Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-28

poor, is paid $500 annually, and the
amount disbursed annually will alp
proximate $4,000. Prior to 1918 the
county took care of the poor, but the
legislature of 1918 passed laws plac
ing that duty on the city government
The city pays % per cent of tbs cost
and all the salary Of the .overseer
making a total OF around $4,000 .
year. This $4,000 is all added expense
to the City of Bismarck since 1913
forced on the city by state law.
Great White Way.
The White Way lighting system
covering the entire business section
was paid for by assessment against
AUDITING property owners. 1t is, how
ever lighted and maintained by the
city. This expense, added within the
last four years, amounts to around
$500 a year. AS an improvement nc
resident will deny its value or grudgs
the expense.
Last season the business section
was flooded, once during a heavy
storm, and again it was seriously
threatened. The damage done in the
first instance vas a heavy one and
fell on nearly every business house
in Bismarck. To avoid a repetition, Of
this situation. serious consideration
was given, the subject and it a final
ly decided to put in a system for the
disposal of storm. waters. This was
put in early the past winter at a cost
Of. less than 100000. Under the plan
adopted by the Commission the build
ing Of an entire new sewer system
was, avoided; the cost Of such a new
system would have been, around, $lOo,
900, according to- estimates consider
ed by the Commission at various
times during the&past two years When
the subject w~asellnder consideration
Public, Sc;iooT System.
Our system Of ptblicrschools is con
coded to be one Of the7best in the
Northwest. The new high, school
building, completed in recent years,
is a model of convenience, sanitation
and beauty. We claim no credit for
the educational system, but in enum.
Grating the service for which taxes
are paid the schools are the largest
item. For every dollar paid in taxes
this spring about So cents went to
support the schools.
Miles Of Sidewalks.
Many miles of sidewalks, consider.
able street grading and a small
amount Of parking and curbing have
been built and completed during the
past two years. The growth Of the
city demanded much of this, and cs
we shall continue to grow, it is con-
ceived by US to be our duty as city
officials, to keep pace with the growth
in the matter Of Improvement. Street
grading has not been ordered, gener-
ally speaking, without petitions there
for signed by. residents and taxpayers.
The Commission has at all times been
ready and willing, and in fact glad, to
listen to protests against special i'm.
provement work, the cost Of which
was to be borne by special assess
ment, but such protests have been
rare.
Servant Of the People.
The Commission deems itself to, be
the servant of the people of Bismarck
and in all such matters has attempted
to follow the expressed wishes of the
taxpayers. If it has. not done so the
taxpayers themselves have been. to
blame for not voicing their protests
and opinions at the time and place ap,
pointed therefor. Furthermore, it Is
difficult tt expect people to build
homes in the outskirts of the city
without giving them some Of our mod.
ern improvements. II the city is to
grow can we deny newcomers these
improvements unless they buy an ex-
pensive lot in the heart Of the city
on which to build their homes?
increases Percentage.
To guide the Commission in judg,
ing whether improvements are really
desired by those who will have to pay
for them, the Commission recently
passed a resoluticl requiring that all
improvement work which is to be
paid for by special assessment shall
be petitioned for by at least 81 per
cent of the property owners affected.
This will be strictly adhered to and
while it may occasion serious COM
plant in some cases, and retard i'm
provenlents, still we hope the taxpay-
ers will appreciate the spirit in which
it was promulgated and be prepared
to comply with it.
SprinkIing Of Streets.
The sprinkling of streets is another
item now. cared for out of the city
treasury. Another sprinkler was add
ed last season, making two, and the
total cost of this service, which we
believe is much appreciated. aggre-
gates about $500 a year. Business
lei will remember that prior to 1913
the expense OF sprinkling was borne
through the medium of a subscription
list collected monthly.
The present Commission has n
scientiously attempted to conserve
the interests Of the city in all mat
ters. Probably some things have not
been done that should he, but on the
whole, much has been accomplished.