Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-09

ins costs a present lines IT. AZ
II the ordinance Is passed It also
means that a levy will have to be
made to take car OF amounts reces-g
sary to cover the amount of the.
cancelled debts to the, city in excess
OF last years appropriation, which
excess amounts to about $%10,00o.00.,
IND g further levy to pay the North
ern Construction company ~$7,6s5.00
besides an additional levy to provide
Tor repairs now needed from time
to time. such levies to be made each
year ~ work ef repair Is needed. and
finally arrangements must be made
TO pay for like charges on future
pavement.
Finally there is to be considered
the liability Of the city for injuries
to person and property that is likely
% result from imperfect conditions
OF the pavement in the streets Occur
pied by the company's tracks whore
the operation Of the cars.
At the present time such liability
10 borne by the city. but the Street
Car cbmpany Is liable over to the
city for any damage that might re-
suit to 1t from such causes.
This liability OF the company to
the city In this respect may not be
OF great value at present, but at
least It 10 . wholesome check to neg
hsence upon the part OF the COM
pany in reference to injuries to tho
pavement.
Summary.
Summarizing 1t all, it will be safe
70 aav lfho< - <h}. n,o1o.> ..A
lance is passed by the people and is
constitutional, the city will have no
recourse back upon the Street Car
company for any of the claims aud
amounts hereinbefore stated.
City councils and commissions are
not permitted, under the laws of the
state. to levy sums out of proportion
to what should ordinarily be needed
for taking care Of the expenses OF
the city government.
for by the legislature are found in
chapter 122 OF the laws Of 1921,
which reads az follows: s"
tine total amount of taxes levied
for any purpose, except special levies
Tor local improvements and for the
maintenance Of sinking funds In any
county or political subdivision there
Of In n village, town or city within
tho state shall not exceed an amount
equal to one-third Of the total COM
bined levies, which were made for
n years 1913. 1919 and 1920, ex.
cept 4 that school districts may levy
not to exceed 80, per cent in excess
OF such amount, and provided that
any county or, political ub-division
thereof or any village, town or city
may increase such levy in the same
proportion as the assessed property
valuation increases or has increased
over that Of the year 1919.
There was appropriated for. city
purposes, that come within the re-
strtotion provided by chapter 1872 and
mately ~$11e.411:oo to take care OF
tho city's expenses for the fiscal year
ending September, 1923. This does
mo include the liability that will be
assumed by the city II this ordinance
10 passed. The items making up this
appropriation are only those that have
been usual to the city during past
years. Fl .gg
This proposed ordinance repeal.
clauses A ana b Of the Grand Fork.
street Rai!wsys company franchise
designed to render the Street Cal
company liable for a part of the paw.
ing at intersections and for repair
Of paving injured by operation Of it,
cars. and relieves the company from
liability Off the special r%e-inforce.
mont under the ties and rails from
January LIST, 1921, which was prior tt
the North End Paving Project, tt
January LIST, 1881.
These facts and conditions hav.
shaped the policy OF the board o.
/ r1fv Hr mi ~ m iQN{ m or0, In v~Vne -
this proposed ordinance thus far.
46ub1litted TO Electors.
Thesboard Of city commissioner
has deemed it their duty to submit
to you, the electors, with this pro.
posed ordinance, such facts and fig.
ures in relation thereto as 1t has a
hand. not assuming. however, tina
these facts and figures are exhaus'
tive. but assuming that each electol
will make a thorough personal in
vestigation Of the merits Of the case
before casting his ballot.
The importance of the street ca
line IL not overlooked by the board
The state university Is an importan'
factor in the growth and develop
ment. Of the city and the street ca,
line an important element in the
growth of the university and the con.
v%enience of all concerned; in fact
under present conditions, 1t is almos'
a necessity.
The street car tracks are alread,
laid and there is no question bu'
that cars will be run.
The, tracks laid in tho north enc
and in the south end. with the new
paving, in 1921 and 1922 are vel
reinforced under ties and rails -ant
should be Of considerable perma'
hence. and this is true also Of tn,
six block strip that has just been re
paired on University avenue.
Under these circumstances the cit.
commissions did not fel tina it wa.
proper to make such q gift as wa,
proposed IN the ordinance. and there
fore refused to pass the ordinance
and in accordance with the law mad'
and provided&now submit to tho vot
ers the question whether they desir'
to make the gift. May we ask tina
each elector investigate the merits
Of the case carefully and go to tn,
polls on Oct. 23rd, and make what
ever decision they feel proper.
Henry O'Keefe. Jr.,
eG:l IF. w. Schlaberg,
~ IT. J. Smith.
u. H. Solstad,
"A. A. Western,
Board Of City Commissioners