The City Tax Levy Ordered

The common council held a regular meeting at which all the ; bers wrre present. There was considerable business of importance transacted which is of interest to the taxpayers of the city. This was the meeting at which the orders were given for the assessor to raise the city taxes for the year, and despite all efforts to cut it down, it still remains at a good round sum for the present dull times. The first business coming up was the report of the Board of Public Works on the bids for building a plank walk on the north side of the old cemetery property. The board recommended that an artificial stone walk be laid instead of plank, and asked an appropriation of $300 for that purpose. After considerable discussion the council voted against the appropriation asked. The board also asked for $400 to curb South University avenue, this being referred to the street comraittee. The lateral sewer building was started by lengthy petitions asking that sewers be built on the Liberty street, Williams street and East Huron street districts, and in a distriet composed of the following streets : Hill, from Main sewer to Packard; Packard, from Hill to E. University avenue to Church ; on Church to Washtenaw; on Hill from Ingalls to Wastenaw; Monroe, from Ingalls to E. University avenue; on S. University avenue, from Thayerto Elm; on Ingalls, from Hill to S. University avenue; on Twelfth, from Hill to S. University avenue; on E. University avenue, from Hill to Washtenaw; on Forest, from Hill to Washtenaw; on Washtenaw, from Geddes to Prof. Demmon's property ; on Geddes, from Washtenaw to Elm, on Elm, from Geddes to S. University avenue; on Packard, from Madison to Hill; on Thompson, trom Jefferson to Packard; on Monroe, from Packard to State; on Madison,frora Thompson to State; on Hill, from Packard to Thayer; on State, from Hill to S. University avenue; on Thayer, from Hill to S. University avenue. A petition signed by 57 business men was received, asking that the members of the Ann Arbor Schwabian verein be allowed to celébrate the Fourth of July at Relief Park in the usual manner and to parade the streets. On a motion to grant the petition, Aid. Prettyman objected to it on the ground as it read he suspected that it would attempt to legalize the selling of beer on that day to the detriment of the saloonkeepers of the city. He moved to strike out the part aliowing the celebration and accept the invitation to be present and grant the permission to parade, the resolution as amended being adopted by a vote of 10 to 3. The finance committee has been working hard on the estimates for the ensuing year, and with all their hard work were not able to cut the total tax levy for the year below $45,480. VVhen this was done it was found that some funds were far short of what will be needed, the fire department being for instance allowed but barely enough to pay salaries, being cut $2,600 from the amount asked by the fire commissioners. The council then took a hand at financiering. The friends of the fire department secured an addition of $1,500 to the amount allowed by the committee, but the poor fund which was cut from $3,000 to $1,250 by the committee, was unable to secure a raise $750. An attempt was made to cut 2,500 from the bridge, culvert and crosswalk fund. The appropriations to be raised as finally adopted were as follows: Street, 87,500, fire department, $6,500; poice, $3,200; poor, $1,250; water, $5,000; cemetery, $50; University hospital bonds, $3,480; bridge, culvert and crosswalks, $5,000; sewer, general, $5,000; sewer, bonds and interest, $3,500; total, $45,480. This is a raise of $6,280 over the amount raised last year which was $39,200. The sewer committee reported that they had opened several mantioles on the main sewer and had found sand in the pipes at one place, and considerable water running at other places, the committee suggesting that these matters were cause by loose and faulty construction. The committee reported and the council adopted the reports ordering lateral sewers built on Williams, Hill, Washington, Liberty and Huron streets. It was explained that these orders do not mean that the Board of Public Works shall go ahead with this work, but only that the engineer shall submit plans, grades and estimates for the same. The street committee secured an appropriation of $50 to grade Fuller street, and the sidewalk committee recommended the building of several miles of sidewalks and crosswalks. The liquor bonds of bier, John Schneider, jr., and Frey and Nixon were approved. At the request of the receiver of the water company, Mayor Darling appointed Win. A. Cochran special patrolman at the water works without expense to the city. The city clerk reported that the State Railroad Commissioner was here last Tuesday, and with several aldermen visited the Michigan Central bridge and decided that he had no authority to order the bridge lowered. He also held that the city is liable for planking the bridge, but will give the city a hearing at Lansing on July 6th, City Attorney Bogle and ex-City Attorney Norris being authorized to represent the city. Alderman Wood brought up street railway affairs again and asked the city attorney for his opinión as to steps necessary to declare the franchise of the company void. The attorney asked for time, and will report at the next meeting. Alderman Brown reported that Mr. Hiscock, of the company, had stated that negotiations are in progress with the eastern bondholders, and requested that the council take no action. Aid. Wood submitted a resolution cheerfully accepting the invitation of Aid. Ferguson to the common council and city officials to spend a day with him as his guests at Zukey Lake. The resolution was evidently a surprise to Aid. Ferguson, but before he had time to recover the resolution was unanimously adopted and the council adjourned.