The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-04
Greensboro Absorbed in a
New Ordinance.
STRONG FIGHT WAGED
And Interest in RepOpIican Organs is
RELOCATED. Measure Carried by a
Vote of q to 2. Big Damage
Suits Against the Southern.
Wilkes Bond Litigation.

+ Greensboro, n. c., June 3.-Local
interest in the various and sundry big
morning dailies planned for Green's
boro by various and sundry Republic
can factions and cliques is swallow
ed IN this morning in the more alb
sorbing discussion of the ordinance
adopted by the city council last night,
by a vote of four to two, forcing prop
erty holders to have streets paved and
constituting one-fourth of the eX-
pense of same lien on the real es-
tate abutting the street until paid.
This proposition was presented to the
board some time ago by Aldermen
Hunter, and last night was set for the
set-to over it. A. M. Scales made
very strong and earnest argument in
favor OF the adoption and X. H. King
and others spoke equally strong IN
opposition. The council chamber was
crowded. and the result of the ballot
was a great surprise to some, but TO
those conversant with affairs as at
present managed expected exactly
what they got. The city has just ex-
pended one hundred thousand dol
lars in street macadamizing free or
charge to the real estate owners whose
property had been improved, all the
tax payers contributing by general
bond issue towards the payment Tor
the same of course. There is now
fifty thousand dollars available for the .
whole of the balance of the city, ana
under the new law, unless Mayor
Murphy vetoes it and the board sus-
tains his Vetoe. no other property can
get the benefit of the one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars bond money
without paying one-fourth of the fifty
4. l.1I fr cd
argument of the promoters of the
law was that it would be impossible
with fifty thousand dollars TO do
much in the way of street improve
ment without property holders chip
ping in. The argument of the other
side was that, if this were true, those
whose property had received the bene-
fit of the one hundred thousand dol
lars without costing them a cent.
ought to chip in twenty-five thousand
to insure to all the tax payers
Square deal" Another argument.
which il is said will affect either the
validity of the law or the right to
collect taxes on the bonds from those
receiving no benefits, is that to pass
this law now, when the bonds voted
were on the understanding that they
should be applied for the benefit of
the city and not to depreciate some
tax payers property after having APP
preciated the value of others by i'm
provements, was i'm the nature of a
legal fraud, for which the tax payers
could be held liable for. There is no
question but that the ordinance tends
to increase the value of property al
ready improved. and to depreciate
that laying on unimproved streets
From the fact that none of those
pressing the law, administered the
one hundred thousand dollars just ex-
pended and live on paved streets has
given rise of course to considerable
comment.
The large frame building known as
the old Caldwell place, more recently
occupied and run as the Banner Hotel
on Ashe and West Market street will
be torn down next week and a quad
ripple three story brick fiat or apart
ment house will be built there.
Mr. r. n. Hackett, attorney for the
Board of Commissioners Of Wilkes
county, appeared before Judge Boyd
In the Circuit Court this morning
on an order discharging the sheriff and
treasurer of Wilkes county from the
restrictions made by the recesXership
In the matter of the Wilkes county
bond litigation. Funds heretofore.
coming into his hands as taxes to pay
interest on outstanding and principle
on maturing bonds, under the old or
der had to all be turned over to the
receiver AS all the bonds involved
In the litigation have been settled, the
sheriff is now free 10 pay off accruing
interest or principle of bonds without
turning the money over to any re-
ceiVer
The law firm of Stedman & Cooke
brought two big suits against the
North Carolina, or the Southern rail-
way this morning, each for twenty
thousand dollars. One is for ]. r.
Joyner, who claims damages for the
loss of a leg while uncoupling cars at
Ashe street crossing here last Deem
Der. He is a son of the late DR.. r.
w. Joyner, the we'll known dentist Of
Wilson, n. C. The other suit is for
w. j. Tate, OF Greensboro, who lost
a leg at Pomona, in February. while
uncoupling cars. The suits are
brought In the Superior court. but
will in all probability be removed on
affidavit to the Federal court for trial.
Mr w. o. Donnell Jr.. of Oak Ridge
has gone to st. Louis to open head
quarters there for the Merchants
Grocery Company, of Greensboro
Arthur Forbis has accepted a po-
sition with the Simmons Hardware
Company, of St Louis. resigning his
position here with the Wakefield
Hardware Company and leaving for
st. Louis last night.
A widow is awful knowing to know