The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1911-03-16
COUNCIL WORKING
TO REDUCE TAXES
In Past Three and Half Years
Liabilities Have Been
Reduced s2S, ,226.16.
What Oakes Is Paying for 1tf
Light Now and What
It Can Get.

In another column will be found the
semi-annual statement of the auditor
and treasurer of the City of Oakes. 1t
is very complete statement of the
present condition of affairs, as well as
an estimate of the expense that will
come on the city for the coming six
months, and where the money is COM
ing from.to meet these expenses.
In justice to the present city council,
it would be we'll to make study of the
statement. There is considerable COM
plant that taxes are high, that the
high taxes are keeping out investments
in the city as well as going to drive out
others. But those conversant with the
condition of the city know that this
council and the one preceding it were
up against rather hardproposition.
Looking at the comparative state
ment at the bottom it will be seen that
since Sept. 1st, 1907 the city's net LA
bilities has been decreased $2S,226.16.
True it is. the expenses have been
heavy, but the city council was not to
blame for this condition. The citizens
themselves are to blame for the is
suance cf bonds which amounts to
$4,000. They are to blame for having
the city hall, an expense that came on
the taxpayers in three years, when the
better way would have been to have
scattered it over a period Of years,
something would not be allowed owing
\ to the fact that we had already reached
the debt limit. The, citizens voted
some twenty years ago to bond the city
for S., 900 for an artesian well. Those
ran for twenty years at six per cent,
and the $11, 900 to which this amounted
was paid Nov. 1, 1909. This we'll has
been out of use many years ago and it
seemed like paying for a "dead horse. "
Besides taking up the old well bonds,
$1l,000; erecting and paying for city
hall that is worth $1,000; the city has
also accumulated upwards ofe$4,200 of
property distributed as follows: For
chemical engine and hook and ladder
truck, $775; for 6-inch water pipe and
fittings, now on hand SITS; for 1000
feet of fire hose, $3.50; for new artesian
well, 81 800; for new crosswalks, $40O.
Taxes have been high for few years
past, but the council assures us that
things for the future looks much
brighter. The only real crying need
now is pressure on the mains for fire
protection. The electric light company
that is asking for franchise promises
to do away with this trouble at an ex-
pense of 81, 200 per annum, and we do
not see but their proposition is a fea-
sible one. They use the same power
that is used to make electricity to pump
clear surface we'll water into the mains.
The company can do it with the same
help, while if the city puts in a pump
ing station that will hardly pay the ex-
pense for labor alone.
Speaking of the electric light propo-
sition, here is prepared statement
showing comparison between the
present unsatisfactory system and the
electric light propositions:
What Oakes DID GET in 1910 fol
$l,247.54
The city light contract with the
Oakes Commercial Company in 1910
called for six street lamps in the busi-
ness district to be lighted at sundown
each evening and remain lighted until
sunrise the following morning and
eighteen street lamps in the residence
districts to be lighted at sundown each
evening and remain lighted until ten
O'Clock p. m. during the months Of
January, February, March, April, May
and December and until eleven O'Clock
p. m. during the months of June. July,
August, September, October and No
vember and two additional street lamps
to be lighted whenever needed and moi
to be used later than eleven O'Clock
p. m. These two lights were located
at the east and west ends, of Main
Street. The above contract called TO,
payment by the city Of 500 pei
month, deduction to be made for lights
not lit and later two additiona
street lights were installed at an ad'
ditional cost of IS. so per month. City
Hall gas; extra. Please bear IN minc
that the resident districts were lit OF
what is known as Moonlight Seized
ple. .
What Oakes CAN GET in 1912 iol
q, sos. so.
Under the proposed franchise for al
electric light plant for this city rat.
is ma le Of eight cents per kilowatt
hour, the same Us st. Paul is paying
for street lighting; Fargo pays ten
cents; Minneapolis paws ten cents
C,,operstown pays twelve cents; ant
\ the business district Of the city: woul,
be lighted by eighteen lamp posts will
FIVE 60 watt lamps on each post, max
ing total Of ninety lamps in the bust
ness district. These ninety lamp
would be 1t ct six o'clock P. n. ever!