The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-02

secure possession of the property.
"We have also been negotiating in re-
gard to the purchase of machinery, but
this matter has taken no definite shape,
and cannot proceed further until the
question of the possession of the quarry
is finally determined"
Attention is called to the fact that
grass is growing on many of the streets
between street car tracks. and it is rec
commended that the Street Railway COM
pany be notified to remove the grass
as quickly as possible. 1t is also recon-
mended that the chief of police be re-
quested to call specially to the attention
of his men the matter of grass growing
or the sidewalks. The property owners
are supposed to Keep their sidewalks
clean and free from grass.
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
The following report of the Board of
Equalization, composed of Messrs. j. Nj.
Broughton, John ID. Briggs and l.. Ii.
Royster, was submitted and adopted:
Finding that conjoint action of the
county commissioners was necessary to
give legal authority, we requested the
Board of county commissioners to enter
upon the duty of equalization with us;
mittee to act for them in all matters
pertaining to improved valuations of
real estate since the last assessment, 1893.
In conjunction with this committee this
Board then made a personal inspection
of every piece of real estate in Raleigh
where there had been any Improvements
in the three years past, and placed upon
each, as we believe, fair and proper
vol ,rat In, 70 do n.
ly, we made a division Of the city and
canvassed every street By this work
we added to the tax list very consid-
cradle amount that would have other
wise escaped taxation. The County
Commissioners having expressed an un-
willingness to 90 into the adjustment of
valuations of unimproved real estate,
we could not enter upon that much
needed work. There will be an entire
new assessment in 1898, and we believe
the county commissioners will heartily
cooperate with this Board in seeing that
a proper valuation is assessed at the
time.
1--WE beg to call your attention to the
fact that there is much evasion of the
law in the matter of listing personal pro-
perty for taxation. Many thousands, if
lars worth of personal property in Raj
eigh is not listed at all for taxation. We
desired very much to go into a full inves-
tigation of this matter, seeing that such
inequality existed, but the county board
preferred not to open up this question
this year. We consulted the city at
torney, who advised US that we had no
power to correct this evil by ourselves.
We therefore had to drop the question
for the present, hoping to find a remedy
before listing another year begins.
Just here, it seems to us the law Great
ing this Board is very defective. 1t is
very plain in stating what we shall do,
but gives no independent authority for
the performance of these duties.
''We regret that we have not been able
to do what we find ought to be done in
this matter of personal property. But
as the law now stands, we have done all
we can do this year.
I'VE make two suggestions: a. That
you authorize this Board to appoint one
of their number to sit with the ist-taker
at the next listing time; ~. that in
future no building or improvement to a
building be allowed in the city without
first obtaining a permit from the city,
have had the hearty cooperation and
much valuable assistance from the City
Clerk, Mr.. III. E. Smith, who has served
as secretary of this Board"
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
This report was referred to the Fin
ance committee, to take in consideration
the two very important recommendations
contained in it.
The report of the Finance committee
showed that during the month of Sep
tember the receipts had been $2,260.74;
the expenditures $5,511.63. The re-
ceipts were: For taxes, $2,164.79; collec-
tons of chief of police, $195.95. Among
the expenses were the following: Police
pay roll, $1,490.13: street pay roll,
'$639.59; the fire department, $1SO.67;
health department, $217S7; lights.
S427 ;codifying ordinancesJ. N. Hold
ing) $3.50; Victof Fire Company build
ing $500; stone P. Linehan) $519.O5;
pavilion at Pullen Park CFord Bros).
$500: poll-holders and registers for bond
election, S216; lights (Rale:gh Gas Com
pany), $259.02.
The report of the Light committee
showed that lights for September cost
S629.S0. OF this amount $42344 was
paid for electric lights and $20G.3G for
gas lamps.
City physicians McGhee and Rem re-
ported II patients treated during the
month of Seutember, 104 visits made;
81 office consultations; 100 prescriptions
filled; &C patients d:scharged;4 continued;
/ died.
The contract for laying 500 feet of six
inch sewer pipe on East Jones street was
awarded to Young and Hughes for $155,
this being the lowest bid. The pipe is to
be laid feet deep, with one manhole
and one lamp-hole.
petition from the police force asking
Tor overcoats was read and referred to
the Police committee.
An application was made by Ben Cater,
tcoL1. FOR license to retail lquor at cor.
ner East Hargett street in East Raleigh.
The application was referred to the Pol
ice committee.
The request of J. %. Carroll. a saloon
keeper on Hargett street in East Raj
eigh that his l:qnor license be trans
ferrcd to w. A. Ferrall, was also re-