have averaged $1,000 per
apnum.
The council extended vote of thanks
to Mr.. Wells for the manner in which he
had enlightened that body on the finan-
cial affairs OF the city.
ROUTINE COUNCIL WORK.
During March the city clerk collected
$l95 from public resorts licenses and
500 10 from draymen, etc.
Judge Rose handed down decision IN
the S. Pulver drsy license case, sustain
ing the ordinance and holding that the
arrest and conviction Of the defendant
under the provision of the ordinance
was right.
The city treasurer was instructed to
take the necessary legal steps toward the
collection OF the sewerage assessment as
provided IN the ordinance. The treas.
urer's report for March showed total
balance on hand April 1st. Of $24O 50.
Bills aggregating s2l5.60 we're allowed
A communication was received from
number OF residents of the city and
county requesting a change in county
road No. 2, in the southeastern part OF
the city, running through the land Of M.
H. Schmitz and W. H. Dunstan, so that
it wonld follow the right OF way OF the
Valley branch ont of the city. It was
referred to the street and bridge CON-
on1 - $hO nsk,p n~~,uonv