Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-09-28

bridge. provided the county commits
sioners would come in and help to
keep the tax rate down.
This policy must contemplate good
public schools and good public high
ways all over La Plata county, re-
EardIess Of the price of tuition for out |
side children whom we seek in the |
SCHOOLS at Durango and the rate of
house rent during the school season |
Mr.. Hanno said that part of the |
city's assets is in $4,000 due on Flor
ida ranches bought and sold again.
He figured that the collection Of this
money would enable the city to make
reduction of three mills in its tax
rate.
Durango could build bridge or do
almost anything else on its revenue
aarnings II nobody owed her a dollar.
The general purpose Of this confer
ence was to get the tax levy down to
forty mills, or four cents, II possible.
and there were protests against the
basis on which the assessor had fixed
the last tax valuation Of La Plata
county. The commissioners have to
listen to these protests when they sit
as 4 board of equalization.
The disposition to build the new
bridge and reduce the tax rate at the
same time was manifest and in this
| the conference was success.
Mr.. Hanno said he thought the II
qucr license revenue would be at least
$4,000 next year. that 1t had been
$4,000 last year; that the water rev
enues had been $4,000 last year and
he thought they would reach $4,000
during the coming year.
There will be enough railway build
ing and enough new money to make
Durango big enough to shoot waite
revenues up to $25.000 before the
close Of 1906.
President Camp of the Board of
Trade favored an increased tax valua-
tin which would be equable and Just
to all taxpayers.
Chairman Logan for the county com
missioners said the county had col
lected SO per cent of the taxes of last
year and that 80 per cent of the taxes
would be collected this year If the per.
centage of collection nov in the hands
OF the treasurer indicated anything.
Alderman George West. who had
first opposed the building of new
bridge. when his turn came. said that
he was now in favor Of new bridge
and good one. He said he thought
a bridge forty feet wide would be big
enough.
The reporter was sitting in the dark
where he couldn't see his notes. and
didn't have much else to do with the
meeting but ne wanted to ask Mr..
West II the people who do pay taxes
couldn't make 1t sixty feet wide, and
Mr.. West pays taxes.
Ben Ritter said he thought ten mills
ought to run School District No. Q. He
had been member of the school
board. and studied the situation.
r Ben is at once in scrap. He's
got to show the present school board
and he'll get rounded up by teachers
, who are not making any more none,
than they need in their business. and
, will accuse him of "butting in" But
they might as well have the subjec,
under discussion.
Mr.. Hanno said there had been ap
. preparations aggregating $4,000 for the
laying of water mains which were moi
needed now. and that this amount
, could be diverted to the building of q
new bridge.
In the running discussion of affairs
/, touching the city's welfare the bridge
, question came up again and Mr.. r
f.. Sloan said he had first thought tina,
we could get along without a bridge
for awhile. but that he. too, had gon,
down and looked at the old one, ant
, he was in favor of building new
one.
; No opposition to the building of q
bridge remained. It was simply 8
Question OF expediency. What kind o
a bridge would they build and which
, way would be hest to get the money
George Logan "butted jr' again
There was no quarrel then about vhc
. should pay the most for smallpox
county or city, but he ssid II the city
, would meet the commissioners there
would be cut that would reduce this
tax rate to 80 mills.
: Harry Jsckson suggested that the
Board CT Trade invite the members
. Of the board OF directors Of Schoo
District No. TO joint meeting with
the Board of Trade for the purpose oil
discussing proposed reduction of the
school tax levy, and the meeting was
glad he had done so. Mr.. Jackson
didn't want to get in m'x-up with his
own boys ard girls and hadn't time
to mix 1t with the school board
/. George Logan said; well. you car
get the levy down to four mills II yoJ
will try to-" And George is said to
be shy on roads.
President Camp instructed the sec
retary OF the Board OF Trade to write
the school board to meet with the
Board Of Trade.
Mr.. JakwFy wanted to know wheth
er the board would consider the pro
priety Of closing all the business
houses during the fair; he didn't want
to wait to be closed by petition. Harry
Jackson, who is one of MIR. Jakway's