Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-08

adopted by members of the council on
the first reading, to be brought up for
further discussion next week.
1t requires $500, 600 annually to con-
duct the city government. it was stated
in the resolution. Because of the re-
duction of about $4,000 900 in the
assessed valuation of city property
this year under last year the boost in
the levy is necessary to meet the de
ficit of approximately $4,000 resulting
from the cut in the assessed valuation,
according to the resolution. The as
sessed valuation of city property was
fixed this year at $45,OO0.000.
Objection was raised to the adopt
ing of the resolution by Alderman
Harry Stevens until the matter be
fully considered and all points dis
cussed. He suggested a mid week
meeting to take up the matter ex-
clusively. Mayor X. NJ. Armour said
that there was not time like the pre-
sent to get to a show down on the
proposition and took occasion TO point
out that the heads Of the city govern
ment must face the tax problem of the
city and deal with it on a business
like basis.
For years the city of Great Falls
went along on a 10-mill basis and until
1913 did not even have a sinking fund
he said. Now the city must pay not
only its current debts. but the debts
accrued in former years. Business is
business and at times cold blooded. but
we must look at this proposition
%squarely and meet the issue or we are
going TO be in a hole. The public de-
mands business like tactics and in the
next breath murmors a protest that
forbids business like tactics.
Our tax levy in comparison to other
cities Of the size and standing of Great
Falls is comparatively small. We must
pay orr bills as we go along and we
can't do it without a sinking fund
Alderman Gilbert Boyd. who is also
n member of the board Of county com
missioncrs. pointed u that the city is
up against the same proposition as the
county. that the years of trying TO
crawl along without a sinking fund
must eventually bring the government.
either county or city. 10 grief. Alder
man Bernard Joyce said that those for
merry at the head of the city govern
ment allowed the city to sink deeper
and deeper into debt in the hope that
some future boom of the city. conf
IDENTIFY expected. would clear all indebt-
edness and cast the city out into a
vista Of rosy prosperity. This hope has
not materialized. and it is now up to
the city government to go to bat" on
the tax proposition and put the city on
q firm financial footing.
The tax levy in detail as outlined is
as follows:
General funds, IL mills; contingent
fund, . mills; police fund. 80 mills:
fy-a f.,nI -a11-- -ny r.-I < -,,1Ir.
park fund. 2 mills: library fund. IA
teration sinking fund. 1 mill; sanitary
sewer sinking fund. . mills; water
mains sinking fund. IA mills; police
and fire sinking fund. q mill; refund
bond sinking fund. y mill.
f. Fl. Cooney, president OF the park
board, and w. H. Harrison. clerk of the
board. presented an estimate 10 the
council that $4,000 is needed for the
maintenance and current expenses of
the city parks for the ensuing year.
They submitted a proposal that a 2-mill
tax he made a part of the annual tax
levy TO meet this expense. The matter
was referred to the judiciary commit.
tee.
A resolution transferring $20,028
from the water fund to the water
mains sinking fund was adopted.
Fagenstrom Bros, contractors were
awarded the contract for the construc-
ton of q gravelled highway from
Twenty-sixth street to Thirty eighth
street on Second vent north. Their
bid was S5,11S.25. The Bradford com
pany was awarded the contract for
travelling the Helena road from the
Great Northern subway at Sixth street
,o,tIxr-oet 10 thu oitu Gn1Ifc Tho Hr9h-
ford bid was $2.45O.
Bids submitted by Nilsson & Smith,
contractors. were opened and read:
dealing with the resurfacing Of all Of
the block pavement In the city except
that part of Central avenue east or
Sixth street. Bids dealing with the
paving of Third avenue north between
Twentieth and Twenty-first street were
opened and read. Bids were submit
ted by Nilsson & Smith and Lelgland
& Kleppe. The bids were all referred
to the public improvement committee
for tabulation.
a petition submitted by property
owners on Third avenue between Twen-
,ieth and Twentv-first streets. asking
that the contract be awarded TO the
lowest bidder for Warrenite bitulithic
surface on compressed stone base.
the same type of paving as the part
Of the avenue now paved. was referred
TO the public improvement committee.
a petition was submitted by 3S prop
erty owners asking that a special i'm
prov~nept district be created for paw
ing Sixth avenue north from Park
drive to Twelfth street and Fourth
street from Sixth alley to Sixth avenue
north and all cross streets. The peti-
ton also asks for an ornamental light
ing district. The matter was referred
70 the public Improvement committee.
who recommended that the improve
ment be created. The report Of the
committee was adopted.
B. 2. McNair and Edwin r. Young
submitted a petition for permission to
construct an outside stairway leading
from the basement. of the store nj 426
Central avenue to the street. The pc
tition was referred to the public i'm
provement committee.
The petition of the Pure Oil company
To install a gas pump was referred
TO the fire committee and the fire
chief.
City Treasurer w. p. Wren reported
that the last % of the city water
bonds. issued July 1. 1902, and due
July ]. 1920, had been paid. The bal
ance due on the bonds issued was 500
900 and S725 interest.
The committee on public improve
.men;s had Investigated a complaint