The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-06-19
Tot inc EFAusFIIs JVufuht
Our City Council.


II is understood that our present City
Council is strictly conservative one. BY
conservative, | mean that they manifest a
desire to administer the affairs Of the Corpo.
ration with the utmost economy; that they
have shown a determination 10 engage IN no
improvements and incur no expenses not i'm
media,ely and urgently necessary for the
public good.
And whatever may be the opinions OF
certain individuals or certain sections to The
contrary, regard il as very fortunate for the
interests Of the city at large, that such are
the principles and disposition Of the present
Of my Sse BE sgea u
the Council:
We have by almost unanimous consent,
pledged the honor OF our rising city in aid OF
two great leading public works, hich, when
finished, will repay us hundred fold tor the
aid thus offered them. We must necessarily
the present year bear, as taxpayers OF the
city, heavy burthen in taxes in the cause
Of both Of these works, and at least for one
or more years to come we must still sustain
this burthen in behalf of one Of them
These are settled and fixed duties from which
neither the richest nor the poorest, the most
liberal nor the most penurious of us, can for
moment presume to think. These are bur-
thens on property, which property must per
force bear, for the burthen is laid on in such
shape and under such conditions that any at
tempt to shrk or repudate it, would do pro-
perty infinitely more damage than the pay
ment of the amount imposed, TO the last
penny.
Again, there are, in a young and rapidly
growing city like ours, numerous and con-
stantly arising imperative demands for ex-
penditures which can be met and discharged
only by taxation. Take, for instance, the
Fire Department. As buildings and COM
bustible personal property increase in extent
and value. corresponding expenses must be
Incurred in their projections; and the CITY
fathers who are negligent OF duty in this i'm
portant department., whereby the property
Of the citizens falls a prey to the devouring
element, have very heavy responsibility
resting upon them.
How stands the case Of the fire depart
ment with us. Twelve or more years ago
this city, then containing some 5000 inhabi.
tants, had two Fire Engines. With pres
ent population OF 10000 and covering an
area large enough to hold $4,000, the city
has the same two engines. and none better
than the gentlemen Of the Council know
whether these two engines are of the most
efficient character. This little city in which
thousands have embarked their all, is in the
nature and construction Of its buildings, of
the most combustible character. The COM
bustibles which commerce gathers in its port
and on lis wharves are of immense value
Its commerce will, by the opening OF two
great avenues trade, be doubled during the
present year. All the old and many new
warehouses will be filled and kept full, with
merchandise and produce worth millions.
In this department. l may venture to say
with confidence, that an extraordinary ex-
penditure is urgently and Immediately de-
manded, and that all the ingenuity of wise
corn'els and all the available means now
possible to be reached by taxation, are at
once required to put our FIRE department in
a reliable and efficient condition. IN a mat
ter OF this Importance, there should be no
Sinking Of responsibility, no lodging of the
question, but we should all, in and out of Of
nee, but especially in, stand up manfnlly to
the emergency and invest small portion in
hre engines and fire organizations, of that
which we must otherwise invest in smoke
and ashes, and blackened roofiess walls.
| But, imperious and inexorabe as are
the foregoing demands of the public credit
and protection from FIRE, there is another OF
at least equal importance.