The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-22
Woman, Assessed for I'M
provement, Pleads She Has
No Money, but Board Says
That Is No Excuse.
IT'S A GOOD EXCUSE
FOR CITY, HOWEVER
AS Board Turns Down West
First St. Improvement Be-
cause the City Could Not
Meet Its Share.

When the primary hearing on the
improvement of South II street, from
Ninth to Twelfth was called at the
board of works meeting this morning,
Mrs. Katherine Eloff, of South Ninth
street, who will be heavily assessed
on the improvement. asked the board
to defer it for one year. She said she
was assessed several hundred dollars
last year, and $125 this season on var
ious improvements, and that she could
not afford to meet her assessment on
the South H street improvement.
A petition for the improvement was
filed by the resident property owners.
Mrs. Eloff was told the board could
not hold up the improvement for a
year, even II she did not have the
money. I'VE have to make the i'm
provement," declared the mayor. "as
it is petitioned for. On all improve
menas some one comes up with the
plea that they haven't the money. II
we stopped for that there would never
Oe any improvements.
Wants to Save Little.
II am getting old" pleaded Mrs.
Elon with the board. I'VE have to pre-.
pare for a rainy day, and not spend
all our money for Improvements that
really don't do US any good"
Yes, the street is bad" she contin
ued, but SO are lots OF others. Ninth
hasn't been made for Is years. Why
don't you make that street,"
"How will you be fixed next year,
asked the board.
"God only knows" cried the woman
fervertly Down on the Liberty pike
in the graveyard hope Mayor Zim
norman can't assess me for improve
ments after I'm under the ground,
guess. II I'd had my choice I'd have
been dead 25 years ago."
Mrs. Eloff was assured by Mayor
Zimmerman that she was good for
100 years longer. at least"
Il Makes q Difference.
The next business Of the board wal
a demand and petition that West
First street be made from the Nation
al road to Kinsey street. T. C. Hub
bard, representing the West Side I'm
provement association, was before the
board in this matter. The mayor de
clared to Mr.. Hubbard that the i'm
provement could not be made this yeaI
albeit a petition with practically all
the property owners names attached
has been brought in.
"The city hasn't the money to meet
/ its share of the expense" said Mayor
Zimmerman. The West First street
improvement was not included in tht
1911 budget, and therefore we are mo-
going to make 1t this year. 1t wouIt
\ be foolish to borrow money for thi.
improvement.
The CITY," explained the mayor
"owns 160 feet Of land on the east side
of the street, and it would cost u,
considerable money to place side
walks, curb and gutter in front Of oul
lots, as is demanded by the petition
ers." Mrs. Eloff was not present Il
hear this statement.
| Hubbard asked the board why soml
| IIluOT improvements COulu uOl DS
Abandoned and the money used for thu
West Fifth street improvement. bu
the mayor said that all the availabl,
money had been used up. County Su
perintendent Williams, a propert,
holder interested in the making o
the street. asked the board why no
use the money intended for West Mail
street, from Fifth street west, as thi,
improvement was this morning in
definitely postponed. His question wa
not answered by the board.
! It is understood that this improve
ment will be taken up next year.
/ The indefinite postronement of tn,
!, making of West Main street is expect
ed to create bad feeling. The propert.
owners asked for a gravel street, ant
the board said they should have mac
adam roadway or nothing. 1t prove,
to be nothing.