Evening journal., 1915-11-27
Peoples Column
WILLIAM P. BANCROFT FOR
AUDITING PROPERTY Plan
10 the Editor OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL

To the Editor OF THE EVENING
JOURNAL
Sir: believe it is extremely dosira-
bic that the city shall get out OF the
present system of paying for street
paving out Of general funds, and get
into the one which is so much more
usual. OF collecting the whole or a
large part OF the cost OF such pave
ments from the owners OF property
abutting on the streets.
If we continue under the present
system, the streets will not be paved
as generally as they would be under
the other, the city will get very. very
deeply in debt. and it will be kept so
poor as to be unable TO spend money
as would be desirable on its schools
and in many other ways.
wrote out some suggestions lately
and they have been seen by number
of persons who take especial interest
in the matter / think Il may be we'll
that they shall be published in order
that they may be more generally con-
sidered.
Before mentioning them, / would
advert to specific points OF difficulty.
The system of charging against
abutting property holders broke down,
believe, many years ago in connec-
tion with the paving Of Fourth street
Would it be well for the city to pay
a part Of the cost on very vide
streets. perhaps by providing that
property holders shall not pay Tor
more than two square yards for each
foot of frontage?
Presuming that the cost of paving
intersections of streets will continue
to be paid for out of general funds
and that street railways will continue
TO pay for the portion now charged TO
them, liould all the remainder De
paid for by the abutting properly
holders? Or in other words, should
each side pay half or a lmaller irac-
ton? | believe It would be best to
nav for one-half. but perhaps II would
cause NJ serious harm for small
fraction, perhaps a fifth or tourth'
to be paid for out of general FUNDS.
There is difficulty in regard 10 cor
ner lots. / believe 1t is best their
owners should pay for paving on both
streets. Even if they should corner
lots will continue in most cases TO be
more valuable than others. Such IN
equalities adjust themselves IN inc
long run by affecting prices that ere
paid for properties But where 1t Is
practicable to be sure which Is th'
front and which the side Of a lot
some fraction only or the side may b'
counted in arranging for payments.
Such an arrangement as TO collec
tions as is proposed will be a sur
and simple one. the payments vii
perhaps be as easy as practicable 10
those who have to pay. and the cit
and they will have the advantage
money being borrowed at the rate
for long-term city loans.
If the tax rate and the eXpenditui
in other respects out OF current il
come should be kept as they wou
be otherwise, the receipts for paw
ments would be applied toward r.
ducing the city's debt or in lessenin
its increase. II the tax rate shOul
be less than it would otherwise b.
so as TO keep the receiptss the sam'
the aggregate burdens on those VIII
make payments would not be in
creased. In either case the obiectio
TO a change in our system. that TO d
so would be unfair because many O
the streets have been paved at IN
/ general expense. and. that havinl
been so, others ought TO be paid 70
in the same way. would in a larg
degree be overcome.
In transferring property, unpaid poI
tions Of charges for paving would no
be considered as liens against the proT
erty any more than taxes to be paid i
the future are liens
! suggest the city SHALL
Have an appraisement made of th
value of the paving abutting on eac
piece of real estate In the city, countin
as in the value of the paving all wor
above the grading
Add to the amounts Of the apprais,
ments enough TO cover 3 per cent. di,
count. when paid promptly. and interc.
at the rate of per cent. per annum fc
the average time of Geferment of pa,
ment.
Divide this sum into ten equal part
and collect one-tcnth each year wit
and as part of the taxes.
Add to the cost OF all new pawn
similarly on account Of discounts an
interest. ard collect for it in ten veal
with and as part of the taxes.
Give the Street and Sewer Director
power to proceed with paving and n
paving where thc owners of say go pc
cent. Of the frontage affected shall as
them TO do so and also power TO pay
without there having been any such p