Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-04-22

site, for instance, to any such worthy
enterprise, real or apparent. COM
mend to your thoughtful consideration
the proposition of promoting industry
in Baraboo. Circumstances over
which we have had no control have
tended to draw from our midst con-
siderable number of railway employees,
operations south Of town is another
| setback in, our industrial progress.
| Abnormal conditions in the prices of
building materials and supplies have
/ tended to check the healthy growth
that BaraboO has been wont to enjoy.
The city offers a most inviting field
| for industrial development, w b
ample water power, healthy climate,
and attractive surroundings. | am
about to appoint a special committee
of the council to cooperate with a
citizens committee, and the rest Of
the people, in bringing Baraboo's ad-
vantages to the attention of capital
] seeking additional or different fields
of development We have ample lands
for industrial building sites, and | am
very sure the people would be glad
to grant encouragement to worthy en-
terprizes.
Rate of Taxation
The rate of taxation in Baraboo is
| limited by the city charter, for all
purposes, to two and one-half per
cent, or $25 on each one thousand dol
lar assessed valuation. This limit
was invoked in Baraboo for the first
time in 1919, and yet ours was one
of the lowest tax rates for city of
it's size in the state. Most towns made
an extra levy for the soldiers bonus
and other extraordinary state and coun-
| ty expences and the tax in some of these
ran as high as forty dollars on each
thousand dollar valuation. The sol
diers' bonus was included in our 21h
j per cent levy, and this alone required
an extra expenditure of some fourteen
thousand dollars. Besides there was
| an increased state tax of nearly eleven
thousand dollars. The county tax in
Guided in this levy was nearly eigh-
teen thousand dollars. A sum of up
wards Of seventeen thousand dollars
as they mature, for principal and &C
crued interest. Nearly fifty-two thous-
and dollars was appropriated for local
school purposes, and an additional five
| thousand dollars was levied for coun-
| ty school purposes. This leaves a
comparatively small sum to be de-
voted to general city purposes. The
| 21a per cent limitation was invoked
| to avoid any possible complication
that might arise in case of larger
not provide sufficient funds to defray
| the expenses of the local government,
economically administered, after first
deducting the other moneys raised by
| the levy for state and county purposes
and hence provision has been made to
borrow $4,000 during the current
year to take care of the necessary
operating expenses of the local gov
| eminent. | commend the course Of
the previous city administration in
pursuing this policy of procedure. To
run above the charter limit would es-
| tablish a precedent from which it
would be difficult to recede. A re-
currence of these extraordinary ex-
penses arising out of unusual condi-
lions is not probable, and hence the
| 21s per cent, or under, can well be
adhered to, and the burdens of tax-
alton more equitably balanced.
Tendency OF the Times
| The tenency of the times is higher
COSTS In view of this situation l
urge upon you a most rigid economy
consistent with an efficient conduct Of
the public business These are times
| that try mems souls. With prices Of
[ all commodities steadily rising, labor
must of necessity receive an advance
somewhat commensurate with the ad-
vance in the prices Of necessities Of
everyday life. / fully recognize that
la condition, not a theory, cOnfrOnts
us. A saving must be made by cur
| failing as much as possible all public
expenses during the current year. l
enjoin you to pare each contemplated
expenditure to the core, and exercise
the greatest degree of caution in the
interest of prudence and business
economy.
Macadam streets. to be efficient and
serviceable, must be kept in a good
condition of repair. Care should be
taken also to keep ali city thorough
fares in a passable condition, that
travellers may have access to and the
reasonable use Of cur streets and
walks at all times with safety. The
application of asphaltic road oil to
earth streets, practice pursued in
recent years, has proved highly sue
cessful / commend the extension of
such improvements wherever ress
uuired. Road oil is efficient, and it is
o1.o ~ooD,,Ior Apu ahuttinu owner