The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1915-01-22
COUNCIL TO FOLLOW
LINES OF ECONOMY
City Engineer Barnum Suspended---Iax
payers Complain Of High
Tax Rate

The council listened to two dis
courses at last Tuesday evenings
council meeting on the High Taxes
in Leavenworth." Deed H. Magyar,
editor of the Echo, in the course Of
his remarks said thai the council should
go very slow this year in making i'm
provements and pursue the course OF
strictest economy. He said that Leav-
enworth already had the name OF be
ing one of the highest taxed cities in
the state, and that il the people wanted
the city TO grow, and wanted new peo-
pie to come and settle here, they
would have to take some steps toward
reducing the taxes. high taxes being
one of the greatest drawbacks. a town
could have. According to Mr.. Magyar
the city now has over $1,000 worth
of outstanding warrants, drawing eight
per cent interest, and in all likelihood
unless something is done, this amount
will be doubled by the close Of an
other year. AS one way of raising
money he suggested that the present
water rates be increased to double what
thev are at present. In this way the
man who owns no property at all could
help to some extent in lowering the
burden of taxation,
Mr.. Magyar was followed by VIM.
Mcintosh, OF the Mutual Mercantile
Co., who stated that their store was
paying taxes that would amount to
about So a day. AS an example he
cited the, tax which he is paying on
his residence. Five years ago, when
he. came to Leavenworth, he was as
sessed 50 on his residence, the second
year $40, the third year $50, the
fourth $40, the fifth $50, and he said
he would not be surprised if he had to
pay SIS this year.
Councilman Schubert moved that
the city dispense with the services of
Mr.. Barnum as engineer and water
commissioner after ten days notice.
The motion was seconded by council
man Wheeler and when the vote was
taken, three other councilman voted
with Mr. Schubert, which means that
Mr. Barnum's term OF Office will expire
next Friday, January 29th. Council
man Woldenburg, Miller and Snyder
voted TO retain Mr. Barnum in office.
The street and alley committee re,
ported that the foot bridge across the
gulch in the west end OF the city was
in an unsafe condition for pedestrians
and that it was boarded up for the
time being. 1t is not likely that the
bridge will be repaired before next
spring
The ordinance calling for bond for
the city attorney, in the amount Of
$3.50, which has been before the coun
ell for the past two weeks, was again
brought up for a vote and failed to
carry.
Councilman Woldenburg introduced
a resolution to the effect that the city
clerk and treasurer go over their rec
ords and bring before the council
not later than the first meeting in
February, a detailed report OF the cost
and expenditures on the city water
system from the time the contract was
let up to the present date. The reso-
luton was adopted.
The assessed valuation Of Leaven-
worth for the year Of 1914 is $605, 1853,
according to figures presented to the
council by Mr.. Woldenburg. Last
year the assessed valuation was $685.
442, which shows a gain Of $137,521.
City Attorney Nelson reported that
owing to errors made in the publica-
ton Of notices in connection with the
bond issue for the sewer district in the
alleys back OF the business district,
the bond houses would not take the
bonds and the notices would have to
. be reSg5,ished. >-->.->
S. P. Beecher and J. A. Warman,
two representative fruit growers from
the Peshastin district left yesterday af-
ternoon for Seattle to attend the furit