PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1929. Five Cents- LACK OF ROAD IS PLEADED IN APPEAL FROJVTASSESSMENT riFYKIN SETS OUT THE POSITION OF SETTLERS WHO HAVE ^vF_!V.V^ i,AND NORTH OF PRINCE GEORGE�ROAD PROGRAM FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO INCLUDE LARGE AREA FARMING TERRITORY. M c \Viggins> judge of the court nf- revision and app<&l for the Prince fLrrrp""assessment district, held court i�� week at Fort Fraser, at Vander-v-no' and Prince George, and held the IjJies evenly between the taxpayers ; d j0hii Aiken, the assessor who fixed IV p values appearing on the assessment roll Few' people like to pay taxes. rnd when this is kept in mind, as well the fact that in several portions of the district new assessments were made which increased values and altered classifications, there were very few appeals. C p. Deykin gave a little color to the proceedings in the court house on Friday morning. Mr. Deykin likes to express himseii. and he concluded the it-Wessment of his farm on the S. E. i. of Lot 3806 gave him an opportunity This property is about 16 miles due north of Prince George. It is in a -rood fanning area, and Mr. Deykin spent .several thousand dollars, as did other sealers, in bringing the lands j under cultivation, but lack of roadways j eventually forced all.of the settlers to1 retire from their holdings. He had some fifty acres of land prepared for cultivation, and the assessment made at Quesnel had-been riding for a number of years with an annual tax payment of $12.50. This was} or..- of the properties which were reassessed during the past year. For thej fifty acres which had been prepared for cultivation an appraisal of $25.00 per acre was made, and the remaining 110 acres were assessed at $4.00 per acre, thus raising the taxes upon the holding from $12.50 to $16.90. The complaint of Mr. Deykin was that failure on the part of the government to supply a roadway to the action in which he had settled, with numerous others, had robbed the lands ot all value since settlers could not farm them and make a living. He did not question the value placed upon the cleared land, but he challenged the value set upon the 110 acres, holding it was not worth tha $4.00 per acre. On top of this he charged that it was poor policy for the government to set a tax upon farm lands which exceeded the total revenue from the lands. Not being able to live on the land he had rented it for $15.00 per annum, and by the new assessment he was faced with a tax bill of $16.90. which exceeded the rental. That it *a,s not practical to farm the lands in the absence of a road he asked the court to believe in view of the fact that being in the dairy business in Prince George he found it advantageous to purchase $4000 worth or feed rather than attempt to raise it on the lands he had cleared sixteen. miles from the city. The best the property |x>ssessed in the way of facilities for reaching Prince George was a sleigh road in the winter time, and fce said it was preposterous to expect settlers within sixteen miles of their} market to be content with nothing better than a sleigh road in the winter find a trail in the summer. ] He said in the district in which his land was situate there had been from -w to 300 acres of land cleared, but trie absence of roads had forced all of the settlers to leave them. He re-"�urned some of the efforts he had m:iae with representatives of the government to secure road facilities.! ana dwelt specifically with his inter-; "evs with Dr. j. h. King, at the time ! ernX -S -Works in ^"e ?liver gov" I assessment of - the property formerly occupied as the Roman Catholic church. TJie building had been as- $100. It was shown the building was not capable of being moved to a better site, and was not readily rentable. The ccurt decreased the valuation upon the building to $600 and that of the lots to $50. .Theodore Flower appealed from the assessment placed upon the north half of Lot 3807. Some improvements had been placed upon the land and it was formerly assessed as real property valued at $1000: The improvements having disappeared the valuation was reduced to $400 and classification altered to that of wild land, thus increasing the rate and the amount payable in taxes. He undertook to restore the improvements and by reason of illness was granted a remission of Lax arrears amounting to $20.00. . F. Post appealed from the assessment placed upon lot 7701, near the mouth of the Little Salmon. Im-1 provements made having disappeared the land was classified as wild and valued at $400. The assessment was confirmed. At the Fort Fraser court Harry Caimduff apjjealed from the assessment of Lot 1249, Range 5. It was assessed at $2850 with an exemption ol $1250, making the taxes $8.00. The assessment was confirmed. George C. McKenzie had an appeal ! against the N. W. VS of Sec. 21. Tp. 14. R. 5. assessed at $1750 as real property. He claimed a classification as farm land. Decision was reserved. There were two appeals heard at the Vanderhoof session. O. Fransen appealed from the assessment of $1300 upon the S. W. V4 of Lot 1102, and had it cut $300; and the Land Settlement Board, per J. M. Eva, appealed from an assessment of $5450, less exemption of $625, as farm lands. The court re- j served jugment in this matter. i --------------o------------� | ? 4->4- + ? ? ???�?: ? COMMISSIONER HIGGINS +| f NAMED SUCCESSOR TO + ? BRAMWELL BOOTH ? *� �f � ? j ? London. Feb. 13.�The high ?, ? council of the Salvation Army +1 ? today elected Commissioner E. J. -fj ? Higgins as the commander-in- -?, ? chief of the army in succession ? ; ?� to General Bramwell Booth whom +� j ? the men\bers of the high council ?� j ? decided was physically incapaci- + ? tated to longer discharge the 4-4 duties of his high office. Com- +; ? missioner Evangeline Booth, head ? j ? of the army organization in the 4-! 4 United States, who was regarded 4-4 as a probable successor to her 4-4 brother, received but seventeen 4-: 4 votes in the high council as 4-| 4 against forty-three which, were 4-4 cast in favor of Commissioner 4- j 4 Higgins. Having disposed of the 4-4 business for which it had-tteen 4-j 4 assembled the liigh council im- ? I 4 mediately dissolved its session. 4- j ^?4.4.4.4.44444-! Stewart Railway Bill Gets Check In Committee Promoters Required To Prove That Building Will Not Injure Prospects of P. G. E. Colonel Spencer, Director of Government Road, Leads Fight Against Stevens' Line Victoria, Feb. 13.�The supporters of the P. G. E. Railway had ' a tilt with the interests behind the Canadian Northeastern Railway in the private bills committee this week, with the result that the bill which is designed to give a railway from Stewart to the Peace River was shelved until Friday. Hon. H. H: Stevens, of Vancouver, is the central figure in the Stewart railway picture. Colonel Nelson Spencer, one of the Vancouver members who happens also to be a director of the P. G. E., gave Mr. Stevens' bill the most trouble in the committee, requiring a lot of assurances before he would allow it to proceed. First of all Colonel Spencer required definite assurance that the building of the proposed railway ac/oss the northern portion of the province will not be detrimental to the goveniment railway, or prejudice the plan to secure for it a Peace River connection. A. M. Manson. former attornev-general. promptlv supported the suggestion that the authorization of the Stewart railway would weaken, if not ruin the P G. E. redemption plans, and the Stewart railwav bill was accordingly shelved until Friday when the promoters of the new line will be required to satisfy the committee on a number of points. The first of ?hese is that the building of the line will not hurt the P. G. E. Thev will also be required to substantiate their statement that there is $500,000 immediately-ovailable for the rehabilitation of the existing Diece of railway out of Stewart, which was built some vears ago by the Mackenzie &; Mann railway interests and later abandoned. �,�:------0�i_----- SCHOOL EXPENSES ARE WELL WITHIN YEAR'S ESTIMATE COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TO RATEPAYERS WORKS OUT AT �27,68�.63�ADDITIONS TO ASSESSMENT ROLL AFTER THE RATE WAS STRUCK GIVES TRUSTEES AN INCREASE OF REVENUES. The operation of the high school and two public schools of Prince George cost $34,489.13 for the year 1928, this sum bping $1,095 under the estimate with which the trustees commenced the year. While the estimate for ordinary expenditures for 1928 was $5,290 in excess of that for the previous year, with $1,000 added for extraordinary expenditures, it is pleasing to learn that the whole of this estimate was not required. The feature of the annual meeting which was held on Friday evening was the satisfactory manner in which I the financial postion of the board was I present by its secretary, V. Randolph Clerihue. and the close estimation of expenditures made by the trustees. The expenditures of the high school were brought out at $8000.12, with an estimate of $8060; those of the Seventh avenue school at $15,721.67, with an estimate of $16,554; and those of the Millar Addition school at $4,479.43. with an estimate of $4,680. The expenditures of the three schools total $28,192.22. and to this sum was added S125 on account of convention expenses and dues, and $49.78 for telegrams and stationery, making the total ordinary expenditures $28,367. To this total is to be added $2,820 for interest and $2,350 for sinking fund in connection with school debt, making $33,-537 as the total for ordinary expenditure. With the expenditure of $240.98 for school equipment, and $711.20 for fire escapes, the grand total of expenditures becomes $34,489.18. The balance sheet for the year shows a credit balance of $2,694.08. The receipts were made up of $201.21 carried forward from the previous year, taxes, ordinary (22.74 mills) $23,714.90; taxes loan (5.04 mills) $5,256.10; government grants, $6,858.55; tuition fees, $1,140; and sale of stove, $12.50; making a total of $37,183.26. There will be noted an increase in revenues from taxes over the estimate. The explanation of this comes from the adding of properties to the assessment roll after the rate for school purposes had been struck. The board of school trustees was organized for the year by the election of Trustees P. C. Saunders as chairman, and V. R. Clerihue as secretary. City Hospital Given New Board of Directors F. A. Matheson Is Only Member of Old Board Returned At Meeting > Tuesday Evening j George Milburn Prepares New Mem-' bers For Consideraion of In- creased Accommodation Old Timers Had Great Reunion on Wednesday Night Third Annua-l Gathering In The Le-liuildinff Was Enjoyed by Capacity Company I The annual meeting of the hospita 1 society was held in the city, hall Tues-I day evening and resulted in a sweep : in? change in the board of directors ! Affairs at the hospital, have been a ! matter of concern on the part of the ! directors for several weeks, and there j was the usual talk of resignations on \ the part of members of the. nursing i staff, but these were all ironed out. ; This action, however, did not dispose of all the objection which existed with I respect to the hospital management, i and it proved strong enough at Tuesday evening's meeting to result in the Fire Rates Cut In Business Area By Underwriters Reduction Is Tribute To Efficiency of Fire Chief McKenzie and Members of Department Business Men On George Street Get Greatest Benefit But Cut Applies To Other Blocks Telephone-Radio Bill is Passed by C Men and Women Who Pioneered Take Pleasure In Recounting: Early Day Experiences The third annual banquet of the members: of the Fort George Old Timers' Association was held in the assembly room of the Legion building last night and taxed the limited capacity of the hall to the utmost. The dinner was good, the speeches were all'more or less entertaining, and the evening was followed with a dance at which M. Dayton proved himself a very efficient floor manager, and the music supplied by Madden's orchestra was thoroughly enjoyed. George H. Williams, president of th(> association, was in the chair, and when he rose to propose the toast to -The ICing and Canada" he found himself surrounded by one of the happiest of companies, all bent.on having which the minister consigned him to w "banana belt" with the assurance lw in view of his criticism of the government he would never get a road �� long as the Oliver government re-tAwnecl hl l�^1"- Mr. Deykin said he ^a the doctor he could trek to the .oanana belt" himself, but the minister�made -ood his threat as to the road Du"aing. ...... _ Judge Wiggins gave Mr. 'Deykin ��y chance to air his grievance and nen proceeded to deliver judgment. He ?una he could not reduce the valua-�� of SJ5.00 pr acre placed upon the IS >hmdl but he was Prepared rtii f � cil'cumstances to give some '�ti in the matter of the assessment �ced upon the no acres. He reduced wb from S4.00 per acre to $2.50, thus $16 90 . Nation $15-25 instead of 'he the oxcess of taxation over rental of the propertv 25 cents of $1.90. Deykin received the judgment toem^ "i?1111 with a smile and com-voulri Cfn, thc altered assessment morn * , r�Wire him to pay 25 cents of in*, vear than he could get out to brino i,[trty- He asked the court airthnriM attention of the proper ^o1Ues the injusti * "* -'i aono to tw c^n'� Mr. No Opposition WTith Members of Legislature Victoria, Feb. 13.�For the past three i ^a'ys the legislature has been expen- : sively marking time, while public busi-ness has been advancing through the i committees. The formal notice clear- | ing the way for the budget has been | 1, and it is expected the �il�-*-- ' Reminiscences were the � predominating feature of the speeches and the subject was given an excellent lead by John Mclnnis who unloaded a store ol amusuine: incidents of the men who made history in the district in the early days, and gave Alderman A. B. Moffat and George Pooley a chance to clash over the respective glories of the departed town of Central and the fast disappearing community known The business men of Prince George will commence this month to reap the benefit of the policy of the city council in Improving' the equipment furnished the municipal fire department, as well as the efficiency shown by J. C. Afe-Kenzie, fire chief, and that of the men who make up the personnel ot the department. Fire rates for board companies doing business in Prince George are set by the B. C. underwriters' insurance association, and in the new schedule which has just been issued important reductions in rates are made by which ..... , the insured will benefit with respect rejection of two of the old directors tQ future policies. I who consented to stand for re-elec- r^g neavier insurance rates :'|i : tion and the return of one of them. Prince George is carried on the stocks There were twenty-two persons in and buildings on the west side of : attendance at the meeting and it was George street blocks between Third : evident that an ouster would be at- avenue and Second avenue, and be-] tempted. When nominations were tween Third avenue and Fourth av-reached W. L. Hughes, who had sery- enue In the first of these blocks> ed as president, declined to allow his known generally as the Leith block, name to be put up. The three re- the rate has been cut from $705 to maining elective directors,. William $5 90 and $515; and in the otheri Coop, vice-president. F. A. Mathespn ,known ^ the Burns block, the rate and M. S. Morrell. consented to stand CQmes down from $695 to $5 15 and and were duly nominated. The oppos- ^ low ^ $3 65 for better c]ass of ing element in the meeting placed in ^j^ nomination W. C. Ferry, William corresponding reductions are made Bexon. Alex Wimbles and F. C. saun- in the mtes for tne various biocks in ders. The vote was very close ana the business area but those for the resulted in the election of Messrs.; tw0 blocks mentiOned have the greater � Ferry. Wimbles. Bexon and Matheson. significance ^ they at present house In the voting each person was required fche gi.eater nuinber of business firms. to vote for four directors, and wtuij Insurance men are quite frank in ; but three nominees in the running the stating the reductions have come as ' supporters of the old board were re- fche result of tne sman fire lasses suf- quired to vote for one of the opposing fered vvithin the past two years. There nominees, a handicap which proved too have been a number of fjreSi but the much for them. � responses of the department have been With the four elected directors., the prompti and'their energies so well di- ' board will be composed of George Mil- rected that in most instances the bum, representing the provincial gov- losses have been kept to the minimum. ernment. Alderman C. C. Reid, repre- __________n__________ I senting- the city council, and a repr" sentative of the Women's Hospit 1 Auxiliary who has yet to be named. � No financial statement . ed at the meeting'as the provision of funds; Alwaid proposed tho'gg^ tl Harry Nichols has been appointed � liquor vendor at Burns Lake> He was . I approved by the local Conservative . , Association of Burns Lake as well as cu..js ..u>.u u;"jiiji tne important factors. doubtless feel obliged to call upon the city for a larger, grant. The present grant was $4000 per annum, but this amount included the grant for indigent city cases, and obliged the hospital to meet the charges for light and water service supplied by the city. Following the election of the directors a vote of thanks was moved to W. L. Hughes, the retiring president, by George Milburn, seconded by William Coop. In doing so Mr. Mil-burn referred to the length of service rendered by Mr. Hughes to the hospital, and the valuable work he had been able to accomplish for it. Mr. Milburn also moved a vote of" thanks to the members of the Women's Hospital Auxiliary in which he paid deserved tribute to the work of the ladies, and intimated they, represented the most important factor in ho>pita.' management. The vote of thanks to the ladies Wimbles. was seconded by Alex