Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-07-07
DON GASPAR BRIDGE
A NECESSITY
Over Three Hundred Tax Payers
and Property Owners Have
Signed the Petition for 1t
and Are Willing
to Pay.
MONEY FROM SUCH LEVY CANNOT Be
DIVERTED FOR OTHER PURPOSES

| QuiteAA number Of taxpayers and
property owners who have signed the
| petition to the board of county COM
| missioners for the levy of tax for the
| construction of new bridge across
the Rio Santa Fe on Don Gaspar av-
| enue, called at the office of the New
| Mexican today and stated that they
requested that tax be levied for that
purpose last year, and also this year,
believing that it would be for the best
Interest Of the city were a good, sub
stantial and handsome bridge con,
structed on Don Gaspar avenue, which
is one of the most used thoroughfares
between the south and north sides of
the river. Under the law under which
the tax levy was made last year, the
funds collected from the levy can be
used for no other purpose than for the
construction of this bridge. The law
is peremptory in this matter. If, upon
owners, the county commissioners
have levied a tax for the construction
Of new bridge, the funds arising
from such tax levy cannes be diver
ted for any other purpose; not even
for the repair of other bridges. no
matter how urgent. The fund under
the law is known as 1.-THE bridge
construction fund.-" and that is what
the money must be used for. The cap
itol building and grounds are of vast
importance to this city and hence a
and handsome bridge lead
ing to them from the north side is of
the greatest consequence and will be
one of the means of keeping the capi-
tol in this city. The New Mexican IA
vors a thorough repair Of other bridges
across the Rio Santa Fe and, in fact,
across any of the arroyos or acequias
within the town limits. Whenever and |
wherever possible this paper has been
in its demands for such re-
pairs and the keeping of all bridges
not Only. within the city limits, but
throughout the county, in good repair
md in safe condition. Unfortunately,
sufficient taxes for this purpose have
not been collected and hence the cOun-
" commissioners have been greatly
in this respect The law linn
is the general tax levy for road and
bridge repair purposes to one mill upon
he dollar. Out Of this collection must
,ome the pay of the 21 precinct road
,verseers in the county at $50 each
Der annum. This generally eats up the
axes collected for that fund, and as
knows. without any corre-
,ponding benefit to the county or to
he public. This money Is expended
simply for the benefit of the road over
'eers themselves. After the road over
eers are paid, there is very little left
or the construction and repairing of
county bridges and the building OF
lew roads as well as In repairing and
Keeping in condition existing roads.
rhe 300 and more property owners who
lave signed the petition to the county
asking for the construc-
ion of a new bridge across the Rio
,anta Fe on Don Gaspar avenue, are
Wiling to tax themselves because they
now the utility of and necessity for
uch a bridge on that street and of the
enefit and good 1t will do the whole
when once in use.
A representative Of the New Mexi-
an has sounded public sentiment upon
his question pretty thoroughly and the
act that over 300 property owners and
ax-payers have signed the petition
bove referred to. Is pretty good proof
hat they want the construction Of the
ridge as these property owners con-
titute the bulk of those who pay tax
8 for the support of this city and
ounty government.