Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-06
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
County and City Assessors Are Closing Up
Their Work.
FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT NEEDED
TO Hawthorne school VIII
Do Away with Rented Rooms in
Eastern District-Magtc
City Gossip.

City Gossip.
Tax matters are coming to a focus and
in a few DAYS returns from both the county
and city assessors will be published. The
county assessors will complete their work
on June 10 and turn in reports. while the
city assessment under Tax Commissioner
Fitzgerald will not be finished until June
10. The county assessors will make q d.
rect report to the clerk and the county
commissioners, while the city assessors will
submit a statement to the mayor, council
and a board Of review. Under the charter
the mayor and the treasurer each has the
right TO appoint one member Of the board
Of review and the tax commissioner makes
the third member.
As soon as the city assessment is CON-
pleted the board Of review will meet and
equalize the assessment. Treasurer Howe
has not slgnifed his preference for any
person on the board and as far as known
Mayor Koutsky has not done so. The
board will consider the assessment Of indi-
viduals, receive and act upon complaints
and will have the authority to make any
changes deemed necessary.
When the final action OF the board is made
the tax books for the city will be made up
and then when the total valuation is an
nounced the levy will be made. AS for
the valuation, that is mere conjecture, as
until the figures are turned in even the
tax commissioner himself cannot tell what
the total will be. 1t is hoped, however,
that the valuation this year will be larger
than il has been in the past in order that
the levy may be reduced.
In a few days the assessors will be in a
position to give figures and then COMPARE
sons may be made.
Wants Chemical Engine.
While at the present time the city FIRE
fund is depleted and the fire fighters will
have TO go without money for a month or
so. there will soon be a fund to draw from
and then some recommendations for i'm
movements in the service will be made. In
the first place Chief Etter wants some new
hose. As hose is badly needed the council
will doubtless grant the request Then
the chief will ask, or rather suggest, that
the city purchase q chemical engine. This
engine. he says, could be stationed at No.
/ fire hall and make runs to gasoline stove
explosions, etc, and do a great deal OF
work now left TO the heavier apparatus OF
the department. While the levy as per-
mitted by charter is not sufficient to main
tain the department as it now is, some
think that the finance committe can find
some way TO secure the needed improve
ments.
Preparing for Pupils.
President Miller Of the Board OF Educa-
ton said yesterday that the two rooms
to be built as an addition 10 Hawthorne
school would DO away with a number Of
rented rooms in the eastern portion OF the
city and would give a great deal better
satisfaction 10 all concerned. II is esti-
mated that the two rooms, which will be
constructed on the rear OF the present
building. will cost about 81, 900. With the
furnishings the cost may run as hlgh as
$4,000. However, there is money on hand
to pay for the addition, as at the present
time the district is in fairly good shape
financially.
There is some talk Of one or two sddi-
tional rooms at Lowell school. but PresI-
dent Miller and some OF the other mem
bers OF the board do not think that the
expenditure is warranted at this time. An
effort will be made to have the new rooms
at Hawthorne ready for occupancy by the
time school opens in the fall.
Continuing improvements.
ofhcials Of the Nebraska Telephone COM
pany were in the city yesterday making
plans for the construction Of a number OF
aQQlLlOud CABLES II Is the intention OF
the company 10 place all Of the principal
lines in the business part Of the city in
cables this summer. These cables will also
be extended so as to take in quite a por-
ton Of the residence districts. II is re-
= ported that for the improvements under
contemplation the company will spend
something like $4,000 for material and
Z labor. AT the present time a number Of
linemen are working on the cables already
E in course Of construction. The idea is &c
do away as much as possible with over
head wires and thus give better service II
case OF storms.
D Waiting for Material
The bridge builders working for the Elk,
horn in The northwestern part Of the city
are being held back some by lack Of ma
{ tsrial. The viHduct at Thirty-siXth stree
E should have been completed long ago, bu.
il is impossible 10 secure the steel. Som
: Of the material Is here. the piers and ap
4 proaches have been constructed and every
{ thing is ready for the bridge builders, Tn
: force Is now working on the steel bridg1
across the tracks near the boulevard. In
70 less material arrives rapidly the Thirty
8 sixth street county road yiaduct viii no
5 be finished before fail.
, williams Brought Back.
a Alexander Williams. colorsd. is in jal
e here. charged with stealing e sack OF mane
y from John Carlow. About three weeks az
z Williams. who Was working al the Carlo'
cafe. Euddslly departed with : sack