The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-12-24


ed the council meeting on Tuesday
evening, attracted by the prospect OF
the petition for paving the principal
streets being presented and acted up
on. Before taking up the routing
work Mayor Peck invited visitors to
present their business, ana c. w. Ber-
ryman presented the petition for the
creation of an improvement district
to pave about 20 blocks of the
streets, and stated that he had secur-
ed the signatures of about rs per
cent of the abutting property owners.
The streets to be paved were Main,
from the power company's sub-sta-
ton to the skating rink; Taylor from
Bonds office, the Makcay tracks, to
Gibbs livery; Bridge from Main to
The Idaho Lumber companys; Pacific
from Main to Taylor; Idaho from
Main to Taylor; and Alice from Main
to Taylor. R. E. Hansen, who owns
the block on Main above the skating
rink, asked permission to sign indi-
eating his desire to pave his block,
and persons on the cross streets west
of the points named had declined to
sign, indicating their desire not to
pave in front of their property yet.
The owners of about 25 per cent of
the property within the proposed inn
provement district had declined to
sign. The plan proposed was for the
city to take charge of the improve
ment of the streets in the territory
named, and act as the agents for
the property owners, having the work
done, and permitting the land owners
to pay for it, all at once or in ten
installments covering ten years, or
to pay up and stop interest at any
time they might desire. The debt
would be lien against the property
until paid, and when any one paid
off his own, he would not be held for
any of the others debts. The cost
Of paving the intersections or places
where streets cross, to be done by
the city at large or by the tax payers
of the improvement district, as the
council might elect. Mr.. Bergman
said the persons signing the petition
had done so knowing what 1t would
cost them, and knowing that 1t was
to benefit the whole town and not
themselves alone; that Mr.. Biethan
was the one who would pay the larg
est amount, and he had said that
he wanted the Improvements and was
willing to undertake the burden of
the payments. Some had objected,
but he believed the town owed it to
themselves and to the country around
to provide better street conditions
than now exist; that nothing had
been formulated as to what materials
should be asked for, but that there
had been talk of using cement, and
that its cost would not exceed $1.35
per yard. He hoped the council
would consider carefully the petition
of such large majority of the prop
erty owners.
The council after some discussion
asked representatives Of bonding
companies who were present, what
rate of interest would be required on
the bonds, and it was stated that
per cent would probably be the price;
that this class of bonds, covering part
of city and a small amount of
money is not taken at so low a rate
of interest as others. There were
present Mr.. H. L. Boyd, representing
John E. Price & company of Seattle;
H. w. Kelley, representing Sweet,
Foster company Of Denver;
and c. v. Fisher, representing D. w.
Standrod & company of Blackfoot.
The council decided by unanimous
vote to grant the petition, and asked
for bids on the proposed bonds, and
received bids as follows:
John e. Price G company offered
to do all the legal WORK OF preparing
resolutions, ordinances and printing