Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-11-16
GEO. G. BARRETT, Editor
Public Improvements
(Communicated.)

There has been considerable dis
cussion of late (quite bit pro and
some COM relative to the ACCESSIBILITY
of putting in public improvements,
such as sidewalks and City Hall,
either by means of direct taxation
or by issuing city bonds. We have
gathered some figures and data on
this subject which we respectively
submit below.
In considering a big subject like
this, the small personal selfshness
of the present should be laid aside
for large and broad desire for the
public good of the future and we
should look for our personal gain
along with the increased values and
growing wealth of the entire COM
munity. Most of us here have our
entire capital tied up in Wendell
property and our future financial
success depends on the growth and
prosperity of this town, therefore
we should consider seriously and
conscientously with an unbiased
mind such subjects as this which
have to do with the public well
fare.
The first thing of course to be con-
sidered is the cost. A substantial
and up to date City Hall can be built
for S5OOO. For $1,000 more first
class fire department can be equipped
and this money will cost SO which
means $3.50 in interest per year.
This city hall should contain a coun-
Gil chamber where the town board
can meet and keep their permanent
records safe from being destroyed
If the council were to rent room
of this kind it would cost them at
least SIS per month and would not
be as satisfactory as one built for
the purpose. In the city hall, Com
mercial Club rooms could be pro-
vided which would mean at least
SIS per month to the Club in cast
they were renting. The saving il
insurance rates as a result of a wei
equipped fire department woulC
amount to more than the entire in.
terest on the $4,000. Then we mus
consider the unknown benefit tina
would be derived from the effec
modern improvements like thi'
will have on prospective settlers
Adding together the several items
we have a saving of $3.50 for Coun
Gil Chamber and Club rooms and a
least that much more in insuranc,
rates and added protection from
fire, which together with the un
known gain resulting from a gooC
impression on strangers would max,
the building of a city hall look hk'
good investment.
A first class cement walk can b
built for 20e per square foot ant
probably for two or three cents less
This estimate includes grading, put
ing in a crushed rock foundation
and the cement on top of that
Figuring II foot walk in the busi
ness section we have 300 square fee
to each lot. 1t would seem tina
any business firm in town could we
afford $500 per year in order
have cement walks in front of it.
In the residence section a five foe
walk can be laid at the rate of Is
per foot. Making a total cost o
fifty foot lots of $45. The interes
per lot comes to $3.50. Can any
one stand the difficulties of ou
present walk system and the DANCE
for the saving Of $3.50 per year?
There are two methods of fnanC
ing this proposition. At .Jerom
the city voted $4,000 in bonds an
put in the cross walks and approach
es at city expense. The remaindt
of the cost is charged up-directly
the property owners, and they al
collecting it. The other metho
would be to organize sidewalk dis
trict, vote bonds for the installation
of the walks and then postpone tn
sinking fund, to pay off the indebt
edness, for eight or ten years. Thi
l Al I L