Arizona republican., 1908-05-28
BUSINESS SESSION
 OF CITY COUNCIL
Only Industrial Matters and Questions of Political Economy Were Discussed

The city council meeting last night might appropriately be called an in
 dustrial session. Nothing was broach- ed that in any way might be consider ed for political, reformatory or even spectacular effect. Such good old fash toned questions as taxes, water rates, bonded indebtedness and protests against the operation of corporate franchises, occupied the entire evening.
 In the latter matter protests were filed with the council against the re- ported proposed project of the City railway system for building a street car line north from Washington street on Second or Third avenue. Thirty two property owners on one side or the other of Second avenue signed a pro- test against building on that street and fourteen property owners along Third avenue signed a similar protest They say their properties are well improved and the purpose of residing in that neighbOrhood was to be in quiet res idence district undisturbed by traffic of that sort. The protests were receiv- ed and Tuesday evening next was set as a date for a conference between the council, the property owners and the railway interests when all sides will be heard. Members of the coun- cil stated last night that they did not consider the matter was within their province to act upon. The railway company holds a blanket franchise permitting it to build on any street in the city and as it seemed to members of the council last night the only legal opposition that the residents could of fer. if they can offer any at all, will be through the courts.
 The Valley Bank submitted to the council, a proposition to buy the Phoe- nix Water bonds numbered l to 60 in elusive. now held in the vaults of the Phoenix National bank. The offer for the bonds is par and the interest nam ed in the bonds from date of accept ance of the offer to March l, 1909. The matter was referred to the committee of the whole to be acted upon at next meeting.
 Charles Hinckley presented a request that he be permitted to build cross walk on Center street at his own ex- pense, from point eight feet north of the Occidental hotel, across the street to the east, the material to he con crete, roughened, with gutters and four foot bridges over them. of con- crete. This was referred to the street and alley committee.
 The only subject on which definite action was taken during the meeting was the ordinance specifying the sell ling rates of irrigation water to lots or acreage within the city limits, the time of sale, the regulation and manage aE ha nd naming the duties of the zanjeros. the rights of citizens, etc. It was the fin al settlement of the water question which was made especially necessary by the turning over to the city by the government tke handling of all the water heretoforc furnished direct by the government to the property own CTS. It is long ordinance cov- ering several typewriter pages. The feature of it in which most people will be interested is Section ,. which reads as follows: lr.
 "The price of water to be paid year " in advance on or before the 15 of June after the passage of this ordi- nance and annually thereafter on the first day of May of each year. or with in fifteen days thereafter, shall be as follows;
 By lots-one lot. S3: two lots. $55O; three lots. s7.5O; four lots. $9; five lots. $l0; six lots. s11; seven lots, $11.50; eight lots, SIP; nine lots, SIP 30; ten lots, s13; eleven lots, $13.5O; twelve lots, $14.
 "Acreage-One acre, equal to six lots, $11; two acres, $14; three acres. | S16; four acres SIS: five acres. s20: 1 six acres, S22; seven acres, SPA; eight | acres. S26; nine acres, $2S; ten acres, ! s30. For any amount over ten acres 1 the price will be s1 per acre. for all ex- | cess oyer ten acres
 The ordinance also provides that the l public schools and churches shall be | furnished water without charge.
 One other matter took up a great | deal of time and that was a discus sion of finances preliminary to the | passing of the annual ordinance for a l tax levy at the next meeting. It was | desired to determine as near as pos | sible how much money will have to be | raised during the next year to run the | city and to meet the interest on out l standing bonded indebtedness, so the | city attorney would have the proper | data for drawing the ordinance. The | situation was gone into quite fully, | but definite figures were not made | pending a later review of the situation, | to be certain there had been TO error l made in the estimate All that can be announced now is that there will most | likely be a very material reduction in the tax rate. The water department for instance has a treasury balance that may care for the interest without anr Ierv q nd the same situation if is 1