Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-04-03
MAYOR NICHOLS DISCUSSES
CURB AND GUTTER ORDER
Says Abilene Can he Pre-emInentIy
a Residence City.

the streets OF Abilene. has causeI
a great deal OF comment. The reso
luton was not rassed with an,
malice aforethought. but intended
for the betterment OF the city botl
In the general appearance and fin
ancial standpoint-some OF oul
eminent citizens to the contrary not
withstanding.
Abilene cannot expect much from
factories, or industries of that kind
but Abilene can be pre-eminently
the residence city of the state Of
Kansas. In order to attract peo-
pie here we must beautify the city
and make It as attractive as posi-
BILE. We have one great advantage
over other places for residence
town-we have the best water in
the state and with little expense
can make It The City Beautiful
of Kansas" But to do this we must
spend some money and to those of
US who have property interests here,
II we do the right thing by the city,
our investment will eventually re-
turn a hundred fold.
In regard to this .curbing reso-
luton we hear great deal said
about the poor man." as the poor
man" cannot stand the expense of
such improvements. We have been
interviewed by a great many prop
erty owners in the past few days
but the SO called poor man" has
failed to put in his appearance.
Now, word about the cost. The
average property owner the city
over has about frontage of fifty
feet. The total cost to such a par
ty for the contemplated curbing and
guttering will not exceed $50 for
the said so foot lot. He has ten
years in which to pay that amount
bearing interest at the low rate of
five per cent or in other words the
total cost for such improvement will
be the sum of four dollars and fifty
cents for the first year, said sum
covering both principal and interest,
and each succeeding year will be a
lesser amount. Does any owner
think that such improvement would
not add that amount to his property
and are there any taxpayers who
could not afford to pay SO. small an
amount each year?
The city fills in the parking free
of cost to the property owner and
by little work a beautiful lawn can
be maintained. The owner could
not do the same amount of filling
in the parking or have 1t done for
three times the cost of the scurbing
and guttering alone. M. re-
Property does not rent as high |
In Abilene as it should nor does it |
sell at its intrinsic value. You
cannot expect the value to appreciate
unless you do your part towards
identifying the city.
AS an example: For years the
owner of the lots in what is now
Known as Matteson's addition would
lot sell at any price, the tract was
allowed to grow up in weeds and
vas very uninviting place to build.
Mr.. Matteson purchased those lots
md put down sidewalks, curbed,
TAINTED trees, put in water, made
sewerage connections and COM
nenced to sell lots and build houses 4
nd transferred that weed patch"
yhich practically paid no taxes to
he city into a desirable residence
istrict. The tract today pays hum \
reds of dollars to the city in taxes !
nd has fine houses and well kept 8
awns. Mr.. Matteson has sold his !
ouses and lots at a good profit ;
ut he had to expend large amount
Of money before those lots were '
aleable. Ia
The whole city of Abilene can be
into a beautiful and
place in which to reside
18th but little expense to each
wner. We are behind our neigh 8
bring cities in regard to up to date
nprovements. With the natural
ivantages we have at hand abb d
ne should lead all other cities Of Fl
e state. )
Possibly some streets were includ- =
in the resolution that might have 4
ZEN omitted, but in any event u
e people have the matter in their Z
lnds. The resolution was passed a
the commissioners in good faith ?
Id If the majority of property
vners on various streets do not