The Ely miner., 1930-02-21
.On This
!: Occasion
} lust few thoughts by the Editor on things
} Material and Immaterilai

Ol the taxpayer on Ille SuUJtcI VI Uoilo
issues, etc.
The fore part of the week we re-
ceived a communication from a party
who proceeded to read us lecture on
being truthful and used as his text
who ever heard of a City Council
holding themselves down to the figures
of an estimate made by an architect
who is working on percentage" He
then goes on to state that S150000 iB
only the beginning and then point
blank asks us whether we had ever
seen any public work that kept within
the bounds of the estimate"a
Further, he cited the case of the
school building where the architect had
estimated the cost at an exceptionally
low figure after which bids were called
for. In the meantime the Board had
gotten in over their heads and could
not renig. When the bids were opened
the lowest bid received for the con-
Struction was double the estimate and
which by preliminary work of the
Board had to be accepted in order not
to waste large amount without getting
example of what to expect on all pub
lie construction projects.
But to cap the climax, as the old saw
goes. He said we had gotten along for
thirty years with the present city hall
which when built cost about $4,000 and
it was his opinion that this building
would fill the needs of the city for
years to come, it would last as long
as necessary and intimated that ELY
would be off the map when the iron
ore was mined out and automatically
would outlive its usefulness" And
then some more along the same line
and plenty grouchy and pesSimiStic.
In looking up the record of our
grouchy friend we find that his name
is not even on the tax roll, that he is
not member of the Commercial Club
and while being reader of the Miner
evidently, is not on our subscription
list. While the history of the range
communities proves that some of his
assertions are somewhat true, we call
his attention to the fact that the City
of Ely has been conducted on a very
conservative basis and would not build
a city hall unless it was absolutely
necessary. We also wish to state that
we have confidence enough in the city
council to feel that with the allotment
made for the building the same can be
constructed.
What is more The taxpayers of
Ely are satisfied with the building pro-
gram and the building of city hall in
Niy1rY y t1n tr,1rN ~f0f IF "a
city. 1t is also an understood fact
that sl50,000 is the limit for con-
Struction purposes with $4,000 more
for equipment. Under this program
levys have been made and when the
building is completed at the end of
this year, there will be enough money
IN the treasury to pay for it. Should
perchance, the response for bids be
such as to show that this amount will
not build the building it will be just
too bad Such a contingent would set
the program back for a year or so.
More than S150000 for the building
will produce a court order and in
junction proceedings are sure to follow.
This is a foregone conclusion arrived
at in listening to the comments of in
tereSted citizens.
Ely is an up and growing city with
all indications pointing to a long life.
Predictions of the lore being mined
out" in a certain number of years were
made, we can remember 40 years ago.
Fifteen years was the limit set at that
time and we are going yet stronger
than ever There is no valid reason
to suppose that all the iron ore was
placed thousands of years ago on this
range on property encompassed within
lines surveyed thousands of years
thereafter. The improvements being
made by the mining companies at
heavy expense, should indicate a
knowledge of what they were doing.
Mining companies are not philanthro-
phists and do not throw away their
money on unnecessary expenditures.
The mining companies pay heavy taxes
and are perfectly satisfied to have a
new city hall building.
Thirty years ago we got along with
out several things and also got along
with several things which today are
looked upon as museum antiques.
Thirty years ago we were satisfied with
the slow moving horse and buggy for
our trips This mode of transportation
would not get you anywhere today and
If you went anywhere it would take
just as long to get back. Thirty years
ago we had no airplanes, no radios, no
motor cars no electrical appliances.
We got along all right without these
things at that time. We also got along
with the present city hall since that
time, but who wants to go back to
"those good old days. of which some
toll tD,, I,,,f foi1 fo
very much when return is suggested.
New buildings in Ely are being built
on the modern plans and the old ones
are being remodeled on the same plans.
Public buildings should keep pace with
private enterprises. AS we said before,
the rank and file are not objecting to
a new city building but are objecting
to going in debt for the same Bond
issues are taboo everywhere not only
in Ely but in the county and state.
When the council has the money to
pay for building of the new structure
it will be received with open arms. All
indications point to the necessary funds
on the present scale of cost as soon as
the building is completed.
For fear however, that a calamity
might befall and that the bids on the
new building will be in excess of the
amount stipulated, we would suggest
that the old building be not razed until
after all details are settled. Sometimes
things happen not on the program
We don't anticipate anything of that
kind but architects have been known
to talk small talk and good construc-
ton cheap until they get you hooked
after which you are in so dee' that
you cannot get away Stick to $150,000
and not cent more and as much less
as possible.