The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-12
0 TIER CITIES SHOW
TAXPAYERS BURDEN
SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS VISIT
FOUR POPULATION CENTERs.
STATISTICS in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit
and Canada Reveal Varying Cost Of
Operating Municipal Machinery
Michigan and Canadian Cities Enjoy
Cheap Street Railway Fares.

The Cincinnati Taxpayers associa-
tion recently sent special agent to
look up taxation in other cities He
reported on Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland
and Toronto. He found that Buffalo,
with population Of 100000, has a tax
duplicate Of $242 100000 in realty and
only $l8, 100000 in personally, tax rate
$22. Artificial gas 81, natural gas 80
cents. City light bill $4,000; ashes
and garbage g eo were hauled and disposed
OF at $4,000 per annum, which the
officials preferred to municipal opera
ton. Most liberal streetcar transfer,
by which one can ride ali day for s
cents. Mr.. luke rode on six lines and
finally got back to place Of beginning
and still has the seventh transfer in
his possession.
Case Of Detroit. E. Z.
Detroit has a tax duplicate of $212,-
100000 in realty and the remarkable
erty, with q tax rate Of $l471. Popu.
repairing It's streets, including 1921 900
for cleaning and sprinkling. Asphalt
plant cost $4,000 for operation, and Is
The municipal lighting plant furnished
all necessary light for streets and
buildings at $168,556.21, including $4l,.
O12;54 for. betterments. Electric cur
rent is estimated to cost .O1987. or less
than 2 cents per kilo-watt hour, arc
vestment, it seems, is not figured in in
this: The Detroit Traction COMPANY comp
made proposition for an ls-year ex.
tension of it's franchise, Offering work
1ngmen g tickets good from 5 to am
and 4 to $3.50 pm. at ten for rs cents,
or "a cents ride, including a liberal
| transfer. - - >" - -,
Cleveland Shows Up Well. ~
Cleveland has now contracted for
more than fifty miles Of brick streets,
the greater part Of which is laid mon mon
natural sand foundation, costing from
$l.l9 to $l.80 a square yard. Ashphalt
is considered unsatisfactory. - : -.
Last year spent SOL 900 to clean 2s4
miles of paved streets. The waterworks
department installs meters free of
charge and collects but twice year.
saving much labor thereby as against
monthly meter reading. The city built
q iavatory at the public square for
$aO,o0O, which has proved satisfactory.
and last year spent $ee,555 i foF hapu lIns
rs per cent more garbage out Of back
yards than formerly was hauled from
the sidewalks under $4,000 contract
The garbage plant sold enough oil.
grease, ETC., to clear $1l, 900 above op,
Grating expenses. = -: -, r.
soaks Dtstilleries. Is.
Toronto, with a population of 262..
IVY, mas a real estate tax duplicate Of
$l67, 100000. Personal property is sub.
1ect TO graded tax, which varies &C.
cord1ng to particular business. Married
men pay the regular tax rate upon earn.
1ngs or income over 81 1000, single men
upon all over 500. The, streetear com
pany pays from 8 per cent to 20 Der
cent Of its gross earnings and $7O6 q
mile Of single track, and last year + paid
$366, 688.72 into the city treasury, With
only ninety-two miles Of track, and at
the same time cleared $752,580. Fare.
twenty-five tickets, ST.; workinpmensl !,
tickets, eight for 25 cents; school tick
cts, ten for Is cents; fare on owl cars.
10 cents. In 1922 the city can buy the
plant without paying anything for the
franchise or good will. = :, : ~