STREETS THROUGH UNPLATTED LANDS.
On motion by Mr. CHAPMAN, the bill [S. 345] to amend Section 2 of the act of April 27, 1869, to enable towns to lay out, open, etc., streets, alleys, etc., so as to provide where a street or alley is opened through unplatted lands, no assessment shall be made against that land for benefits, unless the owner was a petitioner, was read the third time and passed.
Mr. BRISCOE objected to the proviso, and hoped the bill would fail.
Mr. HOSTETTER hoped the bill would not fail, and referred to cases in his town where such an act was needed, It is hard to take a man's land for streets and alleys and then assess benefits against the owner, when the land is used only fo agricultural purposes, and causing additional expense by making fences, etc. The bill does not screen the owner from any tax. He hoped the bill would pass.
Mr. HENRY said: The objection is it will not allow benefits to be assessed for opening a street or alley against any ground not plotted, whether it is used for agricultural purposes or not. If it simply related to farm lands he would vote for the bill, but in its present shape he would not.
Mr. CHAPMAN insisted the bill simply provides as he before stated.
The bill was rejected--yeas, 16; nays, 22.
