Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-03-05
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Il
y Ubdf Cbep Say -
The peon1e's Forum

The PEOPLES Forum

OOo0o0OOOOOOOO
A Citizen: The business man who
sets out to build a building for; him
self arranges, before he obligates him
self for money with which to do his
building, for his building site. Has
the city site or an option on a site
suitable for city hall? If the city
should vote bonds for a city hall be
fore obtaining a suitable site, would
the probable value of sites increase
or decrease? And if the former, would
it hot be well to discover whether
there is a site that can be obtained
at reasonable sum before authoriz'
ing vote for bonds?
The business man who needs money
with which to build, usually learns
the temper of the money market and
the nature of the times before en-.
gaging in his preliminaries. Are bus.
mess men today expending or con-
tracing their credit obligations and
for what reason? Is it time when
business men feel that they should
enlarge or lessen their obligations
And if this is a good policy in bust,
ness, lis it bad policy for the MUM
cipality?
Are assessments so adjusted in Bis
marck that all people would pay a
just and fair proportion of the cost
and expense of a city hall If it were
to be built, and is it or is it not
true that under present conditions
taxes are no ineonsiderable burden
to a share at least Of our people?
And, If industrial conditions remain
as they are and are likely to be dur
ing the disturbing conditions of a
presidential contest, is it wise to add
to the burdens of taxpayers, unless
there is an emergency or necessity?
The city, as understand it, is now
paying some $3.50 year for rentals
of city hall and house for hose and
iremen's apparatus. The interest or
0,000 q year at four percent, which
is perhaps lower than the rate thai
might be paid, would be $500 year
The furnishing of a city hall with of
fees for city officials would add a COD
siderable sum to the first cost. The
maintenance of a city hall and jail
would be another annual charge upon
the taxpayers of the city. I can see
opportunities here for several custod
ians, janitors. ,jailors and others, t.
say nothing Of heat, light and Incl
dentals. ] think it is safe, to sa!
that the cost of interest, maintenance
repairs and incidentals would be 81,
900 to $1,000 annually.
Has any competent authority ad
vised us what amount of bonds tht
city can issue, what city hall will
cost, what is the experience of othe
cities of this size with the erection
and maintenance of public buildings
whether the sum that is available
under a bond issue will build a build
! ing that is worth while, and has tn
council or the Commercial club beel
advised by any legal authority that
competent to speak whether the cit
can issue or dispose of any amount o
bonds under our existing financial Gil
cumstances?
Would it not be well before chars
ing every man who opposes the cit
hall project under present condition
with being an enemy to the city an
the public good, to have a little nor
light on these matters before votin
| a bond issue, or putting bond issu
up to- the, people. The citizens, el
thusiastic with the visions Of impo
ing and magnificent municipal ed
4. fees, rising on every hand, might M
be as safe a guide in this matter 8
the less efferyescent business ma
who has studied it and counted til
pros and cons.
: If there is necessity for a hose hous
!, and place of meeting for the fireme
the city has a good lot on Fourt
street, and can erect at modera'
cost substantial building that wi
serve the firemen for all purpos'
, for q generation. This will solve Il
matter of fire house and overcon
J the objections of the firemen tn
: they have no homing place. This CO
be done with monies soon to be
,, hand or raised by small tax levy
one or two years. The hose hous
{ or fire department headquarters,
not necessarily inseparable from
city hall.
I fear we grow unnecessarily exc
!, ed over this matter, and are too q
to look on the one side or the 9th
as our first beliefs were grounde
After we have all the figures befo
us. we NAV. some of us. want