Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1904-01-29
Entered as second class matter.
OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE COUNTY AMI
THE CITY OF DEVILS LAKE.
FRIDAY, JAN. 29 1904.
THE BRIDGE BOND QUESTION.

Inc supreme court OF NHfCn UaKO-
ia has rendered decision adverse to
the issuing of bonds by the city
council Of Devils Lake in the sum Of
about $4,000 for the construction
of the Pelican Point bridge across
Devils Lake. While the bridge is
completed and the citizens generally
of this city are enjoying the benefits
derived from it's construction, the
motive which prompted the serving of
injunction papers upon. the city coun
Gil is by no means a justified one,
and the decision rendered is not by
any means in keeping with the argu-
ments and the points brought cut in
the hearing of the case in the lower
court. The banks of this city are the
most affected by the decision, as they
have negotiated the warrants which
are now declared void, and have paid
over the amount the issue called for.
No one ever questioned the fact
that the bridge would be of great ben
eft to Devils Lake and Ramsey county
and as the prospects for the early
opening of the reservation are most
excellent at this time, no reasonable
question arises with the thinking tax
payer but that the movement was
most wise, enterprising and beneficial
one, and will sooner or later double
the general commercial interests of
this city and add materially to the
county funds of Ramsey county.
In this connection the Inter Ocean
cannot desist from acquainting Its
readers with the provision contained
in the code of North Dakota, viii il ia
plain and to the point. It says:
1.-THE county treasurer of eacis
county wherein any city or municipal
corporation shall have constructed a
bridge OF shall hereafter construct a
bridge over any navigable strtan,
shall pay to the city treasurer of
such city or municipality whereby
such bridge has been constructed or is
about to be constructed all money in
the county treasury, or which may
come into the county treasury in the
bridge fund of such county,
which may have been OF shall be
levied, assessed or collected from per:
sons and property in said city OF
municipality, etc =.
Now, this fund, were it not used
in the construction Of the bridge,
would certainly not have laid idle
and would probably have been ex-
pended in some manner much less
useful or beneficial than it has been
in building the Pelican Point bridge.
and had this bridge not been built,
the money could not have been drawn
by the city and would have had to pay
the taxes just the same
The unpaid warrants would have
been taken care of by the road and
bridge fund, but the city council saw
fit to proceed to bond and save the tax
payers about three per cent interest on
its Indebtedness. As the road and
bridge tax is made up Of an annual
& tax levy, and the court ruling is in
opposition to the use Of it as construed
by the code. the outcome Of this mat.
ter is in somewhat peculiar condi.
tion.
However the members Of the coun.
Gil are not at all disheartened at the
turn matters have taken, and feel
confident that they will be able ID
settle the financial question just az
readily as they succeeded in the con-
struction Of the bridge, despite The
many distractions offered them in
this work by the knockers Of Devils
Lake.
The finest lot Of horses ever shipped
fl here now on sale at First National
Hank