The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-17


GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMON CouNc1L:
We commence to-day the third year of the
polite existence of the City of St. Paul.
Before enumerating the measures which l
desire to commend to your consideration, it
may not be improper for me to state, briefly,
what has been accomplished by the corpor-
ate authorities of the city and the claims
which the municipal government has upon
the confidence and sympathy of our citizens.
On the End day Of May, 1854, the Comp
troller made a report to the Common Coun-
Gil of the financial condition of the infant
city.
From this report it appears that at the
very outset we inherit an acknowledged in
debtedness, amounting in the aggregate to
S., 359,87. Aside from this amount, there
were numerous unadjusted claims which
have since been satisfactorily settled, the
sum of which added to the aggregate of our
then acknowledged liabilities, would swell
the total Indebtedness of the City, at that
date, to over $4,000.
The amount of revenues left us by the
town government, as appears from the same
report, was, mominally, $4,000. This
amount, which was due for unpaid taxes of
1852 and 1858, subsequent experience has
demonstrated to be almost entirely unavail-
able. When we add to the foregoing state
ment the fact that there was no public prop
erty of any description; no public credit; no
streets graded; no sidewalks built; that the
authorities, strangers to each other and un-
skilled in municipal legislation, were about
organizing under new and untr ed charter,
it will be acknowledged that the prospect
was dark and gloomy indeed.
The report of the Comptroller, dated May
LIST, 1856, shows how the City Government
has discharged it's financial responsibilities;
from this document it appears that the re-
ceipts, from March Goth, 1855, to May LIST
1856, Exclusive of fees for collecting,) a.
mounted to $l7,742,I5. The expenditures
for the same period were ST., 3O9,71. Our
assets are $9,747,13. Our liabilities are
ST. 1926, 15-leavlng a alance in favor of the
city, on the LIST day of May, 1856, of ST.
1914 ,98-of which amount So. 2S3 80 belongs
to the different wards for special purposes,
and the balance, $4,511,l8, belongs to the
common Treasury.
In addition, it may be proper to say that
the city government is thoroughly organized;
the levee accommodations have been greatly
enlarged and improved; our streets are being
graded; sidewalks are extending in every d.
rection; we have the nucleus of an efficient
fire department; the public credit is placed
upon firm basis, and peace and good order
are the happy companions of that prosperity,
both indiv dual and corporate, which extends
itself throughout our boders.
Under our city charter, gentlemen, you
are called upon to act in two capacities: LIST.
AS street Commissioners of your respective
wards. I'd. AS members of tie Common
Council and Aldermen for the city at large.
AS Street Commissioners you are enabled
to act independently of each other, and are
authorized to carry out such local improve
ments as the wants and interests of your re-
spective wards d mand.
In this capacity it will, be your first duty
to meet by wards and organize the different
boards, and strongly urge upon you the
necessity of appointing competent clerk in
each ward, that full re ,rd of all your trans
actions may be preserved. Minutes Of every
meeting should be kept and full and COM
plete statement of your proceedings male up
quarterly, 70: the use of the Common Coun-
Gil. A loose system of doing business, on the
part of the different boards of Street Com
missoners, will do more towards deteroral-
ing the credit of the city government and
bringing our affairs into disgrace and disre-
pute, than any thing else. Great Judgment
and discretion must he used in projecting
local Improvements. In new community
like this, where there is SO much to be done
end so little to do with, it is far more diff
cult to discriminate between what should
and what should not be done, than It is in
older cities of slower growth.
AS members OF the Common Council YOU
are called upon to legislate for the city FIST.
Paul; to look after her interests and do all
in your power to promote her glory and her
welfare.
No local prejud:ces should find expression
here; no sectional feelings should be allow ed
to sway your judgment, but we should exert
every means in our power towards making
the interests of our adopted homes, one and
indivisible. We will do well to remember
the sayings of the great Apostle who gives a
name to our city, a saying as true in the po-
litical as it is in the religious economy, that
''whether one member suffer, all the men,
bers suffer wit it; or one member be honor
ed, all the members rejoice with it.''
I do not intend, gentlemen, in this commu-
nication to make many new or original re-
concentrations for your consideration.
think we shall discharge our trusts ac-
ceptably to our fellow-citizens, if we carry
out the great measures for improvement
which were suggested to this body by my
immediate predecessor, 10 whom, a 8 city,
St. Paul owes so much, and whose services
demand and deserve more than this passing
MT ,ce.
During the past winter our Legislature in
corpcrated two companies, one for the pur-
pose of furnishing gas, and the other for the
purpose of furnishing water, for the supply of
the city. The stock of the first named COM
pany has all been taken, and the company
fully organized, and it is intended. as l am
advised, to proceed at once with the erection
of their works.
The charter of the Water Company is in
the hands of responsible citizens, and the
steps preliminary to an organization have
been taken. So that the Common Council
is happily relieved in great measure from
their responsibilities, and have only to ex-
press the hope, which l believe to be we'll
founded, that the works of both companies
will soon be in successful operation, supply
ing the wants of our citizens.
An act also passed the last Legislature au-
thorizing the city of St. Paul to borrow upon
their bonds the sum of $1,000, the money
to be used for two purposes only, that is to
say, for opening our levee from Chestnut
street to Broadway, and for the erection of
city buildings. nv yi-aef
1t can hardly be necessary to say anything
to you, gentlemen, in favor of the first en-
terprise. Our commerce has become so ex-
tensive that an improvement of the river
front is not only desirable but Indispensable
and / trust that this body will proceed as