Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-08
Meeting j.
DRAWS CROWD
CONTINUED from Page One.)

one has any axes to grind that 1 know
Of" he stated.
When Mr.. McCurdy took the chair
he stated that this was a free for all
testimonial meeting and that all were
welcome to take part. He called up
On Superintendent C. l.. Vigness OF
the Eurleigh county schools to talk.
Mr.. Vigness told Of some of his eX-
%periences with street grading and spe.
cial assessments.
n. L. Reade Next.
H. l.. Reade, a former member Of
the old city council, was the next to
speak. He testified to the fact that
the grading and street proposition
was a hard one to handle in Bismarck
AID continued: ut seems to me we
are going pretty fast in extending our
outlying grading districts, but if they
were asked for, why, we must pay
for them. This is the most repre-
sentative meeting of citizens of Bis.
marck that l have seen in my 81
years here. | feel that the taxation of
this city is becoming SO heavy that
it is getting to be a burden to u.s."
City Engineer Atkinson then arose
and stated that in order to prevent a
repetition of the Methodist church
corner grade, Bismarck ought to dc
her grading before she makes her i'm
provements. He asked Mr.. Reade il
he remembered back in the days whel
he was on the city couacil, if he (Mr,
Atkinson) did not insist that the
grade as established be introduced
and established as an. ordinance .e3-
tablishing the grades of the city. Mr.
'Reade said that he remembered this.
my. Thistlethwaite, the city auditor,
arose and explained that the price OF
the grading has been gradually reduc-
ed of late years and also explained
that when. road grading was deemed
necessary blythe city commission bids
can be advertised for aid the proper
ty owners then have a chance to pro.
test.
D. j. McGillis at this time moved
that this discussion cease and that
more taxpayers be heard from. A. F..
stated that he was in fa
vor of the improvements in the east
end.
" C. N. Kirk Talks.
C. n. Kirk stated that in his opin.
ion the people Of Bismarck are Ger.
tainly not inviting people to come
here and build if the taxes keep on at
the rates that they have been, and
on to say that if the taxes keep
up as they are, he would feel that
ne could not afford to W a home
mere. eft looks like there is too much
going on and it is costing too
much to the public il general" said
Mr.. Kirk.
Frank Titus said that his taxes last
Iear on three vacant lots amounted
o $29.97, while this year OH the same
cts they amounted to $113.n. On
wo lots adjoining these three vacant
OTIS, he said, the taxes last year
mounted to $52.O2, while this year
hey went up to $91.S2. The valua-
ion has increased from $3.50 to $1,675
n this time and he felt that he. must
either sell out or give his property
way.
City Engineer Atkinson again arose
o speak, but was ruled out of order
the chair.
Mrs. M. C. Budlong stated that the
axes on her property were SIS last
on four lots and a house, while
his year they amount to 1927, which
he considers considerably more than
he rental value. She asked why this
vas and how long it was to continue.
Mr.. Atkinson arose and stated that
hree years grading assessments
included in one this year on this
property, because the contract was
long being put in.
Bull Makes Them Laugh.
J. w. Bull provoked quite a bit OF
in the curse of his talk on
axes and special assessments and
rades. I'm my estimation" he said,
the grading il the northeast part OF
own is absolutely ,valueless. In most
laces the streets and grading are as
'od Almighty made the land. There
!, no reason fer deep cuts or fills here
this rolling prairie.
81 gave one of my lots away to a
ian for $40 and my conscience has
roubled me ever since, whel / think
f it-stuck Is feet up in the air.
There was no sense in cutting that
ole in Ninth street. Out in the west
nd it's really painful 10 see those
ouses away up in the air.
1--WE ought to establish grades in