The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-05-10

fund s9,5o4.53. library and $e53. "a,
interest fund @1,968.56. The amount
paid into the sewer fund was %, lO3. 90,
and waterworks fund e841.59.
In 1903 the assessed valuation of all
city property WAS 9289, 237, in 1904
$3l4,8 In 1905, 1914, AIS, and in 1905,
S4Ol, l84. Each assessment has been
made practically upon the same basis
| OF value, which shows that there has
been an increase of valuation and an
abundance of prosperity in our city
during the last four years.
There has been no increase in the
rate OF city taxation last year over
the year before, as the increase in
amounto taxes.was onlys3OO, which was
more than made up by additional pro-
perty that had never been taxed before.
The school taxes are somewhat higher,
but the city has received one hundred
! cents on the dollar and more for every
dollar spent in that direction.
The rate of taxation for the past
four years has averaged III mills. l
think can say without successful con.
tradition that there is no city in the
state that can make . better showing,
nor is there city in the state of its
size where as many public improve
ments have been made during the
same length of time.
l would suggest that before the next
| assessment Ia made that the council
meet with the assessor and 90 over all
of the schedules carefully with him so
that he may have the benefit of the ex-
perience and good judgment of the
council. to the end that an equitable
assessment of all property may be
made and that no person will escape
his just share of taxation.
The council should see 20 it hat city
taxes are collected more closely in the
future than they have been in the past,
and never again should delinq uent
taxes be allowed to accumulate in the
treasurer's Office as they are at this
time.
The matter of telephone and tele-
graph taxes should be looked into,
and an effort made to secure for the
city its just portion of same, which it
has not received in the past. In 1905,
the City of Milbank received $24.O6
for telephone and $8.8S for telegraph
tax. The telephone and telegraph
taxes for 1906, have not been appor-
toned as yet, but the entire amount
paid to the county for that year for both
was $384.6O, which would giye'the city
about $3.50 for its portion. The en-
tire amount paid into the county
treasury for such taxes is not as much
as should be paid 20 this city alone.
have not been able to get information
| as to whether or not any changes were
made in the assessment laws at the last
session of the Legislature, and If this
| matter is not adequately covered by
new legislation. | would recommend
that the assessor of this city shall re-
| turn with his next assessment his val
uation OF telephone and telegraph
property in this city so that same may
be furnished to the state board OF
| equalization with the request that
that board assess such property at
the same rate as other property.
CROSSINGS AND APPROACHES,
The attention of the council is call
ed to the fact that some of the cement
crossings constructed within the last
four years are cracking aud wearing
very badly, and in my judgment will in
short time go to pieces. The cross
ing between the Farmers Bank and
Wood Bros, Is cracked from end to
end, that in the center of block seven
and ten Is wearing out, and that from
Hotel st. Hubert to the railway rig hit
OF way is cracking and wearing. The
contractors who built these crossings
should ce notified to replace them, and
in case of refusal they should be re-
placed by the city and the contr actors
required to pay the city the cost of
same. Action should be taken on this
matter while the bonds given by the
contractors are in force.
The city attorney has recently rem
dered to the council his opinion in
| writing that the city is liable for and
should pay for the appro aches from
sidewalk to street crossings. Acting
| on this opinion the city has paid for q
number of approaches constructed last
year, and in the future will have to
pay for all of them. This settles q
question that has caused endless dis
cussion in the past, and even if
settled wrongly it is better than to
never have it settled There are how
ever, a large number of property
owners that have paid for their ap-
prOaches, and in fairness to them the
council should make an appropriation
next year and reimburse those who
have made such payments.
SEWER
Inc sewer system Is WORKING we'll,
every body seems to be glad that we
have it, and the city authorities are kept
busy making extensions. All payments
| on sewer certificates have been met as
they became due. All sewer pipe and
supplies have been paid for except the
extension now under course of con
struction, and unless something un-
! forseen happens there will be ample
funds in the treasury to pay in full
! for such extension.
SUIT AGAINST WESTERN SURETY
COMPANY.
The success of the city in every
court and at every stage of every ore
ceeding in its suit against the West.
ern Surety Company, is q matter over
which the council and those who had
to do with letting the contract may
feel proud. 1t was q case where the
damages were hard to estimate, and
the proof difficult. The records had
to be correct and complete as every
technicality that could be thought OF
was raised by ingenious counsel. The
e. IL u t1A