The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-23
WORLDS FAIR COMPANY OFFICIALS

In the opinion of city officials. business
men. bankers. professional men. capitalists
and others. the sweeping victory of the
Charter amendments at the polls in st
Louis yesterday marks the beginning of .
new era in the history of the city-the ma
terial dawn of a brilliant New st. Louis
Worlds Fair officials declare that the
Overwhelming majority which has been
credited to the amendments is conclusive
evidence of the pride and patriotism OF st
Loulsans and is proof of the local feeling
toward their great undertaking.
On every hand among the substantial
business men and property owners of the
city expressions of felic!tation are common.
They declare that the passage of the Char
ter amendments means that st. Louisans
VIII have better homes for their families,
model streets and avenues. sanitary sewers.
and. all in all. 4 city to which no one need
feel ashamed to invite guest. Under the
amended Charter 1t is claimed that St.
Louis can take Its place among the fore
most cities in the country in respect to all
public improvements
WORK OF IMPROVEMENT
SOON WILL he COMMENCED.
Hiram Phillips, President of the Board of
Public improvements. was jubilant over the
result Of the election. He said that he
had been satisfied for some days that the
Charter amendments would pass but he
had expected they would encounter more
opposition in the southern and northern sec
dons of the city than proved to be the case
Asked as to what would be the plan of
the administration to put into effect the
provisions Of the amendments, Mr.. Phillips
said:
'As soon as the Board of Election Com
missioners has certified to the returns and
announced the official result, which will be
within ten days probably, the first move of
the Board of Public Improvements will be
to lay out the general plan and scope of
the work contemplated by the provisions of
the amendments relating to public improve
ments. This will necessitate, of course, q
vast amount of preliminary work before
We can begin the actual work of improve
ments. In the first place, we will decide
in what districts there exists the most
pressing need for street. alley and sewer
improvements, and make out estimates as
to the material to be used, the cost, etc. To
make these estimates properly and expedi-
dously will necessitate an increase in the
clerical forces of the special-tax depart
ment. the street and sewer departments
and in this department. The work of eSti-
mating the amount Of special assessments
against property in various parts of the
city where improvements were contemplat-
ed will have to be done over again. to
conform to the provisions of the amend
ment, which provides an entirely new meth
cd Of assessment. / believe we can secure
an appropriation for the increased force of
clerks this preliminary work will require.
and II SO We may be able within thirty
days to have our work so we'll in hand that
We can proceed with the legislation neces-
sary to the letting of contracts.
IMPOSE LEAST HARDSHIPS
ON SMALL PROPERTY OWNERS.
1T will be my policy. sosfar as lies In my !
power, to carry the work of improve
ments In such a manner as to impose the
east hardshtps upon the owners of prop
.rty Of little value in certain sections of the
city. BY this i mean that the streets first
to be improved will be those in districts oc-
cupied mainly by the wealthy or weil-to-do.
The improvements In the poorer sections Of
the e1ty, where the owners of property are
apparently Ill able to bear the expense, will
be left for a later period. 1 believe this
method will meet the appreciation Of all
property owners.
II regret" said Mr. Phillips, "that we
will not be able to Immediately realize the |
revenue for public buildings. as
in amendment No. g. 1t will |
be nearly eighteen months before we can |
realize from this revenue If the citizens |
vote us the authority to do so at the cleo
hon next fall. 1t requires special election |
and two-thirds vote Is necessary to give |
- the legal authority to raise the revenue. |
campaign of education. such as the one |
ne have just concluded SO successfully with |
the Charter amendments, will enable the |
voters at the special election to vote prop !
.rly on the question and allow US to provide /
sufficient funds to erect suitable public |
and maintain them in appropriate \
This is one of the crying needs Of the |
.ity. and should have been brought before |
the voters years ago."
STREET COMMISSIONERS WILL
PREPARE FOR THE NEW WORK.