The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-04-24
MAYORS ADDRESS.

MAYORS ADDRESS.
About this time our exchanges from cities
of the first aud second class all around us are
publishing the Addresses of Mayors to City
|, Councils. Not to be behind hand, We pro-
cured the following Mayors Address to the
City Council of Fremont, and after submit
ting it to His Honor, Mayor BELL, for his ap-
proval, which we failed to get, hasten 10 lay
it before our readers in advance of all our
eotemporaries:
Gentlemen of Tie Council:
On the assembling of new Council it is
now, the custom, in small as well as large
cities, for The Mayor to present an Address,
advisory and iniormatory in character,
whereby the guardians of the city's interest
may be posted in municipal affairs. and the
citizens generally informed of the doiDgs at
head quarters. This practice is followed by
Presidents on the assembling of Congress
by Governors at the opening of the Legisla-
ture; and by an act of the Legislature of this
State, passed in 1912 it is he duty of J Justices
of the Peace to present an annual report to
the County Auditor Is the Mayor of city
vi Iuo stCOnu CLASS DCIOW Inc TaOK OF q p0Lty
Justice of the Peace? Not if the Court
knows itself With such precedents, there
FORE have the undoubted right to issue an
address, in which shall be embodied such re-
Communications and suggestions as the pub
lie interests seem to demand.
1t is unnecessary to inform gentlemen of
your intelligence opportunities of observa-
tion and discriminating judgments, that the
Council which preceded you failed TO secure
from the public that measure of confidence,
| respect and esteem which is refreshing and
cheering 10 the soul of the office holder In
fact as public body, it was regarded as a
nuisance; but unfortunately one that the
Mayor had no power TO abate. have neither
the time nor the writing materials sufficient
to present the reasons for this state of things.
it only remains that we should accept The
situation, assume the pressure, and go on
legislating just as if that Council had never
existed My first recommendation, there
fore, is, that you wipe out all the ordinances
heretofore passed, expunge all the resolu-
lions, and destroy all the evidences that such
Council lived, moved and had being
especially the evidences of Indebtedness,
| which are thicker than the leaves of autumn,
or flies in the summer time, or Democratic
voters on election day. Then would most
respectfully recommend to your honorable
body the passage of an ordinance forbidding
! all illusions to its late lamented President
Thus 1t is possible the mantle of oblivion
may gently and gradually bury out of sight
and mind all the disturbing reflections which
otherwise would constantly be called up.
But now, gentlemen, let us to business. A
subject to which particularly and earnestly
call your attention is the improvement ofour
| streets. It is notorious that the streets and
public highways have been sbamefully neg
lected. No money has been spent on them.
| You will find here large field for the ex-
ercise of liberality with the public money.
The Riley road, Elm street, Napoleon and
| Arch streets, and the Morrison State road,
will all Claim your attention. They should
be re-stoned, regarded aud re-bridged In
order TO do the work properly, it will be
necessary to employ at least four energetic
Street Commissioners TO supervise the work
men and assist the City Engineer in making
| estimates of the cost Of labor and material.
What's the use of being City Council, un-
less you can be big one? No repairs to
speak of are needed on Front street or Gar
risoD, or Market. In fact, | would recon-
mend that you give the First Ward severe
letting alone in all things, except liberal
assessment and rigid collection Of its taxes.
Fire Department. As the steamer is a per-
fectly worthless institution, it would perhaps
be we'll enough to repudiate the bends given
to secure its pay ymeDt and then trade it off |
for couple of hand engines. The way l |
look at it, this will be good policy. There |
are several gentlemen in the city yet, bear
ing military titles, who could be gracefully |
and modes,ly complimented by conferriue |
their names and titles on the machines. |
Besides, additional machines are required |
30 that the editors of all the public journals |
in the city can be given the responsible |
positions of captains of hose Only |
one is at present provided for, and it must |
strike you forcibly that the ease and grace
coupled with the dignity and martial bearing
that distinguishes the captain of the {" Bum
mer " is strong argument for the extension |
of the privilege, TO the other members of
the press. To my mind, also, there is still /
another and stronger reason why hand
| engines should supercede the steamer. 1t |
can not be doubted that the surplus muscle |
and increased desire for athletic occupations
produced by the many noble and manly |
games of base ball last season-especially |
those of the Eurekas {" and " Amateurs y.
would gladly take TO the brakes and thus
by combining pleasure with work, would
be presented another beautiful instance of
the ornamental and useful in practical life.
would further recommend to your hon.
orable body the passage of an ordinance
permitting sheep and geese TO run at large
IN the public streets, as pigs and COWS are
allowed to do. The shutting up of sheep and
geese by ths former council was an act of
Injustice. Are they less useful or Orna-
mental than pigs and cows? Do you reflect,
gentlemen, how much you are indebted to
sheep And does not the sober waddle Of
the abused goose forciblY remind you of the
dignity and rotundity Of an Alderman ?
Have fellow-feeling, gentlemen, for these
suffering creatures aud as the boy ssid of
the molasses, "let EN- run"
The Public Works and proposed manu.
featuring enterprises of the city should
meet with that attention which their great
importance demands. In order to give us
water power, the Green Greek canal should
be pushed through. / think careful in
vestigation of elementary laws, and proper
typographical surveys, would establish The
fact that Green Greek can be brought to any
desirable point 10 the city by connecting It
with the underground river recently discov-
cred about mile west of the city and one
mile north of the four mile house. Should
that fail, | would recommend the other plan
of getting hydraulic power by building a
reservoir above the blue banks and bringing
the river to town in a new channel, This
can be done by the outlay of a small sum for
the purchase of the village of Ballville and its
mills and factories. ] commend the subject
to your attention.
In the matter of licenses 10 shows, etc.,
You ares probably aware that the revenue
from this source is perqCisite of the Coun-
Gil. l would advise you not to relinquish
the privilege of demanding free tickets for
yourselves, families, relations and friends
to all the circusses, bigger shows and con-
certs that exhibit in the city. When you
get a good thing, keep it. In this connec-
tisn it becomes my duty to notify you that
this salutary regulation was not beeded by
The managers of the Monumental " and
Excelsior Dramatic clubs for the past
two winters. AS these companies undoubt-
edly accumulated very large surplus of
cash, it would be well enough to bring their
managers before your honorable body and |
compel them to fork over.
1t is currently reported that some of the
public cisterns built last season have been
| appropriated by private parties and convert
ed into Potato cellars. l would suggest the
appointment OF special committee to in
vestigate the matter, with power to send for
persons and papers.
There are other matters of public concern
which do not consider necessary to refer to
in detail. They will occur to you as you
proceed with business.
You are just entering on career of great
c.I-