The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-07-23
BECOMES
OF The MONEY?
Here's An Answer That Should
Please City Tax Payers

>~o-OS
collected from property owners OF Ellz-
abeth City whose holdings abut on the
streets paved under the $4,000 bond
issue of 1911? This is the question
which is asked by local taxpayers, and
here is the answer. The money thus
collected has been spent upon additional
street paving and by economical admin
istration, the $63, 900 thus paid into the
city Golfers has paved almost as many
miles of streets as the original Slo0,0oo,
since $4,000 of the $4,000 in bonds
went into the purchase of curbing, much
of which was used upon streets not
paved.
To go back to the beginning, IN l9ll
municipal bonds in the amount OF SlzQ,-
600 were issued for street, paving pur-
poses These bonds were to run for
period of 80 years, until 1941, at which
time they were to be paid for by a
second bond issue, or in such other man
ner as the city administration at that
time may elect. Under the provisions
of the original issue, the property own
ers Oh each side of the streets paved
were assessed an amount equal to one
| IL.
of their holdings. The amounts assess
ed drew interest at the rate OF per
cent annually, and were divided into
five equally yearly installments, with the
provision that the property holder might
| nav his assessment in lump sum, and
avoid the interest charges thereby. In
this way S4467SO4 was collected ffom
those owning property along the streets
first paved. With this money, addl-
tional paving was done, and the pro-
perty on the newly paved streets in turn
was assessed a like amount. More
streets were paved, further assessments
made. and so on. until altogether about
S63 600 has been collected and expend
: ed since the first bond issue. There Is
still the sum of $500 due from pro
Derty owners. which brings the tota
amount charged against the latter tt
,ust about :S66O9O All churches, pub
! lie buildings, fraternal holdings, and cit.
: property were exempt from assessment
and nothing was collected for extra paw
. Fling done at the many intersections
dirt streets. which alone will amour
= to around half mile of paving.
, sale of bonds, as stated, $4,000 wort
= of curbing was laid down. The remain
ing 100000 was used to pave MART
u street from Burgess to ChurctT, rem
syIvania avenue from PoindeXter to th
railroad. Front street from Poindexte
TO Shepard Water street, Burgess
N street. Road street from Hollywoo
T. Cemetery to Blackwell Memorial churcl
II Matthews street, Shepard street, an
'e Church street from RoindeXter to Pers
III making just four and two-tenths mile
IL in all.
With the money afterward coilecte
Ell from property owners under the syste
III outlined. Pennsylvania avenue from tt
lie railroad to Knobbs creek, Riverside av
IL nue., Fearing street. Perse street fro
er Church to Main. McMorine street, Po
tn street. and Road street from Blackwt
nk Memorial to the railroad were pave
al Pearl street from Water to Martin w
n paved out of the first 100000, b
ms not under the original contract. In a
Ok three and eight -tenths miles of paV1
til were done with the 5000, this wo
81 being carried out by J. G. Commando
re tual measurement exactly eight miles
le- paved streets have been laid down sin
en- 1911. at an average cost of S2O,OOO
mile. 1t must be borne in mind, ho
ap ever. that the streets paved have 'varl
ng from % to SO feet in width, while t
III intersections are frequently so feet wit
ne and parts of Front, Burgess and Wat
ng streets are even wider. City manag
Am Commander figures that on the ba
or of an average width of Is to Is feet,
ms least Is miles of paving have been Ii
,e- in this city Under the original &C
70 tract which was carried out by Lo1
on Lawson of Norfolk, the work was do
70 at a cost of $1.421@ per square va
,or while. by the use of chain gang lat
lii at S125 per day per man. and by otf
economies, City Manager Command
was able to do for less than S63,U
nearly as much paving as was done
m S1OO. 900 under contract. In other Wor
this last paving cost just about 81
ne ner square yard. All concrete curbl
70 laid in the past few years has also be
Maid for out of this $63, 900 collect
lrd p ~ ,,ronor+v owners. since no
o" ditional funds have been available
this purpose. The foregoing f1gu1
= seem to give indisputable evidence tt
tho money collected from those own
property on Elizabeth C1ty0s pay
\streets has been wisely and economical
spent.