- timating the value of the plant and the amount we will have
to pay if the electors of the city conclude by their votes to
purchase. Much care should be taken in the selection of our representative.
He should be perfectly familiar with that class of work, know
well the condition of the plant, not only of today but of twenty
years hence; by this I mean the capacity of the mains for our
future needs and requirements. A man who will not only look well
to our interest, but will make such a report that will deal fairly
and squarely with all concerned. In dealing with this question,
we as representatives of the city must do our best in a business-like
manner; personal interest must not stand in the way of general
good. Let every detail of the question be brought to light and
fairly laid before the people, so that when at the polls they
can vote with intelligence and with a perfect understanding of
the question before them.
- The Sewerage question is now a reality. During the last year
there has been completed about 20 thousand feet of
- sewerage, all ready to be utilized by our citizens, and I
would recommend that before taking any steps for extending the
system farther you will enact such legislation as will compel
down-town property owners to make sewerage attachments as quickly
as possible and thus clear our alleys of those unsightly, unhealthy
and obnoxious out houses which have been not only a disease-breeding
nuisance but a veritable fire trap besides.
- Our Police Department has been equal to all of the demands
upon it. They have been vigilant and alert, and the
- continuation of the present force bespeaks the future quietness
of the city.
- Of the Fire Department we cannot say too much in praise.
They have always been good, and every year finds them
- better than before, and we can safely say that no more energetic
body of young men can be found in any department around us. 1600
feet of new hose have been bought this last year and we have
now sufficient material of that kind to last for some time. The
last Council took some steps toward rebuilding the central station,
replacing the old tower with a new one, which is very much needed
as the old one is in a very unsafe condition, and I hope that
his Council will not be negligent of these much needed improvements.
The failure of the last Council to build a new jail or even repair
the old one has brought the city in bad repute with the State
Jail Inspectors, who pronounced in the worst one in the State.
It would have been condemned instantly if the Chairman of the
Police committee had not promised him that this year would find
us in condition to build a new one. This work has got to be done,
and done quickly.
- The Board of Public Works has had serious trouble taking
care of excess of water this spring; it is quite a problem to
- solve, and I hope that this Council will instruct them to
give more attention to cleaning out the gutters in the fall so
as to leave them open as much as possible through the winter
months. A large amount of street grading ordered by the last
Council has not been completed, and some not even commenced,
all of which should be completed as soon as possible. The streets
where piping was laid last year are in bad condition and should
be repaired at once.
- The finances of the city as a whole are in good condition.
There are outstanding three bonds of $1000 each, one
- bond coming due each year, and a note obligation of $5000
which will be paid July 15th of this year. You will probably
be called upon to devise some way of raising revenue for carrying
on to completion the much needed improvements in contemplation,
either by issuing a series of improvement bonds, or making loans
from time to time, either of which can [continue to Page
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