The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-06-08
FOR IMPROVEMENTS

men was held last Tuesday night
The question of lowering the ta1
assessment came up for consider
alton, and evoked considerable
discussion relative to the physical
condition of our streets and side
walks. The Mayor, MIR. Walker,
recommended, in fact he insisted,
that it was the duty of the Board
to reduce the tax assessment from
one dollar fifteen to one dollar on
the hundred. He made estimates
to show that the city was collect
ing more revenue than required to
cover the expense account, making
liberal allowance for current ex
penses. He stated that the differ
ence in the revenue collected in
1904 and that collected in 1905
was about % per cent. In 1904
the assessment was one dollar and
forty cents and in 1905 it was re-
duced to one dollar and fifteen
cents. This reduction had failed
to bring the surplus down to a
revenue basis, and hence his argu-
ment for still lower assessment.
This excited the members to a
lively discussio ion over several
points bearing on the case, resolv-
ing itself into a question of this
kind: First, whether we should
should use the surplus without
reduction of the assessment to re-
tire a block of bonds; second,
whether or not we should spend
the surplus for internal improve
ments and neither modest the assess
ment nor the bonds; third, whether
or not we should reduce the assess.
ment and make all the improve
ments necessary without disturb
ing the bonds.
Mr.. Reynolds favored improv-
ing the streets and walks at all
hazards. He said that it was a
burning shame to allow the grass
and weeds to take the streets in
the way it had been done; he first
favored paying the bonds, but
when the suggestion of improve
ments was made he preferred the
latter and thought the work should
begin Immediately.
Mr.. White favored general i'm
provements on the streets and side
walks and opposed reduction of
the assessment. He thought as
long as we had money no expense
should be spared in grading and
crawling the streets and making
substantial new walks.
Mr.. Adams was for paying the
bonds, but in lieu of that agreed
that the surplus should be put on
the streets, and if it could be done
to lower the assessment. Mr.. Gard
ner favored making internal I'M
provements and a lower assess
ment, Mr.. Alexander agreed with
Mr.. Gardeners opinion.
The Mayor wondered why it was
that he was criticised after his
efforts.to pay the floating debt for
having a surplus in the treasury.
But he was still of the opinion
that the assessment should be re-
duced. After making careful esti-
mates be was confident that there
would be means enough to buy a
new engine for the electric light
plant, for grading and crawling
the streets and for building new
sidewalks. He had arrived at the |
conclusion that all this could he
done and at the same time the as
sessment could be lowered to one
dollar on every hundred dollars
of taxable property within the
corporate limits of Union City.
Whereupon Mr.. Semones moved
that the assessment be reduced to
one dollar, Mr.. Adams seconded
the motion and it was carried, Mr..
White voting in the negative.
Mr.. White moved that contracts
for so cars of gravel be made i'm
mediately. Mr.. Gardner suggest
ed that it would be better first to |
get prices and estimates. and this
was agreed to. In the meantime