The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-28
COUNTY ASKS MUCH
Must Raise About $4,000 More by
Taxation Than Was Required,
Last. Year.
Mayor Haynes at Meeting Of Tax
Levy Board, Asks a Disturb
ing Question.

Mayor Haynes asked a seemingly perth
| ent question at the meeting OF the board
Of tax levy this morning, but the man.
ner In which the county officials present
met It, suggested to the mayor that thu
lAquestion might have been impertinent ant
as he did not intend to invite contro.
versy he asked that the matter be
dropped.
Inc county estimates it's expenses fol
next year at SAT-, S91.74, or about $55, OO(
more than was allowed for the present
year. But this year the county had a
revenue of $120, 064 from other sources
ina ntaxation, whereas these same sources
are expected to yield only 500, APO next
year. Thus the people were taxed $780,
121 for county purposes for this year
Whlle the estimates call for $384,471 to be
raised by taxation this year for next
years expenses. Big
Mayor Haynes intimated that these fig
urese looked as if the county wanted
about $4,000 more than last year, but
tnls statement was denied, as it only
wanted $55,000 more, the county officials
declared Mayor Haynes could not see
it in that light, as the burden would
certainly be heavier on the taxpayers
lie could not see why, when the .sus-
pense fund" Of the county, which is yir-
tually surplus, contained $53 900 at the
beginning Of this year. it should diminish
to only $4,000. Attempts were made to
explain, but his honor declared that he
did not care to enter into any contro-
versy and stated that all could. no doubt
be satisfactorily explained.
The county will need a. great deal more
money than last year The salaries
boosted. by the legislature last winter,
alone call for $4,000 additional. Then
there is an election costing $40, 900, with
So,OOo more for interest on bonds together
with many minor items.
"a delegation Of Minnetonka residents
appeared before the board to urge that the
estimate OF the county board of $4,000
III lahe improvements be retained in the
budget. Attention was called to the man
nef IN which the lake had been sighted
Whlle the improvements whereabouts had
added greatly to the assessed valuation of
the county and thereby increasing the rev.
enues, the lake received no benefits in re-
turn. 1t was entitled to a great deal more
than $4,000, but the property owners
would be content with this sum. All OF
IL should be expended in dredging out the
lake ana removing the dangerous reefs
which threaten navigation.
Among those who addressed the board
were b. j. Phelps, Mayor r. B. Dodge Of
Mlnnetonka Beach, Fred B. Snyder OF
Wlldhurst, Postmaster Bardwell of Excel
slor and Chairman Morse Of the town
board. of Excelsior "
Robert seeger Of Chicago addressed the
BOARD at some length on the merits Of the
Welsbach system Of street lighting. He
invited all the members to visit Hennepin
avenue where the system had been in con-
tinuous service for over six weeks. # is
contended that with the same amount of
gas the Welsbach burner will give from
three to four times as much light as with
the ordinary burner Mr. Seeger sug
gested that about 1000 Of his lights be Sc
cured as a starter. The system is in
use in ST: Paul, Chicago and other large
cities to the number OF more than 100 900
lights. zS2&
AS the board is now merely absorbing
information and doing no business, no
action was taken this morning The board
also held an afternoon session