Semi=weekly graphic., 1899-08-23
THE IMPROVEMENT DIS TRlCT PROJECT A THING
 OF THE PAST.
THE FARCE MEETING.
City Attorney Young Says There is no Law Authorizing
 Such an Enterprise.
The goose is dead.

1ne goose IS uedu'
 Friday afternoon in pursuance to call, members of the Commercial League, property owners and citi- izens in general met at the Bluff City Club parlors to take initial steps and to sound the people ia regard to the petition recently pre- sented to the city council asking that body to take the necessary steps for the establishment of an improvement district embracing the whole of the territory within the corporate limits of this city, for the purpose of erecting, building and constructing an electric light plant, and electric street railray, and tke building Cf city hall"
 President Fox, of the Conner cial League, called the meeting to order. He then, in a few well chosen words, made known the ob- ject of the meeting He said the meeting was not held for those who were strong advocates of an i'm provement district and municipal ownership, but for those who were opposed to the enterprise as well. He added that tbe meeting was just to bring out the opinions of all who wished to be heard, and that tt meeting was TOW open for the free expression of the people.
 Mayor Alexander arose and said that doubtless all in attendance were well aware that there had been a scheme" on foot in this city for the past year or more to secure a street railway. He said he knew there was not one taxpayer in the city who was not in favor of tLe proposed enterprise
 "And now that Mir. W Wood las failed, which 1 much regret" con tinued Mr. Alexander, and having nothing else tangible, a petition has been drawn up by the proper, y owners, whereby an improvement district could be formed and an cleo. tr!c car line could be constructed He then told of the benefits to be derived by the city from such an enterprise and explained to the as- semblage as to how it would be run when completed. Throughout his entire address he advocat ted the en- terprise and said he was strong advocate of municipal ownership. He said the council does not wish to put anything here that would be a great burden to the people and that they were sincere in their move He said, some people say we could issue bonds, but there was no differ ence in the present move and the issuance of bonds, as the people would have to pay extra taxes any way to redeem them.
 Mir. Alexander concluded by say ing that it was a general opinion that the present move would oe a dangerous factor in politics He admittedthat it would have some effect but not enough to lnjure the city's welfare. He contended that the DO litical part of it could be altered by the appointment of three commits sio4ers, one for four, one for five and the other for fifteen years, to attend to the construction Of the plant and after it was completed, it was to be turned over to the city, who would manage it.
 The next speaker was City At torney w. T. oung. In substance Mr. Young said: II do not wish to enter into any discussion as to the oropriety of the formation of an improvement district for the pur- poses mentioned in resolution passed by the city council, but merely to raise question that cpn- fronts us in the very incipiency of such movement, and that is, have