The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-01-25

anything and only stated that the
matter would be given the best
consideration and that Ely would
be taken care of, if possible.
This was the only promise that
could be eXacted, even after our
predicament had been plainly
stated
When the council decided TO
issue $1S0,000 in bonds to finance
the city debt, it was done so on
the basis Of taxation as returned
by the assessor and which was
understood would stand. In fact
assurances had been received
from the powers that be, that no
cuts would be made and that the
city would be notified if such
cuts were contemplated. Yet a
few days after the bonds had
been voted, the State Tax Com
mission Topped off over $500, 900
from our valuations and thus the
$1S0,O00 was about $1,000 too
much according to our assessable
values. Why the cut after every
thing had been practically set
tied is another matter and will
be further looked into later.
This left the city in just the
position it was in before the $780,
900 bonds were voted. We are
at present just about 100000 in
debt in the floating indebtedness
column and the banks Of the city,
through kindness and loyalty are
carrying this debt. The banks
are loaded to the limit with city
paper and cannot handle another
cent. Besides, they should not
be expected to carry any more.
100000 will clean up the float
ing Indebtedness and give the
city a little financial leeway to
issue certificates of indebtedness
to complete the sewer system al
ready begun and to carry on the
city government in it's proper
maner.
Should the voters ratify the
bond issue at the election next
Tuesday and the state could not
accept them, the conditions here
would indeed be serious. The
city council has developed several
grey hairs in the past few weeks
figuring out ways to cope with the
financial situation and have ar
rived at the conclusion that either
the people of the city will help
them conduct the city's affairs
or something will decidedly drop.
One way to help the council in
their difficulty is by voting as
they request. They have studied
the matter from all angles and
find that the bond issue is the
only salvation. We have elected
them to do the business of the
city and we should stand behind
them. The least we can do is to
give them our moral support.
The knocker should hobble and
gag himself for few weeks or
until after the war and only kick
for Improvement in conditions
and not to harrass those doing
the work. If he is 'agin" the
government on general principles,
he should be started south with
a parting kick in the north end
and if he is only misinformed, he
should be set to rights.
A succession of circumstances
have conspired to make things
rather uncomfortable In the fl
nancial affairs of the city. We
have the city, we have the peo-
pie, we have the valuations but
we have not the money and the
war conditions and the demands
on the government for cash have
placed a premium on bonds not
easy to overcome. 1t is also the
candid opinion Of those in the f.
nancial world that very shortly
there will be no money available
for municipal, private or corpora
ton needs and that all improve
ments and extensions must stop
and all money energies diverted
to winning the war.
There is one thing very certain ::
Should things not go as antici-
pated in regards to the bond is
sue and sale, there will be abso-
lutely nothing doing here. Ali
work will stop and many now on