Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-04

CITY Affairs.
We have heretofore spoken Of the new
City Council, elected on Saturday last, and
congratulated the community upon its supe-
rior qualifications as board of municipal
guardians. It has duly organized and en-
tered upon the duties imposed by the city
charter and laws. We have full confidence
that it will administer wisely, safely, and up
to the standard Of that enlightened public
spirit, which keeps ever in view the fact
that Nashville is a growing city-growing
inheren,ly-but dependent for its active
growth and vigorous prosperity, upon the
judgment with which iis interests are man
aged, the ability exhibited in adopting
measures for its development, and liberal
and comprehensive calculation Of its capa-
city to lay hold Of and utilize the natural
advantages It possesses. Nashville has
reacheda stage in its career as a metropoli-
tan city Of leading interior State, which
requires real ability in its government. Sc
rious errors now, will mar the hope of a
prosperous future, and mayhap, place the
city irretrieyably in the rear of actively
competing rivals.
Itsexterior relationsin the railroad system
Of this region is an important matter, and
appeals to all the vigilance, enterprise,
and sagacity that can be brought to bear.
The city is stakeholder in several lines.
To inquire and to kROw how they are man
aged, and 10 see that the interests Of roads and
companies does not initiate against and
overslaugh the rights and interest Of the city
and its tax payers, is an imperative duty. In
regard to these matters, the city govern
ment is the representative and trustee Of it,
/! citizens who have been taxed to assist
/ in building these structures. We should be
far from encouraging any hostility to the va
rious railroad companies, and we have no
authority TO intimate, on the part Of any
Of them, an unfairness to the city's interest
in heir management; but public subserip-
tions Of stock were made to them for the
benefit Of the city, and it is a chief duty
Of the city's representatives to protect the
public in this particular.
Inthe interior administration, there should,
in the present circumstances, be prudent
economy, but nothing like niggardliness
there should be liberality Of expenditure
for necessary and worthy purposes, and
Wholesome retrenchments wherever they
can be made. There are extremes in regard
to the question of expenditures either way
and there is a safe middle way. For some
purposes much should be given, for others
equally necessary, but not so important
less will suffice The exercise Of sound
Judgment will discriminate between the two
classes Of objects The interest Of the people
who own property, and live in Nashville, is
10 build up the city, and render it attractive
TO trade, population, and capital. A penny
wise and pound-foolish policy will not accom-
plish this purpose, nor will its reverse; judi
ciousdisbursementfo for salutaryimprovements,
Of all the taxes the people can comfortably
bear, will do it. There is aclass of citizens,
lin fourishing cities they are not numerous
nor inauential,) who think every dollar of
taxes they are required to pay, is that much
lost TO them and their heirs forever. They
never pause to think that the tax fund, wise
ly expended, returns TO them in equal fold,
il, indeed, it does not become 4 paying in
vestment. We do not urge a hazardously
extrayagant city government, On the con-
trary, we think that the improvements and
the appropriations should always be within
safe limit; but we do favor liberal system,
and urge that the present Council shall not
consultonly the timid and short-sighted tax
payer, who sees the spectre of municipal
bankruptcy in every thousand dollars voted
for city improvements.
As a city, we have reached point in the
tide, which, il taken at the flood, will put
US on the secure road to prosperity. If suf-
fered to ebb, it will bear US backward. We
have had to suffer from unavoidable adverse
circumstances in the past few years, but these
only need time to entirely overcome them.
There is, however, new era introduced.
We must meet it enterprisingy. We must
place our city on ground for equal COMPETE
ton with our neighbors and rivals. We
must sustain all our institutions, and main
tain them at the best possible point of ex-
cellence. We must establish some that we
useless expenses, and scrape off the barnacles
which are dragging Us too deep, financially.
In few days we viii have some sugges-
tons to make about pruning down unneces-
sary OUTLAWS, and the duty Of investing the
sums thus saved in wholesome improve
ments.