The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-04-24
The Mayors Address.
To the Common Council Of the City Of
of Evansville

OOAAAAA'0--
Gil, shall be discharged during one short year,
may depend for many succeeding years, the
prosperity of the City and her progress to-
wards the position which nature seems to
have assigned her among the cities of the
West. We should, therefore, before enter
ing upon the discharge of those duties en-
deavor to inform ourselves as to the past and
present condition of The city, and the meas
ures of our predecessors and their effects, in
order that their errors may be avoided and
well founded opinions formed as to the futare.
As Legislators, we should consider men and
things, not as they ought to be, but as they
are, and legisIate accordingly; and laying
aside all mere distractions we should be ad-
monishcd by the history of our own city and
other cities similarly situated, and adopt only
such practical measures az will stand the test
Of experience or dispassionate reasoning hay
ing experience as its basis.
The report of the Clerk, which wllI be laid
before you, exhibits the financial condition o.
the City. During the last year the City
Wharf was completed with the exception
perhaps of a small amount ofgravelling ana
gutterng at the cost of S33, 6Ql 81, for which
the City is indebted to the contractors
This debt is payable at the discretion Of the
Common Council. It may remain unpaid for
an indefinite leng h of time, or it may be paid
at any time. either all at once or in install
ments 1t bears interest at the rate Of 10 per
cent. per annum. for the payment of which
the revenue derived from the Wharf is
pledged. Thus far there has been no set
Element with the contractors, except rs to the
cost of the work; but it is supposed that the
revenue received from the Wharf has been
sufficient to pay interest and expenses; and
it should be made to do so in future if prac-
ticable, in order to avoid the necessity of pay
ing interest by taxation of the citizens. That
this can be done by moderate charges for
wharfage, | have no doubt. For this and
other reasons it is important that full set
Element with the contractors be made at once
and that a competent accountant De appoint
ed for that purpose. 1t is believed also that
sundry notifications of the Wharf contract
could be made with advantage 10 both par
ties. If no such notifications arc made 1t
may be found eXpedent to legislate further
in relation to the collection and disbursement
of wharfage.
During the last year new market house
was erected on 4th, between Locust and
Walnut streets. 1t will be in a condition for
use as soon as the necessary shambfes are
erected. The construction of shambles was
not included in the contract for building the
: house. nor he's any contract been made fol
the cor structon Of them. The necessary
grading of the street in which the market
house s situated, and the laying of the neces
sary side walks on that street and on Locust
o and Walnut streets have been ordered -
i, These and all other necessary improvements
should be made as soon as practicable, in or
der that the new market house may be used
> and the old one discontinued.
Nothing butinability to accomplish it should
prevent the permanent improvement, during
the approaching summer. Of Main street from
# LIST street to the Canal 1st street from Lo
# Gust to Vine or Division, and Division, Vine
o and Sycamore from Water to lst street.
The same may be said in reference to the
$ alley running parallel with, and between Is
Y and Water streets, from Locust to Division
If and the alleys intersecting it, on either side
Of Main, and extending to First street. The
improvement of these alleys has been order
ed. Other similar improvements are desira
h bic, but the call for them is not so imperative
t but that they may be dispensed with, for an
+ other year, if it is deemed expedient to do so
J. 1t may be found expedient to do but iittIeN il
II addition to the works mentioned and the or
e binary cleansing and repaving of streets
1T the city has to defray the same proportion 0
" the expense as heretofore.
h Fortunately there has been no occasion 70
1t long period, to test the efficiency ofthe fire
4 department. The engines and their append
Id ages appear to have been kept in go ID order
c. The ordinance prescribing the duties Of fir
t. wardens, and the mode of constructing AM
using chimneys. fues and stove pipes, ha
been violated every day and its provisions al
most wholly dsregarded. Such being tn
fact, it is matter of astonishment that por
lions of the city have not been laid waste b
fire; and due regard for the interests of tn
I'd citizens requires that measures should
T.. adopted without delay to remedy the evil.
tb The time has arrived when it is absoutel
he necessary to purchase ground for new gray
ry yard, or extend the limits of the old one
u, The latter course it is believed would be VI
III wise, if not imPracticable. Some site MOI
remote from the city should be selected.
N would suggest the propriety of lightin!
a. by means of lamps, all or the greater part