The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-03-23

MAYORS Inaugural.

on tuesday evening, In the City Council
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
Although it has not been universal custom with
my predecessors to submit to the council, in
formal manner, their views of municipal policy
yet deem the occasion of the Inauguration of a
new Chief Magistrate Of the city, one eminently
fit to submit not only to you, but through you
to our common constituents, such views as enter
tain conce rniAg municipal affairs, and to briefly
explain such IDEAS az hold of municipal policy.
The management Of the finances of the city is
the most important trust committed to cur hands.
Burdened as the whole people are with an enor-
nous national debt to which is added state
debt, county debt proportionately large with
the national debt, and city school debt, our con-
stituents Justly scrutinize our management of
this important trust. Regarding our contracts,
whether positive or implied, as sacred, I desire
to impress upon the Council not only the impor-
lance but the necessity of care and vigilance,
that every dollar expended by us shall be 50
wisely expended as to show to the tax payers
that they have received value therefor. / desire
the council not to understand me as recommending
parsimonious and niggardly economy, for such
are not my views either of public or private af-
fairs. On the contrary, would urge upon the
council the wise and true policy of aiding and
fostering, by all legitimate means in our power,
all enterprises having for their object the en-
hancement of the aggregate wealth, where such
object is clearly defined, and the end sought will
probably be attained. Our country has reached
its position of wealth and power and greatness
by the indomitable spirit of Progress which char
acterizes its people. The wise husbandman casts
literally Of his Seed that he may CLEAN an album
dant harvest thereafter. As location for an
inland city, ours has no superior, and but few
equal. Surrounded by farming territory of
unsurpassed fertility and of great extent, it has
within its grasp inexhauatible beds of superior
coal, and within its very borders an element of
wealth in its water power which, when fully de-
veloped, it surely must be by private or public
enterprise, or by both combined, will make ours
one of the largest and most prosperous inland
cities OF our state Entertaining such hopes of
the future of our city, and holding the idea that
it is wise policy to aid private enterprise by pub
lie credit to develope new sources of wealth,
whenever by 30 doing aggregate values are en-
HANGED, and the burdens of Va alton thereby les
sened, am in favor of fully carrying out the
clearly expressed wishes Of the people as ex-
hibited by the almost unanimous vote of the citi.
Gems to loan the credit of the city to the Ottawa
Manufacturing Co. for the sum Of enc hundred
thousand dollars l regard that vote as full
ratification by the citizens Of an implied contract
by the city with that improvement company, for
material aid.
Although In corporate capacity We have
nothing to do with the aid promised in like
manner to the proposed Rail Road from the Yer
million Coal Mines that being township mat
ter, deem it not improper in this connection
to add that that contemplated enterprise equally
meets my approval.
Next to the FINANCE" committee in impor-
lance l regard the committee on Streets and
Alleys" Much complaint has been expressed,
and i'll feeling engendered by the seeming
misdirection of the large poll tax annually
collected from our citizens, and expended upon
streets and alleys 1t has latterly been the
policy of the council, and think it wise
policy, To make the street improvements Of more
permanent, and therefore of an Immediately more
costly character. There is great economy in this,
for the constant frittering Of small sums on con-
tinuous repairs, very soon consumes more than
would be sufficient to construct q thorough and
permanent work. In the main or business parts
OF the city but little necessity exists for expen.
ditnre. The crossings are all of stone and perma-
nent; the drainage is very uear complete; the
small sewers and sluices mostly in thorough
ORDER and the large or main sewers are, with
perhaps but one exception, entirely adequate to
their requirements. This condition of things in
the most important parts OF. the city leaves the
'street supervisors under the direction and con.
troll OF the "street and Alley" committee free to
prosecute the same character of permanent i'm.
provements further towards the outskirts and
by following strictly this policy, so that the
street supervisors" shall never be compelled to
turn back to repair half constructed works, your
constituents to the borders of the city will
soon fully perceive and appreciate that this fund
has not been wasted.
A careful and long continued observation of the
workings Of our fire department has led me to
the conclusion that it would be for the interest
OF the city TO exchange our two Fire Engines for
one steam fire engine. II is at all times difficult
and frequently impossible, especially in inclem-
ent weather, to obtain sufficient assistance to
properly work the hand engines The labor usu.
ally devolves upon a few willing hands, the many
stand alOOf and at the late fire much acrimonious
feeling was engendered, by the means taken, in
many cases entirely iniustfabe, to procure ne
cessary help from idle bystanders. A steam fire
engine would obviate this difficulty, and as it
would be more Immediately in the control of the
council. the expenses of the department would
be materially reduced. 1t aeems to me that the
expenditure for hose continuously from the time
we first procured fire engine have been enor-
nous, and am advised chat there exists press
ing necessity for further immediate expenditure.
Without censuring any, feel assured that the
council would effect great saving, by keeping
immediate charge of the hose, as they would ne
cessarily do. should they think proper to make
the change OF engines as have suggested.
The Public grounds, known as Washington
Square, ought to receive some attention at your
hand. Occupying acentral and public location,
its neglect and desolaton attracts the attention Of
strangers, and with them, in q measure, Ak
es our character for enterprise and public spirit
much lower than any of us care to have repeat
ed in our hearing, or be generally known abroad
Your own Judgment will suggest how best to
remove this meldew. from our fair name
The short time which has elapsed since the
election has not been sufficient to enable me to