THE DAILY NEWS The Daily News Formerly The Prince Rupert Optimist Published by the Prince Rupert Publishing Company, Limited DAILY AND WEEKLY eS SUBSCRIPTION RATES—Dalty, 50c per month, or $5.00 per year, in advance. WEEKLY, $2.00 per year. OUTSIDE CANADA--Daily, $8.00 per year; Weekly, $2.50 per year, strictly in advance. TRANSIENT DISPLAY ADVERTISING—50 cents per inch. q Contract rates on application. HEAD OFFICE Daily News Building, Third Ave., Prince Rupert, B. C, Telephone 98, BRANCH OFFICES AND AGENCIES New YorK--National Newspaper Bureau, 219 East 23rd St., New York City. SEATTLE—Puget Sound News Co. LONDON, ENGLAND—The Clougher Syndicate, Grand Trunk Building, Trafalgar quare, : “The newspaper, with the law, should assume the accused innocent until proven guilty; should be the friend, not the enemy of the general public; the defender, not the invader of private life and the assailant of personal character. It should be, as it were, 2 keeper of the public conscience.’’—Henry Watterson. oe THE GRAND TRUNK ASSESSMENT DaILy EDITION. WEDNESDAY, May 31 Owing to the near approach of the time when the citizens will be called upon to vote on the above question to bind the city to an agreement covering a long period of years, and owing also to the evident reluctance shown in certain quarters to discuss the question with the citizens, the Daily News will print a series of editorial articles dealing with the various aspects of the question. In so doing, there is no desire to sway the minds of the electors either for or against the proposed settlement. The aim will be to state the case fairly, without prejudice, without exaggeration, and without rhetorical appeal, letting the issues be clearly seen, and allow- ing the facts to make their own appeal to the individual mind. Our chief concern is not which way the electors will vote, but that the electors may know what it is they are voting for or against. Article No. 1—What is the Assessment Problem ? Before anyone can come to correct conclusions upon any subject, it is necessary that the subject be viewed at a proper distance first, in order that a right perspective be obtained. To stand too close to a big building is one of the surest ways of not seeing it correctly. The better way is to view it from afar first, to obtain a correct per- spective view of its proportions and relations before commencing to investigate details. The same law holds good in the world of intangible as in tangible things. To go back far enough to obtain a correct view of the assessment question it is necessary to go back to the time when Prince Rupert was only a name for a lot of muskeg and bush, on which the Grand Trunk Pacific Raitway company proposed to build a terminal city. At that time it was wild land practically devoid of value. The first step the railway company took in the work of city building was to form a subsidiary company—the Develepment Com- pany—to acquire the land in the vicinity and sell it to the public in small lots. The immense prices obtained by the company for the land which a few months before was practically devoid of value, was due to the assurance of the parent company that Prince Rupert was to be the terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway according to the published plam of the Development Company. Without that assurance the land would have remained practically devoid of value. All of the land was not vested in the Development Company to sell. Tracts of land required by the railway company for freight yards, sités for warehousés and shops, and the whole of the water- frontage (with the exception of that owned by the Provincial Govern- ment) was withheld from sale, and remains vested in the parent com- pany. This waterfrontage is held to be of great value, because it offers great facility for transportation work, having water transpor- tation on its front, and rail transportation at its rear. After the public sale of lots in May 1909 steps.were taken to incorporate the city of Prince Rupert. In March of last year the charter of incorporation was granted. Under that charter, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company and the Development Company came in as contributories, along with the other citizens, as owners of lands within the city limits. The next step was to decide the proportion of taxation that each contributory was to pay. The Provincial Government on the recom- mendation of the charter committee of which Mr. William Manson was chairman, appointed an assessor to go over the townsite and assess the lands. The assessor appointed by the Provincial Govern- ment valued the waterfrontage and other property owned by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway company at $7,192,500 out of a total assessment for the city of $12,234,642.50. That was in March 1911. * A court of revision was held for all citizens who wished to dispute their assessments, but the railway company entered no appeal. On ES ES SEStES RES SeSteS teste sESiES SES ESET ES ES Et 3 pos Carpenters are getting busy on resi- dences all over town but even with this building activity it will be some time before the demand for dwelling houses and apartments can be supplied if it ever is, because of the number of new people arriving with: the object of making homes here, My correspondence upon this subject with parties now on the outside is constantly increasing so I make an especial appeal te those having apartments and Coosa to rent or for sale to immediately li . astered. Water. $40 per month. Four toilet. Furnished $ $15 per month. Four $25 per month. artly furnished. not laid on. double house. them finished. 3 with Uncle Jerry. $30 per month. Two story, seven alow. Four fireplaces. i RESIDENCES FOR RENT renee, Bath room but not con- Oy ath price am Fx $60 per month. Seven furnished rooms nected. * ‘ uyt five room house on Reserve, 9 with store below, A bargain. $20 pon Three rooms. Partly | ¢4.790 Buys four room house in Seee 4 $15 per month, ‘Two room ies un- | $25 al month. ‘Two story, five rooms. ton 8 Modern 3 urnished, with basement. Plast- : artly furnished, Garden. SMGIRS , 3: ered. Water. $35 per month. Six rooms and bath. $3,000 Buys seven Le) $27.50 per month. Five room cottage, § per month. Seven rooms and bath. Sect 8) plastered, ater, 5 per month, Bungalow, four rooms. | $2,625 Buys $15 per month, Cabin, 18x12. Stove ath. Hot dnd cold water, rooms, in Section 1 | $1600 e280 080 289 C29 e500. % Jeremiah H. uglier pene 680 ond O80 089 080 000 000 680 690 000 000 080 S00 S20 C80 288 | May 3rd Mr. E, J. Chamberlin, Vice-President and General Manager of the company, visited Prince Rupert, and to a newspaper inter- viewer, as quoted in the Optimist of that date, in answer to the question, “What have you to say as to the first city assessment?” replied: “I have nothing to say except that you've got it low enough.” After the court of revision was over, and after many of the citizens had paid their tax bills, the company raised objections to their assessment, taking the matter up, with Premier McBride, in that gentleman’s words in a ‘considerable correspondence," The original tax bill calculated at 15 mills on $7,291,500 came to $101,497.50. The Board of Trade acting as a mediator suggested that the assessment should be reduced to $1,726,500, which would mean a reduction in the tax-bill to $25,897.50. On November 4th, President Hays offered the city $5,000 a year for twenty years. On December 16th, the old council with Mr. D'Arcy Tate, solice tog, for the railway company held a long discussion, with the result that Mr. Tate agreed to submit to his company a proposal to settle the dispute by reducing the assessment to a fixed sum of $2,000,000 for a period of ten years. At a 15 mill rate this would mean a tax bill of $30,000 yearly. After the last municipal election, Mr. D’Arcy Tate returned to Prince Rupert and resumed negctiations with the present council, with the result that he left on March 16th of this year with a new proposal to submit to his conipany that they should pay $15,000 a year taxes for a period of ten years. This at a 15 mill rate is the equi- valent to an assessment of $1,000,000. These are the main lines of the assessment dispute between the city of Prince Rupert and the Grand Trunk Pacific, which it is nec- essary to bear in mind to preserve a correct mental perspective of the problem. Having thus got a view of the whole question, we may safely proceed to the more interesting work of examining the details of the question at close range. TO MEET C. M. HAYS Council Makes Arrangements for All-important Discussion On the arrival of Chas. M. Hays, Mr. Chamberlin, and party they will be met by the Mayor and council, and arrangements will be made for the important business meeting at which the various relations of the G. T. P. with the city will be discussed. THE LORDS' VETO BILL Measure Passes Second Reading in Upper House (Canadian Press Despatch) London, May 30.—With the passing of the second reading of the veto bill in the House of Lords tonight, the measure was shelved until after the Coronation when the Lords will amend it Jn committee. The bill passed with- out division. INSERT YOUR LAND PURCHASE NOTICES IN THE NEWS — Bridge Tournament Wanderers Showed Prince Ru- pert Club the Way A live bridge tournament was played between the Wanderers and Prince Rupert clubs last night. The Prince Rupert club's staunch supporters played well, but the Wanderers won outy 1162 points. Of course there will be a return match. Inlander Went Up-river At noon yesterday the Inlander left for the Skeena points and Hazelton. She carried a full com- plement of passengers. Kept Very Busy T. D. Pattullo has returned to Prince Rupert from the Islands. He is kept exceedingly busy look- ing after the interests of his clients down below. A Building Record Vancouver, May 30.—(Special) Building permits since the first of the year total $8,500,000 This is a new record. over SECOND AVE., PRINCE RUPERT H. F. McRae & Co. Financial Agents F. R. C. BROWN BRANCH: VANCOUVER Lots Block 18 1 6 12 6 28 6 1 7 absolntely central—small cash. $25 per month. Five room cottage, pl- near McBride. Running water. $25 per month. Five rooms, Water $22.50 per month. Four rooms Papered and well tion 6. basement. Hot i ments arranged. Pla: 1 Cah Perens yu |) eet e280 280 S20 £00 £99 609 680 080 200 e090 eee eee: A FEW CHOICE OFFERINGS FROM OUR LIST Section 1 We have one very choice buy in Section 1 which we cannot advertise— Also several close-in lots at $25 month, WHY PAY RENT?—BUY A HOME $2,500 Buys five room house i Easy terms of payment $5,500 Buys nine room house with Modern conveniences, $5,180 Buys elegant eight room bung- ion 5. Modern conveniences, two story house, seven Price $15,500 1,259 1,575 900 each 525 each 250 100 VANCOUVER IS ALARMED NOW Prospect of General Strike Ar- ouses the City Council to Offer Services as Mediator. (Canadian Press Despatch) Vancouver, May 30.—At a spec- meeting of the council last night a resolution was passed offering to act as an intermediary between the Unions and the em- ployers, in order to avoid the threatened strike, if either side so desires, ial FIRES NEAR VICTORIA Seventy-five Men Busy Fighting Forest Fires @ (Canadian Press Despatch) Victoria, May 30,—Seventy-five men are engaged fighting the threatening forest fires in southern and central Vaneouver Island be- tween Coldstream and Sooke Lake A considerable area of valuable timber is threatened. THOUSAND TON CARGO Practically all of the thousand | tons of freight coming north by the Princess Ena will be landed | at the wharf on Digby Island which | serves the new Government Buoy | Station there. Heavy machinery | is amongst the cargo. For Rent Partly furnished House on 8rd Ave. 7 rooms with bath. Electric lighted. G. C. Emmerson NADEN BLOCK SECOND AVE. | F. W. HART ONDERTAKER & EMBALMER STOCK COMPLETE | Little's NEWS Agency Magazines.:: Periodicals :; Newspapers CIGARS :: TOBACCOS :: FRUITS | G.T.P. WHARF FOR SALE Lots 5 and 6, Block 28, Section 1. $3000, 25 per cent. cash, balance 1, 2, 3 years, T per cent. GEO. W. MORROW 1076 Nelson St., Vancouver, B.C. BOWLING, "i829 ’ POOL 4 Alleys. 7 Tedies. A good exer- cise. 4.Jlecuuport, Ladies every afternoon. Newman Block, be- tween 6th and 7th Sts. Bee- ment. $1,000 Buys two and cold water. cottage in Secti Time pay- 3,000 Avenue, Price Bath, 1 $2,700, conveniences, in- | $100 Buys two lots $600, room house in $1,200, Price $226 eac “Ask Uncle Jerry” ngsbasueseese ete: $3,500 Buys house and shack in Sec- tion 1. Three rooms, kitchen, base- $1,000° Buys five room house on Seventh Buys well finished four roorh house in Section 5. Bath, closets. Price BUY A LOT AND GET RICH 9400 Buys six lots at Seal Cove. Price $400 Buys four lots near Seal Cove, \ - 0 ss I EMPLOYMENT FRE For all kinds of help, cooks, waiters, dishwashers, hotel por- ters, all kinds of laborers or me- chanics, call up Phone No. 178 , or call at the Grand Hotel Free Employment Office Headquarters for cooks & waiters OFFICE: bd edd iF, EBY @& Co, TED MORRISON, Proprietor and Manager a eee ‘ooms, bath and bo per month. #4 ean be arranged. $0,080 Buys Be eters none foes room cottage | $6900 Buys double apartment house co M price $5,576. ws Pe for balance. ‘Two story, four rooms. in Section 6, Terms can be ar- | $1,000 Buys two story,five room house | $840 Buys lot in Section 6, ‘ ranged, in Section 7. Price $2,250. snap for eash story, seven room on 6. Bath.§ Price 1,026. $2,600. $400 Buys lot in in Section 8. Price | 425 $100 Buys two lots in Section 8. Price 0 600. $200 Buys two lots in Section 8. Price 475. $800 Buys lot in Section 1, easy terms $550 Buys two lots in Section 5. Easy terms for bal ; gee, Buys lot in Section 6. 26 HOW ABOUT ROOMING HOUSES? $500 Buys furniture and lease for two ears of ten room house. ath, $800 CASH, First pavinent on $4,200 rooming house, and basement, $100 ng ona A $725 Buys furniture and 8 1-2 years’ lease of rooming house in Section Rent $45 per month, Buys Two Lots in Section 8, This is a Big Snap. Z ROGERS & BLACK ~WHOLESALE DEALERS IN Building Material, Cement, Lime, Hair-fibre Plaster, Coke, Blacksmith Coal, Common Brick, Pressed Brick Shingles, Lath, New Wellington Coal ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY FILLED BESNER & BE — ——_ New Knox Hotel NER, PROPRIERiy The Noe Knox Hot run on } a riret-class sery A the Bq — the Lato FIRST AVENU! PRINCE LU + RUP nis FIRST AVENUE AT EIGHTH STRERY Newly Furnished and Steam Heated Rooms A FIRST CLA BAR AND DInn See Us for Prices. . Phone No. 116 ROOM IN CONNECTION FRANK D. KEELEY — 0 ¢ AND UP 8S FRi TO GUEST WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRUGGIST eer Phone No, 200 P. 0. Box 580 PRINCE RUPERT, B. C. ROBT. ASHLAND rome pO OOS OOS O STOO OT eee OoOe a ¢ + W. J. McCUTCHEON ¢ : a 315 Hotel Central Co; Frm! , Carries complete stock of Drugs. Special ¢ [ j @ attention paid to filling prescriptions. 4 Peropeas and American plan, tem 4 ted, mo ences. " . Theatre Block Puone No. 79 Second Ave. z Ji. to &2 ” pe -_ C ap $000-00-0000000600004400464 ; Peter Black Propriete LINDS AY’ CARTAGE and STORAGE \ G. T. P. Transfer Agents Orders promptly filled. Prices reasonable. OFFICE—H. B. Rochester, Centre St. Phsae &. Reilly’s Bakery Lunch Empress Theatre Basement Cor. 2nd Ave. and 6th Street aya tai a yu MONROE LADYSMITH & CoaL rn v7 PHONEIIS REAL ESTATE Kitsumkalum Land For Sale KITSUMKALUM - B, C, Prince Rupert Lodge, 1.0.0F. NO. 63 Meets in the Helgerson Block Every Tuesday Evening All members of the order in the city are requested to visit the lodge, G. 8. JOHNSTONE, N,G. «Grand Hote WORKINGMAN’S HOME Spring Beds White Sheets Rooms 50c BEST IN TOWN FOR THE MM J."GOODMAN, Proprieter VICTORIA CAFE Meals 2 and Se YOU CAN GT 4 A MEAL ANT THE IROQUG POOL English and A an Bilisrb Twelve Tables SBcond f PAPAL SLO LL Two Box Ball A " There has been a surprising recently for farm lands up the 5 and in the Bulkle vi a large amount o selected, all the wa Francois Lake, of the character of the soil and Work perfor: perts Oa A first class s guaranted? ever A large stoch on Fitting eect H. W. Blakely - Ele Third Ave. . . we aE DEER e26 nance anE aaa ESN aE EDI Rp oe ASK UNCLE JERRY Cr ATUNS Third “e s,tall house Nine furnished roo” rented, A snap. $1,800 Buys large rooming house. | id Close Shou $150 per UNCLE JERRY” a hotel proposition jness ts for stores to rent, boats !° rth. demand ena valley. acreage, © le’ from Kitse's descriptions full forth ng land jing? into wit present is low, ! | Second Avenvé ra UE SBESSEREDSERSEMESSEMSEREERSEaecaseasease cee RseaeC RT ateate Rec aieeccacascase ace ane mse teeate mee aeemieaseaceateasc ssc asus