Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-17
waite TnE ToWN SIZE.

OAnle ypHIN 10 HuuO0L VI plO'
gressiye men came west and organ
zod y town. company, that plated Q
towr. pesr the center Of Phillips conn.
~, sud called il Phillipsburg. Al
the years rolled on, additions to the
original town were made, not that the
old town was crowded, Ebut that more
room WAS needed IN which to grow
After the town had fought and won
the county seat war, a rest was had
Then the Rock Island road, full OF
the energy that il has, sent men out
into this land. It was..fsir and pleas
to look up. A survey was made and
the road pushed westward. Phillips
burg was made a division station, and
the boom was on. Bonds were voted
for railroad, school house, and water
works, TO the full limit that the law
allows. Prior to the issuance Of a
portion, at least, OF these bonds, 9th
or additions were LAID out, in part
by spectators. The additions we re-
greet TO say did not pay out as ex-
pected. Now the boom is over, land
values have deprecated, and taxes
are high. The owners Of portion Of
these additions ask relief from the
awful burden Of city taxation and lot
valuations. The matter comes up be-
fore the county commissioners at the
January meeting. We venture to say
that every property owEer in the city
has the same wish. How to escape
this burden Of debt taxation is the
question. How would it do TO move
the town to any unmortRaged quarter
Of land in the neighborhood if any
such can be found. The debts would
be repudiated by this action, but the
town could commence over again
Possibly the bond holders would OBJ
iect, and head us cif.
When these bonds were issued the
valuation Of property was based upon
the value of personal property and
real estate contained in the city with
all the plated additions counted IN.
Since that time 3 Kansas Legislature
has seen fit to vaCate the streets and
alleys in q large portion of one Of the
additions, and now movement is on
foot to get out q large slice more. Tt
is said that the vacation Of streets and
alleys does not throw the land outside
Of the city limits, but the fact that the
land in which streets and alleys have
been vacated does not pay city taxee,
shows that when these highways are
vacated the land is not assessed as be-
ing in the city.
This addition is not paying any
thing to its owners, but how about
other property. It is all alike. The
debts have been made and must be
paid. Gan the city afford to allow
The security upon which these bonds
we're issued, to be impaired? We
think not. No reputation should be
the word. If sometime in the future
The debts the city owes are paid, then
these outside strips Of land should be
allowed to go IN peace, but until that
time the burden of tax must not be
increased upon the man who has I'M
productive inside property in order to
ease upon those who are upon the
edges. Two lots in this addition
we're recently sold for $25. They are
at S. or one fifth, when it is
that property is assessed at
It's full value.
II the city limits could be extended
On the north and the productive rail
road property taken in, no objection
would be made to this or any other
vacation. This cannot be
done without the consent Of the rail-
road company. We are all in bad
boat, and must sink or float together
We predict that the commissioners
will not grant the prayer Of the Pc
tition.