Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1905-07-27

/
favor. One encouraging feature was
that according to Mr.. Coston's state
ment the assessed valuation of the
county this year wonld be increased
about half a million dollars. Alder
man Hanno and City Attorney Reese
spoke in favor OF allowing the town
to run wide open" and presented
figures to show that the town would
be In mignty hard lines without the
license money from the gamblers and
Offenders who get drunk and pay
fines. and money from the women be-.
low the track. and from Ave or six
saloons which they said must quit
main In effect.
| The board of trade nas commit
tee on taxation. composed OF Harry
Jackson, John Morlock, j. l.. viii
liams and A. l.. Nathan, MIR. JACK
son, the chairman OF the committee.
said the subject of taxation had been
brought up by parties outside OF the
committee, and the committee al
present had no plan to recommend.
but would be glad to listen to any
that anyone had TO Offer The com.
mittee recognized the matter as one
of the greatest Importance and be
iieved discussion and mutual con.
suitation between the school board.
city council and county commission.
ers would result in much good.
| Mr.. Coston. In his figures. stated
that the ordinary county revenue last
year was 10 mills. and owing to tne
increased valuation n 9.mill levy this
of revenue
| Deputy County Treasurer Parshall
Informed the meeting that the state
levy was mills, for the city OF Du-
range IL, ordinary county revenue
| general school 3, roads 3. refundlng
| bonds interest 2, school district No. 0
10 and redemption warrants /. max
ing a total OF 40 mills.
| Mayor Mcconnell was called upon
and said that he did not feel prepared
to go into the matter any more than
any ordinary citizen, but understood
the various officers would present fig.
ures for the enlightenment of those
present He could not see any means
| by which the city would nave more
money, but he could see where Il
would have less. 1t was generally
admitted our taxes were too hign but
he believed the city's expenses were
kept down as low an possible. II was
plain that If the appropriations were
cut down the committees would be
hampered with their work. He said
that when he went over the bills ev-
cry month 1t seemed impossible to
get along with less expense, and in
| closing he expressed himself as some
what apprehensive OF the future.
Alderman Hanno said that two
years ago the city's levy was mills
and 1t was raised to IL mills on ac-
count OF putting In the new water
system. He made the statement that
the running of the new system costs
$4,000 year more than the old. The
city's last yearly appropriations
amounted TO $4,000, and the approx.
innate revenues were $4,000 The
city council had In view improve
ments for the present year amount
ing 10 about $4,000 Owing to the re.
form movement the city loses about
$3.50 month. or $4,000 year. 1t
was estimated that six saloons must
close from loss OF business and this,
| together with the loss OF money from
gamblers and other similar sources
would mean the loss to the city of
II strangers-homeseek and in.
yestors-came here and found the
| taxes Z or 8 per cent they would
leave on the next train. and he closed
by recommending that "the town be
allowed to run as formerly"
o. p Frary, member of the school
board OF district No. 9, said that in
the two years he had been on the
| board he could not see how the ex-
penses Of the school could be low
cred In any way and still keep the
schools up to their present standard.
He gave the bonded debt OF the dis
trict as $4,000 and registered war
rants which are drawing per cent
interest over 327 1000. The treasurer
had recently made call for about
| $4,000 OF these. The annual appor-
| tionment from the state was about
$1,000. The expenses were about
5000 a day. or an average expense per
pupil Of about $3.50. Two years ago
the schools mad adopted free text
books, which was quite an expense.
and the present year trees had been
set out and the grounds beautI6ed,
and while this was more expense, he
believed that anyone who looked at
the improvements would agree that
the money was well spent.
Mrs. Rose Pulford, county superin'
tendent Of schools. presented a sub
ject OF which she has long been a
warm advocate. and that Is the con
solidation of city and county high
school. She presented arguments 10
SHOW that such school would be q
great benefit to county students who
would avail themselves OF tne oppor
tunity to attend such a school instead
of going away. and at the same time