Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-04-22
LIOTOR LICENSES


and one in April of next year. How many are
illegally engaged in this traffic am not informed.
The number is presumed to be small Efforts were
made during the past year to suppress unlicensed
establishments, with, however, but partial sue
cess.
As to the propriety of lending the official sane
ton of the city to this traffic, and thereby fixing
the responsibility of its evils whatever they may
be- upon the corporate authorities, have before
expressed an opinion and the experience of the
past year has not changed or weakened that opin-
ion. Tho subject, however is one which is left TO
the discretion of the Council to dispose of and if
deemed proper under existing circumstances to
grant licenses, trust a wise caution will be ex-
ercised in the premises-that all the restraints
which the law provides will be carefully exercised
regards those legally engaged In the traffic
and the penalties which the law rrescribes faith
fully enforced regards persons illegally engaged
therein.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
The expenditure on this account the past year
was $500 1.-THE greater portion of the sum,
S692 93--for new bridge across Pike river on
Grand Street which is now nearly completed I'M
der and in accordance with the contract made.
The structure is a substantial and permanent one.
For the erection of this bridge the past year, and
the Main street bridge, the preceding year. the ex-
pense, including interest on bridge scrip issued
has been about 81 ,200-a heavy outlay, but rem
dered necessary by the circu,lstanc existing
We have the satsfact.ou of knowing that
but light appropriations will be demanded in this
department. foryears to come, as we have now we'll
constructed, handsome, and permanent bridges
across our streams, on leading thoroughfares.
In regard to highway work the past year. find
examination of very imperfect returns made BY
the road supervisors of the several wards that the
poll labor expended has been small-the effective
service brought into requisition bearing proper
nOfa IAnf, Il.
amount which should be commanded within the
limits of the city. A close scrutiny of the poll
lists of the past year has satisfied me that after
making the most liberal deductions for exemptions
uader the law, there in the first ward at least
$50, in the second 100, and in the third lOO-ma-
king in all 3S0-persons subject to poll labor AT
two days each the number of DAYS service would
be $780, or at the Communication price the value
would be $50. This amount of labor or means
judicouslv applied, should certainly be sufficient
for all ordinary highway improvement and repairs
annually required and the wards not be compelled
as heretofore, TO call for appropriations from the
city treasury to supply deficiencies in this depart
ment. The amount of these deficiencies the past
year was 1856 "a. l would recommend revi-
sion of the ordinance of the CITY on this subject
and the establishment of some system, radically
different from the present, which may have the
effect to bring or drive out moro generally those
legally subject to poll labor in the several wards
u
application of that labor for the purposes designed
and which may render further drafts upan our gen.
eral fund unnecessary.
CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
The most important of the amendments to orr
charter made at the last session of the Legislature
are-the removal of The restrictions which have
heretofore existed as regards the object and amount
for which the city may pledge its faith or credit,
and provision requiring returns of delinquent
lands for city taxes to be made directly to the
County Treasurer by whom exclusively hereafter
sales are 10 be made and the necessary business
connected with delinquent taxes, conducted.
The first amendment alluded to will enable the
City Council, on consent of freeholders first OBJ
taincd to provide by tax or loan for any improve
mcnt deemed essential to the interests of the City,
without the necessity of applying for special legis-
lative authority to accomplish the object.
The second, while of no disadvantage to the
City, will afford a great convenience to parties in
any way interested in the matter of lands returned
for unpaid taxes in this City because but one Off
GER instead of a multiplicity, will hereafter have
this business in charge.
1t is desirable that legislative authority be given
to the City Council 10 provide for new survey
us far as necessary, and new plat, of the city.
Every portion not so now, should be regularly laid
off into blocks and lots, and all blocks throug hout
the city progressively numbered, two hearing
the same number. This would greatly simplify
the business of the Assessor, as the only descrip-
tion then necessary would be the number of the
lot, block, and ward, instead of the long and tcdi-
Gus descriptions by mctcs and bounds now re-
qulAl. An important saving would accrue to the
CITY annually from this change Much has been
lost heretofore through imperfect descriptions,
which under existing circumstances cannot entire
ly be avoided, but which under the arrangement
suggested, may be entirely prevented. On ac-
count of imperfect descriptions returned by the
City 10 the County, the past two three years
the former has had to pay from its own treasury
into the treasury of the latter, nearly $500
This subject is suggested to your attention, with
a recommendation that the necessary legislative
action i'll the premises be sought for.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The condition of this Department as to num-
bcrs efficiency, value of apparatus, &C., Is fully
set forth in the subioined interesting communica-
ton from Joshua Davis, LIST Assistant Engineer
There are other statistics presented which should
particularly attract the notice of property owners
in the city, as showing the relative degree of Sc
curity enjoyed from destruction by fire, before and
since an effective organization of this important
branch of public service. These figures Indicate
very unequiyOcallv, 10 some extent, the value of
this organization and of the services of those con-
nected with it, to the city; and Indicate also the
duty of the people and authorities in respect TO the
subject. No class of men render more important
public services at a greater sacrifice of comfort
and health and at greater personal risk than fire.
men, And the merit OF these services is greatly
enhanced by the consideration that they arc gratu-
touSly and cheerfully rendered, from a motive
the disnerested and benevolent character ofwhich
there is no room to question. The spirit and eff
cheney of the department. here, under intelligent
and judicious management, have attained high
point, and in their appropriate sphere, form at
once our pride and security. To maintain this
spirit and efficiency should be leading object
the part of the city authorities Appropriations
demanded for this purpose should not be grudg-
ingly made. For every dollar thus invested hereto
fore, the figures show, there has been fourfold
return. The actual saving of property from de-
structiou by fire does not exhibit the whole public
gain from this source. An important element in
the calculation is the effect had upon rates of in
surance, which greatly leSsened by the exist
epce of proper facilities for the cXtinguishment of
fires But it is needless present facts or argu-
ments of this kind for the purpose of showing what
duty and policy require at the hands of the city
authorities. The course of those authorities the
past two or three years is an evidence that these
considerations are understood and appreciated.
And need not urge upon the present Council the
Importance of favorable attention TO and action
upon the recommendations of the LIST Assistant
in his report, as to the wants of the Department
rather to the wants of the CITY, in respect TO
the Department. The whole expenditure of last