The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1913-04-26

err should be allowed the benefit of
his investment in the wooden
walks, at least till their condition
demands repairs for the cOnven-
iCnce and safety Of the public.
Moreover, it is burdensOme
hardship upon the property hold
ers at this particular time to as
sumo such an obligation as would
result from the carrying out of t he
presently proposed 0 dinance. Thu
times are not propitiOus for such
an undertaking on so extended a
scale. The delinquent tax list, on
1912 taxes, is greater than has OBJ
tanned in recent years.
Further, the National Congress is
materially modifying tariff sched-
ules at the present time. 1t is i'm
pc 7sible to say what influ nee tn ase
notifications will exercise on the
prices of building materials in the
near future. 1t might be that we
would have to build walks now
with materials at protective prices
and later have to pay for them on
q free trade basis.
Attention is further called to the
fact, that the present undertaking
involves the largest expenditure
ever contemplated by any city adj
ministration of this city, in a sin
gle contract, either with or with
out the consent OF the people. Its
cost will approximate a sum equal
to per cent of the entire assess
ment of the city.
Further, the present proposed
course is at varience with that pur-
sued by your honorable body in
undertaking the gravelling the east
end of Main street, where and
when the abutting property hold
ers were first given the Opportuni-
ty of endorsing the proposed i'm
provement before the empowering
ordinance was enacted.
Moreover, we respectfully repre-
sent that the form of the contract
I and specifications are ineluitable
in that they do not protect the
property holder against the build.
ing of excessively high curbs a.
lOngside OF open drains, as in.
stanced on Ann, Madison, and Vine
streets, where curbs of more thar
three feet, and probably as mucl
as ten feet in one place, would hav,
| to be built in order to hold up tn,
plates OF the proposed sidewalks
We respectfully urge, further
that in quite number of cases thu
cost OF laying the sidewalk ane
curbing around the properties viii
considerably exceed, in amount
the entire Yalue of the property a
gainst which it is to be levied
That this is cOnfiscatiOn and is un.
iustifiable, in that, in most instan-
ces. there is no such pressing neee
On the part OF the public for side.
walks in such localities, as woul6
justify the act.
Moreover, it is ill-advised to Civ,
such q contract, as whole, for tn,
reason that, owing to the value o.
the property being, in number O
cases, considerably less than tn,
cost OF laying the sidewalk abut.
ting same, it will be necessary fol
the bidders, in order to save them
selves, I'd increase the amount O.
their bid per foot; thus causing
property holders in other portions
OF the City to pay more than the,
should for laying their sidewalk
This in order to reimburse the los,
which tho contractor will surel,
face Al to properties whose value
il insufficient to pave the abuttin5
walk.
In consideration of the forego
ing facts we, therefore, respect
fully petition your honorable bod,
to call . Special Meeting OF thu
City Council on or before May Let
1913, for the purpose Of consider.
inG this petition, and that you then