Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-05-29
PAVING PROTESTS
HEARD BY COUNCIL
Both Sides Represented by Attorneys
and cemprcmlse offered
BY the City.

Neii'u mtttihk VI tue CITY COUNCIL
was held yesterday afternoon at
o'clock. with Mayor Harris presiding
and all the aldermen present.
The meeting had been called to
hear the protests to the city councils.
plans and assessments for paving the
intersecting streets to Main street.
The committee OF property owners
present were: l.. A. Plazek, John NJ.
Lawrence. II. o. Boatwright. Il. II.
Astin. Eugene Edge, W. T. James,.
q. w. Smith. w. 4. Saunders. II. 8.
Webb. w. II. Cole. ]. Webb Howell
and J. +. Convey.
The property owners were repre-
sented by Attorneys Taliaferro and
Armstrong. while the city was repre-
scented by Attorneys Doremus and
Henderson.
The question at issue. Judge ITALIA
ferro stated. was the unfairness OF
the assessment 20 each property
owner Of one-third OF the cost OF paw
ing the street ON which his building
was located. and that the property
owners did not think this a fair as
sessment. That they believed the as
sessment should be made according
TO the amount OF benefit the propert,
owner would receive from a paved
street along his building. Judge ITALIA.
ferro then undertook to prove that
the property owners would not re-
ceiye as great benefit as would the
general public. and introduced wit
nesses on this point.
+. II. AstIn was the first witness
called to the stand. Upon being ques-
ton. Mr.. Astin stated that he believed
20 per cent OF the cost OF the paving
10 the property owners on each side
OF the street would be fair and
Just assessment. as the public would
derive the benefit and the property
value would not be enhanced one
cent
II. o. Boatwright was next called.
and stated that he could not see
where the value Of the property would
be increased. and that he believe. al.
most the entire benefit would be de-
rived by the public and not by the
property owners. and that the assess
meats should be made accordingly.
4 County Judge ]. +. Maloney was
next called TO the stand. Judge Ma
loney testified in accordance with
Mr.. Astin and Mr.. Boatwright. that
the major portion OF the benefit would
be received by the public. but said
some benefit would be derived by the
property owners. but not 10 the
amount Of one.thlrd the cost OF paw
inr the streets adjoining their prop
erty. as had been assessed.
The issue was discussed from ev.
cry angle by those present. Alder.
man W. $. Wilson Jr made a motion
that. " the counsel for the city said
II could be made under the law. that
the city pay one-half the cost OF paw
Ing the intersecting streets 10 Main
street or the part OF each intersect-
ing street that runs along the side
OF each OF the buildings fronting on
Main street. and the property owners
be assessed one-fourth the cost OF
the paving. But that the one-third
assessment to all property owners
whose property fronts on the streets
10 be paved be allowed to remain as
II was first assessed. Mr.. wilon said
he offered this as compromise
rather than fight II out In court and
have everybody displeased.
The attorneys were unable 10 give.
an opinion at once as 10 whether the
motion made by Mr.. Wilson could be
, carried ont by the city. and the prop
erty owners had not agreed whether
they would accept the proffered com
, promise.
Mayor Harris thereupon adjourned
the meeting until p. m. Tuesday.
June I. to give the attorneys time to
look up the law on the motion and
I. for the property owners to decide
whether the compromise weuld be
accepted in the event II could he car.
ried out by the city. This meeting
win no doubt be attended by large
numbers of those interested 'on both
sides Of the question.