The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-08-02
VOTING A LARGE SUM
To Grade Uniontown Hin, Over
Which Electric Road is to
Run--Talk Of In
10 Junction.

beyond ITniontown on the Canton and
Akron road over which the Canton and
Akron street railway will run, has ex-
cited great deal of adverse comment
among the citizens of Canton and tax
payers generally throughout the coun-
ty.
The commissioners recently levied q
special tax of four-tenths OF a mill for
the purpose of raising funds to make
road improvements where they were
badly needed, with the condition that
the abutting property owners pay a
certain proportion Of the cost. At the
solicitation of the city tax commission
this levy was reduced to $40 mills.
Acting under this provision, William
Hickman and 26 other property owners
living in Lake township. between the
lands of William Hickman and the
public square of the village of Union
town. petitioned the commissioners to
appropriate funds and order the three
hills on the road at that point
GRADED AND IMPROVED
The property owners agreed to pay
one-half the expense, but they had prev
iously agreed with the Canton-Akron
Street Railway company that their per-
sonal assessments should be paid by the
electrical company, and it will not cost
the petitioners single cent. On the
other hand IL is estimated that it will
cost the county $4,000, which amount
will be paid out of the funds arising
from this special tax and will come off
the property owners and taxpayers all
over the county.
Commissioner Summer stated to a
News-Democrat reporter that it was I'M
derstood the electric railway company
was to buy all the assessments of the
petitioners. THE work will cost a
large amount. We will advertise and
sell the contract. and the electric COM
pany will bid FOR the work at $4,000
The county will pay half this amount
and the electric company will bear the
rest of the expense. That is the ar
rangement."
Commissioner Crawford voted no, just
as he did on the bridge building propos-
ition. Summer and Johnson carried
the proposition
OVER HIS PROTEST.
A number of persons who discussed
the question, Wednesday, about the
corridors of the court house and on
the streets stated that in all probability
there would be an injunction asked for
to prevent the carrying out Of the
proposition. but the general impress
sion is that no one will be found will
ing to take the initiative. The terms
of the franchise granted the electric
company were discussed and there was
some difference Of opinion as to its
exact provisions. The document as
referred to and the two pertinent
clauses are as follows:
when it is necessary TO raise or
lower said public road to conform to
the grade of the street railway, all
said grading shall be done at the ex.
pense of the said Thomas L. Childs
his heirs, successors or assigns"
"All the necessary bridges, culverts
drains. bitches, and water courses that
may be found necessary, shall be built
at the expense of said Thomas l..
Childs. his heirs, successors or as.
signs"
The county has already taken on it.
self the burden of two-thirds of the
cost of
A STONE ARCH BRIDGE
along the route and is now arranging
to do half the grading of the Uniontown
hills.
1t is urged of course by those who
advocate the work being done that it
will be great public benefit. and the
electrical company threatened to go
around the hill over a private right
of way IL the county did not aid in the
work, yet on the other hand IL Is
claimed that the company secured
valuable privilege In going over the
highway, avoiding the expense of buy.
ing private right of way. and there
will be less grading all along the route
over the road than there would be over
new territory, as the road all along it's
length has been graded to some extent.
No contract can at present be enter
ed into legally, as there is no money
in the fund and the taxes are not in
course of collection. This is provi-
sion of the law that the commissioners
cannot go beyond.
SUMMER TALKS.
Commissioner j. B. Summer was seen
by News Democrat reporter Wednes-
day morning and his attention was
called to the many criticisms that were
urged against their action In paying for
o part Of the grading Of the hill. He
said:
Z "The people OF Uniontown have been
wanting that graded for twenty years
and here was a chante to get 1t done
for half price. Had wa not done SO the
electric railway company would have
left the highway and gone around II.
The tax will amount TO about 10 cents
on every $1,000 Of the valuation,