Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-08-02

In granting this relief at this time
the council will give impetus TO
the substantial growth of the city |
at a very opportune time. To
deny it would be to retard a |
a movement which promises to
make Lewiston within a few years
the first city OF commercial import. |
ance in the state.
The growth OF this portion of
the city during the present year
has been remark able. Thousands
of dollars in valuation have been
but in the new resident properties;
but the limited water supply and
total lack Of fire protection have
caused many to hesitate to invest.
and those who have invested now
look to the city for protection and
reliei. The water company will
be forced by this action TO expend
SEQ, 900 in laying new mains
across the hill from the reservoir,
in order to give the pressure needed
tor fire purposes. This will cause
the rapid development of new por-
tons of the fat living directly un-
der the mains, and hasten the
growth CT the city manifold.
There is another phase of the
question which should not escape
the attention of the council, and
that is their limitations to impose
a tax upon any portion not directly
benefited by all outlay for which
the tax was imposed. The char
t,r specifically says that the corpo-
ration is "To levy and collect a
special tax to pay water rent; pro-
vided, that said taxes shall not
exceed one half of one per ccntum
annually, within the LIMITS BEN
RFITTED by such works, which
limits shall be fixed by the city
council each year, before levying
any tax authorized by this section;
aud said taxes shall ONLY be
assessed, levied and collected on
property WITHIN SAID LIMITS !"
The tax for water purposes, fire
protection, flushing of sewers, etc. +,
has for the past several years been
one half of one per cent, and the
assessment has been paid by resi-
dents on the Hill, though they
need not have done so if Il ey had
asserted their rights; for it cannot
be said by any fair construction
that this portion of the city derives
any particle of benefit from money
expended Tor this purpose. They
have had neither FIRE protection
nor sewerage, and in no sense are
they amenable for this tax. II
this petition is denied it is hardly
to be supposed that the council can
expect to receive further taxes for
fire protection from the citizens OF
the Hill, as their property is not
within the limits benefited by
such tax.
If the authorities fail to give the
citizens relief they will have still
a recourse left in an appeal to the
county commissioners, to fix an
equitable rate for the water service
thew have. At present residents
on the Hill pay a rate made on the
same basis used for the whole sys.
TEN, although the water pressure
is in most part less than half that in
the city below, and in many cases
water cannot be had through the
pipes for hours at a time. The
water company is corporation
acting under public franchise il
cannot discriminate against any
one, but is bound to give equal SER
vice for equal rites or accept pro-
portional payment.
The session laws of 1899 provide
that the board Of county commits
sioners shall act as a committee OF
arbitration. Section 20 of the act
says That the county commits.
sioners of each county now organ.
lied, and of each county to be
hereafter organized in this state,
shall, at their regular session in
January of each year aud at such
other sessions as they in their dis.
cretion may deem proper, hear and
consider all applications which may
be made to them by any
person or persons using or consum.
ing water for irrigation or other
beneficial purpose or purposes from