The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-27
BILL INTRODUCED
IN THE SENATE
Senator Trageton has Meas
ure that Would Mean Loss
of $4,000 Annually.
CITY OFFICIALS TO
FIGHT ITS, PASSAGE
Declare City Should Spend
Money it Contributes to
Bridge Fund. e..

ed over the introduction in the state
senate Of s. B. No. 307 by Senator o,
o. Trageton of Northwood providing
for the repeal Of the law whereby
cities having bridges over navigable
streams receive as a refund from the
county the money paid in for bridge
purposes. The passage of this hill
would mea an annual loss to the city
Of Grand Forks of $4,000 annually.
City Attorney ]. b. Wineman and City
Engineer H. G. Lykken will leave fol
Bismarck this evening to appear be
sons why the bill should not pass.
Two a ago a similar measure
was introduced following action by
money paid in by the city as provided
by law. The county board fought the
case to the supreme court on the con
stitutionality of the law.
Tho city officials take the attitude
that If the county desires to carry on
the functions Of the city in maintain
ing and paying for the bridge across
h Red river they are entitled to the
bridge fund but that there is no just
reason why the people of Grand Forks
should pay taxes for the construction
Of bridges throughout the county and
then be taxed again for the mainte-
nance of the two bridges built by the
city. Discussing the bill this morning
City Attorney Wineman outlined the
situation as follows:
I'm 1883 the city of Grand Forks
constructed two bridges across the
Red river. These bridges were built
at a cost Of $4,000 which "a paid
hNp xk~ 1P 1.-~lr lS, kL- Dlkv,
at the rate of eve per cent. Since
then the city has paid off $4,000 of
the principal and refunded the bal
ance at 4 per cent SO that we are now
paying $4,000 annually as interest and
about $1,000 for repairs which in
cludes the salary of the bridge tender
making the annual outlay by the City
for repairs and interest on these
bridges Of at least $4,000.
Under the provisions of Article I.
Chapter 10. compiled laws of 1887
and section 1882 of the Revised Codes
of 1905. the county should have paid
one-half the cost of the construction
of these bridges but for some eason
they have never paid n cent nor
have they paid. anything toward the
bridges of the city of Grand Forks.
0CCllOu OU1O WHICH, Iue Ulll luLTO.
duced by Senator Trageton would re-
peal provides that the county treasur-
er of each county where any city or
municipal corporation shall ave cor
structed a bridge owe a navigable
stream shall pay to the city treasurer
all moneys collected by the county in
such city for bridge purposes. Last
summer the city of Drayton construct
ed a bridge over the Red river at that
point and it Is quite possible that
bridges may be constructed yer the
river at other points as we'll is over
other rivers in the state.
I'm %enacting this measure, 1t is fair
to presume that the legislature, realiz-
ing that It is rel expensive to keep
and maintain bridges over navigable
streams owing both to wear and tear
and the necessity of keeping a bridge
tender passed this law to relieve the
city from the extra burden of helping
maintain highways outside the city by
allowing them to receive back the
money paid for bridge purposes. 9th
Ell expenses in connection with bridg-
es navigable streams include ice
breaks in the spring and numerous
small items Of upkeep. This provi-
sion is a fair and Just one and it does
not seem probable that the legislature
will treat this measure by n other
method than indefinite postponement.
1t is only just and proper that the
honey paid by the city for bridges
should be used by the city,"