Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-07-27
WANTS EQUITABLE WATER TAX
Correspondent Suggests That All
Property Owners Pay Equally.

Lewiston. Idaho, July 27.-Editor
Evening Teller: Permit me to use
YOUR valuable paper to correct if pos
sible the very unjust water tax system
in force in the citw of Lewiston. I
refer to the water used for irrigation
purposes only and not to water for
domestic use. We have portion of
Lewiston which is very beautiful, and
A portion which is decidedly not beau
tiful We have beautiful lawns. which
not only private citizens are paying for
but the city is taxing the people for.
Outside of private lawns I refer to the
public parks. All property in the city
is enhanced in value because of these
beautiful improvements, and especial
" that property which lies adjacent
to these parks and these well kept
lawns yet in the midst Of all this
there are vacant lots on which there
are no improvements yet these vacant
lots have increased in value at the ex-
pense of others with no expense to
the owner. Is this just? The value
of these vacant lots are held up to
the value of the improved property ad-
jacent and it is necessary to show Wis
itors and prospective buyers the pos
sibilities of what water can do, in or
der to prove to buyers and visitors
that the values are in these vacant
lots. Is it just to make only these
citizens, who are striving to make
this city of ours so attractive pay
this water tax? The answer is no.
1t is true that the city this year made
step in the right direction when they
by direct taxation secured revenue
TO sprinkle the streets, sprinkle the
public parks, and for water to put out
CONGREGATIONS, yet in the past these
expenses We're met only by the users
of water; and although the city has
made step in the right direction,
they should have gone further, and
provided for the water that flushes
the sewers, for this water is paid by
the consumer of water only The
question this Is, what is the remedy?
We have in the city under the water
mains about 5000 lots; and 1000 can
added with little expense. The city
receives from the use of water to
oeautify a portion of these lots about
$4,000 per year. Here is the remedy:
Place tax on every lot under the
water main; call the tax, if you like
general improvement tax; let the
amount be placed at SO per lot. size
eoxl42; place a meter on ever prop
erty using water, if necessary. Allow
every 50x142 lot 5000 gallons per
month, which the owner can use OF
not as he please, and any one using
water IN excess of this allotted
amount pay extra. This then will only
eost " for the use OF irrigation water
per lot instead of IS. This will pro.
uuce revenue of about $21 900 pei
year and give the city money to put
III extra pumps and make the neces
SarV improvements that will be de.
radhded sooner or later In fact NEE
'ne present demands. This will
equaiize this tax and make those thai
VIII not sell and will not improve
ese vacant lots pay a portion of thu
puroen, especially when these vacan
o'S are enhancing in value so rapidly
WI hn1tor, there is no question of tn,
INJUSTICE of the present system ant
proposition herein set forth ha
'east the merit practibility an,
common sense
IRRIGA TION