St. Louis Bridge Co. v. People ex rel. Baker

Citations

• 125 Ill. 226
• 17 N.E. 468
• 1888 Ill. LEXIS 1086

Syllabus

<p>1. Boundary—western boundary of East St. Louis and of St. Clair county. The western boundary of St. Clair county and of the city of East St. Louis is identical with the western boundary of the State.</p> <p>2. St. Louis bridge—within what jurisdiction—where taxable. All that part of the St. Louis bridge which lies east of the middle thread of the Mississippi river, as it now is, is within the State of Illinois, and being so, is subject to taxation by the State, St. Clair county, and the city of East St. Louis.</p> <p>3. Municipal taxation—for sewerage purposes—and herein, in what consists the establishment of a system of sewerage. By statute, the legislative authority of any city which has established a system of sewerage is invested with power annually to levy and collect a sewer tax, not exceeding one mill on the dollar, for the extension of sewers therein, and the maintenance of such sewers, provided the board of public works, if any, or the head of the sewer department of such city, shall first certify to such legislative authority the amount necessary for that purpose.</p> <p>4. Where the legislative authority of a city created by special charter has assumed control of the sewerage of the city, and created a department of the city government charged with the location, extension, construction and maintenance of sewers, and has accepted plans and estimates for the extension of the sewerage already under its control, this will be an establishment of a system of sewerage, within the meaning of the statute; and such authority, upon the report of the sewer department of the amount necessary for the purpose of constructing and maintaining the same, will be authorized to levy and collect a sewer tax.</p> <p>5. In such case, it is not necessary that the system of sewerage adopted shall extend to all parts of the city. What sewerage is necessary for the welfare of the city and health of its inhabitants is a political question, and is to be determined by the legislativ