Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-28
TO IMPROVE RIVER
SOUTH oTTUMWANS PETITION
FOR PROTECTION.
MAY CALL SPECIAL ELECTION

City Solicitor Explains New Law II
Council Can Take No Action Until
PetitIoned Special Tax May Be
Levied for improvements.
From Tuesdays Daily
petition asking that the city coun-
Gil instruct the city engineer to pre-
pare plans and estimates of the cost of
such improvements to the Des Moines
river within the city limits, as may
be deemed necessary to protect the
South Side and other portions of the
city from floods is being circulated in
South Ottumwa today by interested
citizens and many signers are being
secured. This is in accordance with
bill recently passed by the state
legislature as explained by City So
licitor w. H. G. Jaques at special
meeting of the city council held last
evening.
The special meeting held last night
was called for the purpose OF taking
up the question of the proposed rip
rapping of the south bank of the river
in South Ottumwa and several promi-
nent property owners were present as
well as S. S. Carruthers of Bloom
field, representing the Wabash rail
road company. City Solicitor Jaques
stated that no action could be taken
by the city council until a petition
signed by 100 resident taxpayers, ask
ing that the improvem ents be made,
was first presented.
May Change Channel.
AS no action could be taken at this
time there was but little discussion on
the subject. S. P. Hartman OF South
Ottumwa, stated that the danger to
South Ottumwa from high water was
greater than to any other portion of
the city as the river might cut new
channel through the best part of the
South Side unless improvements were
made to keep it in it's present one.
He stated that he believed that the
petition would be ready in short
time E. H. Thomas also made few
remarks.
1t was thought that it would be best
to consider the property interests in
all parts of the city in making the
Improvements and the petition drawn
up this morning by City Solicitor
Jaques so states. If the council ap-
proves of the plan it will be neces-
/ sary to submit the question to the
!, electors of the city for their approval
or rejection.
The question of condemning the
Wabash property was left until later
time.
, The New Bill.
The law regarding the river improve
ment was only recently passed by the
state legislature and is now in force
: AS the question will in all probability
5 come before the people of Ottumws
for their approval and as all citizens
owning property are interested in the
! question, the bill is given in full and is
as follows:
BE it enacted by the general as
E sembly of the state of Iowa
Section /. That in addition to thu
!. power they now have all cities il
this state shall have power in accord
6 ance with the provisions of this &C
: to protect lots, lands and propert,
t within their limits from danger an
d damage from floods and high water b,
4 deepening, widening, Strengthening, a
: tering or changing and otherwise i'm
: proving water courses within thel
+ limits, and by constructing levees, en-
|. bankments and other work, and t
t provide for the levying of special as
t sessments and other taxes. and the is
I suance of bonds and certificates to de
fray the expense of such improve
ments.
Must Present Petition.
n Section q Whenever petition re
questing the exercise of the power
l. named in section 1 of this act an
n signed by 100 resident tax payers {
S said city shall be presented to tn
e city council of said city the counc
II shall direct the city engineer, If thel
}, is one, and if not, one employed by
r to make the proper plans and spec
r. fications for doing the work, with a
81 estimate of the cost thereof, inclu
o ing damages to property. if any, and
l. map or plat showing the boundarie
u or territory or district which will
IS benefited by such Improvement, ar
" showing as near as may be the nan
e of the owner, and the value of each II
N or parcel OF land and other proper1
j, therein. as shown by the last asses
IL ment roll
le Section 3. If the council upon
IS ceiving such plans, specifications,
ct Inmates and map shall approve, or mo
ify and approve of same, and be of II
opinion that the work shall be done
Mt proposed, it shall in the proposed res
lg luton 1eclare the necessity or adv
in ability of such improvement. descr
to ing the same in general terms a.
Id stating the estimated cost thereof a.
the boundaries or other description
. the territory or district which will
err benefited; and shall cause TWEEN
n. days notice of the time when sd
of resolution will be considered by it
he passage, to be given by two p,
an LEGATIONS in each daily newspaper
/, general circulation published in t
to city, the last of which pubiicatio
al shall not be less than two or lnc
nv than four weeks prior to the time
he ed for consideration of said resoluti
ks at which time the owners of the pr
Id erty benefited or affected by such
es provement may appear and make
lie jections in writing to the contempt
an ed improvement and the passage
l,,ti Of viii