The Devils Lake world., 1921-10-24
i Farmers ! Offer )pelll, y,
Letter To BuSinessss ssss,.
] Men Of { ]! Devils ! Lake llklIe

Letter To business ssss
] Men l' Of { ]! Devils J ak X
- ..ss::;',;:Ec ~ s:.r. s<stt4
-. ylcopsinueq hapn inst PAM s. g !; !
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administration, OF the, city.seommis.
sion of Devils Lake, four members 81
which. sign your letter to us, \ w
would not blame you muck for using
harsh language. Indeed, the criticism
we have. heard Of the city commits.
sion by residents Of your city, il
much more severe than anything w
have ever heard said Of the state ad.
ministration. And inasmuch as all
hlt .tne of the members Of the city
commission have taken it upon them.
selves to butt into this discussion, we
hope they will pardon us il we talk
a little about their administration Of
public affairs, by way Of comparison
to show their right to cast stones al
others: ..'s,s. !
During the last two years the in
debfedness of the city Of Devils Lake
has increased about a half million
dollars, the most Of which represents
the cost Of paving less than three
miles of streets. It. is said that this
work could be done today for less
than half what was paid. Any way, II
is generally admitted that the high
est possible price was paid, and at q
time when the taxpayers were least
able to assume this burden. A mere
bagatelle of $4,000 was paid to an
engineer, out of which he could have
built a $4,000 residence like Bill
Lemke's and still have $4,000 left.
They say a better engineer could
have been hired for $4,000. But there
is no doubt if the present state adj
ministration had made a deal Of that
kind our I. v. A. friends would have
scarcely survived the shock. For see
how they have wept and walled about
the loss in operating the Drake mill,
which did not amount to nearly as
much as the city paid a man to
stand around and watch the workmen
on the paving job. ~,
And the taxes! How they have in
creased,ain~ the city! !. It.. is said i one
widow lady died of grief because the
paving; tax would consume her little
home, Residential property is taxed
as high as $4,000 for paving alone.
The city. tax levy, has jumped from
$59,000 last year. to $6s, 900 this year,
while it has only been a few years
since that the city was run for $35, 900
year.
There are $4,000 of REGISTERED
school warrants of the city school
district outstanding.
OF course, the city commission
has nething to do with the school
warrants, but the I. v. A. journal has
had so much. to say about the Bank
of North Dakota registering checks
and being broke, that we wonder why
they kept it from the people that their
own school district had registered
$48,0O0 worth Of warrants, was still
registering them and has been for a
long time. And still they whine be
cause they can't float q $3.50, 900
school bond issue. As you say, men, a
man who buys bonds wants to know
about the security, and it is not a
good Recommendation for district to
have $48, 900 Of unpaid warrants out
standing, and still issuing more. Bat
there are. no Nonpartisans on the
school board. But Bill Nortz, who
! signs your letter is a member, and
he can tell us why it is crime for
the Bank of North Dakota to. regis
ter checks and good business policy
for the Devils Lake school district to
register warrants = maybe.
/ When the school bonds of $3.50, 900
are, floated, and added to the present
Indebtedness of the district Of $78,-
900, the total city and school debt of
the city will be close to million dol
lars, and by the time it is paid the in
terest will amount to another million,
which, assuming you have popula-
tion of 5000, means an Indebtedness
Of $4OO for every man, woman and
child in your city. If the entire Non
partisan program fails and the ex.
penditure is total loss, it would mean
but So for each inhabitant. Still, the
E.H. AS bemoan the 50 possible loss
! but but have not word to say of the s4OC
dead :cinch that will have to be paid bs
the taxpayers in Devils Lake. Yor
complain of the incompetency, mis-.
management and dishonesty of ou,
state officials. Is there anything il
the administration of your city com.
mission to show that it has superior
business ability, is less. extravaeant
more economical, and less expensive Il
the taxpayers than the Industrial com
mission which you seek to remove :. (,
You may. ask Of what concern isl
to US what the debt of Devils, FAX,
| city is. It concerns 4us. great, deal
gentlemen, far more than It does an,
one ofsyou. For in. the main, the; farm
ers will have to pay for your pawn,
and your schools and school houses
All you men who are in business, mus
add your taxes to the price Of you
~ .sao,sohnnrl:o ~. :ol ~. Y 2t