Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-06
PR|NKL|NG TAX
WILL. De CHARGED
BY COMM Iss|ON
City Manager Announces That
Petitions Are to Be CircuIat-
ed Asking for the Creation
of Districts.

The city intends to make n special
charge for street sprinkhng, following
a plan similar to that fostered by GER
tain aldermen of the defunct council
nearly two years ago, At that time the
plan died in infancy the council aban-
doning it in the face of a storm of
kicks. The commissioners, however,
apparently hope for better Luck.
City Manager Hebenstret made a
public statement as to the citys inten-
ton at the commissioners weekly
meeting last night, saying that petit
tons We're TO be circulated soon ask
ing fhe commissioners 20 create
sprinkling districts. Residents of these
districts, he said, would pay not to ex-
coed IL cents s,learly fol each front
foot of their lots. In return the
streets in front of their lots would
be sprinkled two or three times a day.
Inc splinkling assessment, if the
charge is 2 cents, would be only $6
a year to the owner of the average
fifty-foot lot. The owner of a corner
lot, however, would have to pay more
on the basis of the city managers
figures. If his lot is 142 feet long,
the average length, his sprinkling dues
would amountto $23.04 a year. The
city manager did not indicate that
there was any intention of making a
smaller charge for the longer frontage
of corner lots.
The managers statement made it
clear that the commissioners do not
contemplate the arbitrary creation of
the sprinkling districts. They will act
only on petitions from the property
a. Al
however, what percentage of the
residents Of proposed district would
DO necessary to cause the commission
ors to act-whether they would ask
for unanimous petition or only the
greater part of the residents.
The city manager estimated that
the city could undertake the watering
of trees planted under the Chamber
of Commences shade plan at the rate
Of 81 a tree for the Watering season of
five months. The trees would be wat
cred once a week.
The Chamber of Commerce asked
the city to submit an estimate of the
cost of the work, believing that a
large number of nonresident own rs
would enlist in the movement to plant
more trees if they had assurance that
the trees would be watered, and the
city manager prepared the estimate
at the chambers request.
"As long as the collections are
made in advance !, see no objection to
it," said Commissioner Reynolds. The
others agreed and Mr.. Hebenstret was
told to submit the estimate to the
Chamber of Commerce.
A plan for the dissemination of in
Formation as to the workings of the
commission was suggested by the city
manager, who recommended that la
Dor unions, social and fraternal and
other organizations be asked to send
committees to the commissioners
meetings on the first Wednesday of
every month. The plan provides also
for committeemen's taking part in
discussions on city affairs at these
meetings as well as for their keeping
the organizations which they repre-
sent well informed as to city affairs.
The commissioners approved the
plan, Commissioner Connel adding,
however, that he wished it to be UNI
derstood that all meetings Of the com
mission were open to the public and
that any one might attend any meet
ing that he wished to.
Chairman Wade asked his col
leagues Tor their opinion as to the
ACCESSIBILITY of requiring hicyclists 20
carry lights at night, saying that four
accidents caused by bicycle riders had
been reported to him. In two of these
women were victims.