The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-28
COMPARATIVE WEALTH.

II Is necessary to compare Canton
with other cities to show the condi.
ton Of our city.
Canton's bonded debt is $685., 900
over 100000 less than the city OF
Youngstown, and over 100000 less
than the city of Akron which includes
the special act passed by the legisla-
ture week ago, authorizing the city
OF Akron to increase its bonded debt
100000. In this connection We
should compare what the different cit
les own.
The total value of all the property
both real and personal owned by the
city of Akron. If placed on the market,
would not bring near what Canton
could set for the Nimisila park by lay.
ing it into lots. Akron owns all told
about $4,000 worth of real and per-
sona' property. Youngstown about
$4,000 worth and the water works
plant which is not considered a goo
plant. 1t is claimed by one of the
best authorities in Youngstown that,
to put their water plant in good con-
dition and get good water supply it
will require an expenditure of ever q
half million dollars.
Neither of the above cities own any
public buildings outside of engine
houses; Youngstown pays an annua,
rental of nearly $4,000 for buildings
and Offices occupied by the city and
Akron pays about $2,70O for the same
purposes. Canton pays no rent but
receives in rents from property owned
by the city about $1,000 per annum.
In Youngstown, the storm and house
sewerage are connected, system
that has been universally condemned.
Akron has poor sanitary sewerage
while Canton has the best sanitary
sewerage in the country, system
which the city has not been required
to exneDd a single dollar for repairs
since the same was installed; it's storm
water sewer is separate from its
house sewer.
INVIDIOUS COMPARISONS.
The cost of constructing sewers in
Canton aud the cost of street i'm
provements, etc, are considerable less
than either the city of Youngstown
or Akron as the cost of sewers aud
street improvements in the two above
cities are expensive on account
of the cutting of hills and the filing
of hollcws.
The tax duplicate in Akron is
$50 ,424 900; in Youngstown $19, ,223 ,000.
in Canton $12,77S,000 The tax rate
in Akron for all purposes that is the
total an cunt of taxes paid by Il resi-
dent of the city of Akron is 2S 4-l0
mills; in Youngstown 80 40 mills;
and in Canton 80 S-1Q mills.
The city of Akron collected la,
year from her tax payers for city pur-
poses alone s336,661; Youngstown
1924 ,921; Canton $1S1,000.
Canton owns it's own water works
plant, its saleable value would more
than wipe out Canton's debt and leave
a good surplus, something that cannot
he said of any other city in the state.
s1,40O,000 is claimed to be a conser-
vative value of the property owned by
the city of Canton.
Whilo our neighboring cities have
been collecting large sums OF money
from the taxpayers, these cities have
nothing to show for their expenditure
Of money while Canton has collected
but little over half as much per year
as either Akron or Youngstown.
Canton owns property from which
we could realize in cash over four
times as much as any other city in tie
country of $4,000 inhabitants.
LOW TAX DUPLICATE.
1t is claimed that the tax duplicate
in Canton is low, that it is kept so
by reason of the low valuations. 1t
is claimed by competent men that our
valuations are considerable lower than
either Akron or Youngstown. The
best authorities on taxation claim that
a low valuation is the only method
by which taxes can he kept down as
no matter what the tax duplicate is.
the history of all American cities
shows the fact that the tax rate is al
ways up to the full limit allowed by
law That is to say If the tax dupli-
cate in Canton would be doubled and
all our valuations increased the pres
ent year or any other year, there is
no doubt the tax rate within a short
time would he up to the limit, rs is
always the case.
IL you want to make Canton pros
porous, and enlarge her trade, don't
go out of the city for every shoe string,
yard of ribbon or hat you need, or
fly off to Cleveland, Pittsburg or some
other place for lawyer or physician
or grocer or even minister when