The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-25
KICK ON THE ASSESSMENT.
Some of Copeland's Work Is Caus-
ing Trouble.

A delegation OF property owners from
the West side appeared before the
board of public works yesterday and
entered a protest against the assess
ment for the Wood street sewer. The
total cost Of the sewer, which was con-
structed under a contract let by eX-
Commissioner Copeland of the public
works department, is 1880. The sewer
is trifie over four blocks in length,
extending little more than two blocks
on Wood street, one block on South
Robert street and another block on Col
orado street
The first preliminary order for the
Wood street sewer reached the board
oil public works last summer before it
was ousted from Office. The board sub
mitted an adverse report on the order.
But after Mr.. Copeland took charge
the council, through the efforts of Aid.
Bell, sent in another preliminary order,
which met with a favorable report
from the commissioner. The improve
ment was then put through, the con-
tract being let by the commissioner
and confirmed by the council.
In making the assessment it was
found that the railroad property 'front.'
ing along the line of that portion of
the sewer ON Wood street was not
benefited thereby, and could not there
fore be assessed. The private property
on the south side of the street was as
sessed 81. 25 per front foot. The proper
ty owners consider the assessment too
high. For that matter they insist that
their property is not benefited and
that they did not want the sewer in
the first place.
The board continued the matter until
next Thursday
Other matters that came before the
board were the Fifth street paving as
Il
the assessment for paving Robert
street, which was completed The
board laid out the district to be as
Bessed for the Improvement of Iglehart
street and directed notice thereof to be
sent to the property owners interested.
A communication was received from
five signers of the petition for the open
Ing of a roadway or street ON the bank
of the Mississippi river from the foot
of Jackson street to the foot of Eagle
street Withdrawing their names from
the petition. The communication was
signed by the Ohio Coal company, the
st. Paul Implement company, W. H.
Ulmer, the Nelson Morris Co. and the
Sehwarzschild and Sulzberger Beef
company.
The board of public works recently
sent the council AN adverse report on
Aid. BigeloW'S resolution for the open
ing of a roadway on the levee from
Jackson to st. Peter streets. Aid
BigeloW's resolution, which was adopt
ed last July, was directed to the board
of public works. Subsequently the com
mon council adopted a resolution by
Assemblyman Thompson directing the
commissioner of public works and city
engineer to open the roadway from
Jackson to the foot of Eagle street
The latter resolution being addressed
to the commissioner was not considered
by the board. Yesterday Assemblyman
Thompson requested the board to send
his resolution back to the council The
request viii be complied with.
Mr.. Thompson wanted to know why
the board declined to consider his reso-
luton
Because it was addressed to the
commissioner of public works. an
swered President German, "and the
board would not presume to NEEDLE
with it."
But the commissioner took up and
continued the work of the board wher
he came into Office, didn't he?" inquired
Mr.. Thompson.
Eyes, but the supreme court said he
had no business to-" was Capt. Cor
mans reply. And Mr.. Thompson de.
parted