Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-27


women S. .......
sevcnth-2nd prec. Mcn's............
women S. .......
Total Mems Votes ..............
Total Women's Votes ...........
Grand, Totals
M"9o.'.s =.
Moved by Alderman Turner, seconded
by Alderman Bird, that the report OF
the special c~anyassing committees be
accented and approved and the city audi
tor instructed to issue certificates of
election TO- those receiving the highest
numbers of votes from each ward as a
member of the board of education. Car
ried, 10 votes affirm.
School Election Expenses.
School election expenses as per itemiz-
ed bills for Judges and clerks Of cleo
ton. and for rent Of polling places for
in amount ,l45.lo. presented, read.
Moved by Alderman Sanders, second
ed by Alderman Peterson. that the hills
for school election expenses, as read.
city auditor authorized to issue war
rants on the general fund in payment
of the same. ON roll call the following
aldermen voted aye: Kelsey. T.. J.
whitman, Smith. Gillette. Turner. Bird,
Peterson and kleven-1a. Carried.
Mayors Annual Message.
Mayor Dinnie read his annna mes
sage to the city, council as follows:
Council of the City of Grand Forks,
North Dakota.
Gentlcmen:
AS our administrative year closes, and
the membership Of the council changes
there is raging on the battlefelds Of
France the greatest struggle the world
has KNOWN: we hope and pray that it is
the last expiring %convulsion of savagery
and %harhartsm and that, when the issue
has been decided. civilization and hui
manity will have been restored to their
tic earth.
In this great struggle America stands
with the forces of uprishtness. truth and
Justice and our soldiers are shoulder to
shoulder with their. brothers from al
most all Of the nations of the earth.
But in these days, battles are not won
alone by the soldiers at the front or in
the TRENCHES: the war is carried on by
the united efforts of all of the people
where there is no division of effort or
energy among the people at home; there
is ample work for all Of us here to do
and this work calls for the very highest
effort of Intelligence, industry, loyalty
and patriotism. ~.
Solidarity Characterised citisens.
That in all of these qualities the peo-
pie of our city stand in the very fore
front ample evidences have recently been
given in the splendid services commem-
entry into the war. the magnificent sub
Scriptions to the Liberty Loan, Red
Cross. Knights of Columbus. Y. NJ. G.. A.,
salvation Army and other similar socie-
recent ~harmonizins of all factions in the
selection of the chief executive of the
city and all of these things are a com
plete guarantee that Grand Forks will
efforts on behalf of the nation nor will
she tolerate within her borders anything
that will hamper her in those efforts or
diminish her efficiency to aid civiliza-
ton in its struggle for existence
In all of our efforts in this regard
our people have the right to and do look
to the members of the city council for
guidance. and leadership and to give
loyalty and patriotism: it is a wonderful
opportunity to the members of the coun-
Gil as we'll as responsibility and of the
complete and satisfactory fulfIlment
surance.
Turning to tho problems of local and
domestic Importance I wish first to call
your attention to the
Assessments and Taxation.
Strict economy in all municipal affairs
must be our watcisw"rd and il is peculi-
arly gratifying that in this field VIC can
report verT satisfactory condition.
During the r,ast four years there has
been a material reduction Amounting tu
from 20 per cent to 25 per cent? in the
valuation of property within the city:
this was one of the first problems taken
for many years prior to that time the
property within the city had been az
sessed at a valuation much higher and
altogether out Of proportion with farm
in other cities OF the state: we have
been able partially, to correct this con
dttfon and. as a result. the taxes within
the citw are more equitably distributed
and we q much less in proportion, for
county and state purposes. then form-
erly..
The total valuation Of property within
the city for the 1914 assessment was
1917 assessment, an actual reduction OF
s133,a4n. or approximately g per cent;
But this does not represent all. because
at the same time. there ives a material
reimbursement Of valuation by a fiat In
crease throughout tho state which would
rave made our assessment very much
larger III proportion " there had not
Been this actual reduction: there was Z
property OF the city Of $3.50. from
1914 to 1915. while in the county OF
Grand Forks. outside Of the city. there
was an actusiH increase Of Ss,741, 0s5, thus
| more enuitahly distributing the burdens
of taxation. +.
The excessive valuation within the
City had continued for many years dur
ing all Of which time We had paid ar
unjust and excessiye proportion OF the
county snd state taxes; the condition
has been only partly remedied for today
the valuation in the city Is greater. n
proportion,4stha IN the c0,lnty: farm
lands are assessed at from 1874 to 201s
Of their. actual value while property
within the city is Assessed ut from 25eL
to 5000 Of their actual value.
There has Also been q very gratifying
reduction IN the tax rate during the
Eplat year5sas the following table will
make somewhat more clear.
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