The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-30
NO[EN WILL EXPLAIN HIS
KEOKUk PLAN TUESDAY

of general tax supplying the means OF
conducting the several general govern /
ments and providing for the ordinary
functions Of each, Out of general
revenues only very little OF street i'm
provement is made, and out of general
revenue or bond isues, based on gen.
eral taxation ARE constructed the prin-
cipal trunk line sewers. All else is
done In the form of special assessment
against benefited land. In the case OF
special assessment for particular i'm
provements, these assessments lie
against the lands only, In no case TAX
ing the improvements thereon into ac-
count. When street or any public
highway, inclusive OF the bouleyards,
is to be established, the administra-
tive boards and the legislative body
adopt the necessary resolutions or orr
dinances, and In as much as general
funds are rarely available for this pur-
pose, proceed in the local civil courts
to appropriate or condemn the land
necessary to establish, widen. or ex-
tend these highways. The cost OF the
lands entailed In such procedure is
then in the same court, by the same
commissioners establishing the value
of the lands taken, assessed against
the private lands within previously
prescribed contiguous or abutting ben
eft district. In the case of streets,
usually abutting lands; in the case OF
boulevards custom has established thel
frontage upon adjoining parallel street
on each side as properly within dis
trict specifically benefited by the es-
Enlistment Of such highways. Later,
after the properties have been acquir-
ed, sometimes at the time Of acquisi-
ton, the grades upon which these
highways are to be built are establish
ed, and should there be violent
changes Of ground surface, thereby
producing possible injury to the abut-
ting private property, opportunity is
given to claim damages for this ele-
ment, and the cost thereof Is assessed
in the form Of special land assessment
against the properties In the benefit
district.
Assessment on Property Value.
Subsequent to the disposition of the
question of damages due to the street
grade or changes in ground surface
thereon, the highway is graded to It's
established grade and the cost of this
work assessed In proportion to the
| value of the property assessed and
| against the lands forming the normal
frontage on the highway SO improved.
! After the street has been brought to
the proper planes In accordance with
| the established grades and all subse-
1 quent to the proper legislation by both
4 the administrative and legislative
/ bodies, the city proceeds to improve
these highways by first establishing
/ the necessary drains, discharging
these into the established sewer sys-
/ tenn or creating new sewer districts
i The cost of such drainage Is assessed
against the lands within the area to
be drained, on the basis of cost in pro-
portion to its area.
The city then further proceeds to
.DQliu tllC Cul InS SIlSSC pdNmcuISi
the sidewalk pavements. and assess
all of these elements against the abut-
ting properties.
| The city may, but does not as rule
| further assess the abuting properties
with the cost of establishing the lawns
on the sidewalk spaces, but does as
sess the cost of shade tree planting
and care upon the abuting property In
the case of streets. In the case Of
boulevards, the park commission, out
| of its funds, provides for the cost OF
tree planting and the lawns on the
sidewalk spaces.
The city does not assess for the es-
Enlistment of water mains, and the
installation of lighting equipment is
an incident to the general contract
for lighting paid for out of the general
revenue.
Park and Boulevard System.
The park and boulevard system Is
administered by a board of park com