The Daily Alaska empire., 1938-09-01
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AT JUNEAU'S DOOR

Again opportunity comes knocking at Juneau S door to get number of needed improvements in the city at little more than half the actual cost
 The Public Works administration has approved $70O0O worth of public projects for the city which include street, sidewalk and sewer improvements. By it's approval it agrees grant outright to the city 45 percent of the and will take the cys bonds for the remaining 55 percent at percent, although the city may sell its bonds elsewhere if desired.
 At the same tune, the War Department has de- cided to go ahead with the construction of small harbor in with the provision that the city provide the terminal facilities, estimated to cost s88OOo aside the $23200O which the War Depart ment will expend in building the harbor.
 And here again the PWA figures in the picture. The city has asked the Public Works Administration for like approval the terminal facilities that it has given on the street of 45 percent of the cost. Interior Secretary Ickes when he was here recently indicated to Mayor Lucas that the request would get serious consideration.
 Now the question is up to the taxpayers of Juneau
 The City Council has agreed unanimously to call
 special city election for September 20 at which time those whose names appear on the tax roll decide whether to issue bonds to provide the 14900 needed by the city handle its portion of the cost of the street improvements and the terminal facilities.
 The city's bonded debt at the present time is $96000 small part of the ten percent of its valua- tion which permitted by law The fact is that when the additional bond issue is voted it is expected be, the bonded debt will be only S337 900 ap- proximatey half of the ten percent which could be issued by the city If a reappraisal and true valua tion of property in the city taken it probably would prove to be much less than half A thorough reappraisal is conceded by most taxpayers to be something which the city should undertake another year
 In the meantime, the city's taxpayers being asked for their approval of an additional bond issue and they decide September 20
 Simply the basis of the citys present sound financial standing there should be little hesitation in giving approval But there more to it than just issuing bonds to provide improvements That could be done any time by paying the full cost But in this instance the city will be getting improve ments which will materially boost it's valuation crease business and at the time get them for a little more than half the actual cost Government funds will pay for 45 percent Government funds which grant money which will not have to be paid back at some future date
 There few soundy managed businesses which would not venture expansion if they could be assured that somebody going to donate them 45 percent of the cost of that expansion The proposition before the voters of Juneau is purely business expansion proposition in which rich uncle by the name of Sam agrees to provide 45 percent of the necessary money
 What property wouldn't improve his prop erty if his neighbor walked over morning and agreed to stand 45 percent of the expense without asking dollar back especially if he knew the m- provement going to bring him an increased cash income?
 That is what the improvements the city of Juneau is now proposing will do.
 The small boat harbor will bring increased reve- nue, business. Small boats and there are scores n of to Ketchikan and Seattle. Facilities which can service the government boats stationed in Juneau. the fishing fleet the countless pleasure boats and other craft will bring dollars and into the city which go elsewhere. The building of street connections to the harbor will bring additional prop erty to the tax roll and increase valuations
 Paving of Willoughby Avenue Twelfth Street and up the hill the connection at Calhoun likewise will increase valuation in addition saving huge ex- pense to which the city is put in sprinklng streets and maintaining the graveled thoroughfares City officials estimate it costs from sS to SIP day to keep Woughby Avenue in fairly satisfactory condition. This saving alone will go long ways toward retiring the bond issue
 Widening of South Seward Street, which is in- cuded in the project. will give the city decent approach from the waterfront to the downtown section It will enhance business and prove boon to fire prevention in moving fire fighting equipment about handiy. If Ferry Way is improved is now being considered it will excellent approaches from the waterfront.
 Nothing is needed in the city more than the sewers being planned for Wlloughby Avenue and lower waterfront district areas They have been a crying need for years. These are included in the proposed projects.
 All of the projects are things which the city must undertake at some time And it cannot