Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-04-19
Annual Address of the Mayor to
the City Council Of Warren.

We have now arrived az the close of an
other year of the municipal government
Of the City, and TO night a government
composed In a great part ofnew members
is organized, and at this your first meet
ING, In accordance with the requirements
Of the municipal code, Ihave the honor oil
reporting to you concerning the
affairs Of the City, and to recommend to
your consideration such measures to be
adopted as would in my Judgment, be for
the best Interests Of our city.
Let mt therefore. say in the first place,
that the finances OF the City are in a very
healthful condition, there being about five
thousand dollars now in the Treasury, be-
longing to the several funds. Some of the
different funds however, are over-drawn,
while some have q considerable amount
standing on the credit side. Some Of these
funds have been drawn upon however, for
bills which do not legitimately belong to
them. would suggest that these matters
be rectided, and the proper balances struck,
50 that this coming year you may aseer-
tain As near as may be the approximate
amount OF tax to levy for the several
funds. Since the last levy Of taxes for
municipal purposes a new appraisement
has been had Of the real property Of the
City, and such appraisement has increased
the valuation of real property some three
hundred thousand dollars, and taking u
spring valuation OF personal property as
it stood last year, it viii make the total
valuation ofreal & personal property about
two millions Of dollars, which would seem
a pretty large valuation to levy taxes up
on, but we should remember it is not the
per cent. Of tax We pay that bears heay-
lily upon US, but the amount w have to
pay. It makes no difference to the tax
payer whether he pays three per cent. on
one thousand dollars valuation, or whether
he pays one per cent. on three thousand
dollars valuation, so long as It is the same
property. But let the valuation be what
it may, we think there Is enough proper
ty in the City from which to raise event
30 that taxation need not be burdensome
TO meet the expenses necessary to carry on
the city government and make many nee
essary and important Improvements
And here let me call your attention to
some things that need your Immediate at
t%ention, and some that we think should be
done, but may and should have your care
full and deliberate attention. Among the
first things, 1 would name for your imme-
diate consideration and action is, the pro-
Viding Of a place to keep or eoufine often
ders against the laws and ordinances gov
erning our City. Hitherto we have had
the use Of the County Jail. Now, howev-
er, that's torn down 70 give place to a new
jail and Sherifs residence and it win be
at least a year before that structure
viii be ready for occupancy, and ever
then the County Commissioners have the
right by law to exclude city prisoners af-
ter three months notice. 1 would there
fore recommend that you at once provide
some way or place IN which to confine Of
fehders against the ordinances of the city,
until at such time as you can consider the
matter of prOviding q permanent lookup
and residence tor the Marshal, because If
the city has Its w lookup there must Of
necessity be a house connected or near by,
for the Marshal to reside in, as by law he
is made the custodian In such cases Of the
City's criminals, and must care for and
feed them.
Next as an important matter, lat least
in my mind), I would call your attention
to the miserable condition Of many Of our
streets and avenues, especially those some
what remote from the centre Of our City.
and leading to the country, It seems to
me that a liberal taxation would be borne
cheerfully by the tax payers, for putting
these streets and avenues at least in a
passable condition. Let US bear in mind
that over these streets and avenues all
who come here to do business to say
nothing Of the people living in the City,,
must pass, and we think many people who
would ordinarily trade here go elsewhere
on account Of the condition ofthese streets
and venue We have many very good
streets in the city which are paved, but
nearly all Of this has been done BY special
assessment of taxes so that s very small
proportion of our tax payers only have
been burthened, but these streets and
avenues cannot thus be improved, BY
reason Of the less value OF the lands abut-
ting thereon. We therefore think that a
general tax should be levied to PIT those
streets and in q passable condi-
ton, and thus save mi city from this
standing reproaeh. TT
Your attention is also called to the mat
ter Of improving our public grounds and
park. Now while important & permanent
Improvements arc being made in and 10
them, would it not be well to have what
ever is intended to be done to them, done
at once and with a due regard to a final
Of them? Let some definite
plan be adopted, and then work to that
end as fast as time and means will per-
NIT, so that when done it will show design
and give general satisfaction. To this end
I would recommend that you endeavor to
secure the balance Of the vacant ground
in the bend Of the Mahoning River West
Of the Iron Bridge, The City now owns a
part, and add it to our Public Grounds,
and thus save to our citizens a view sfa
long stretch Of said River. In ashort time
this ground which Is now comparatively
may be studded oTer with
shanties and Indifferent buildings. and
become an eve sore to our people
as it is almost in the heart Of our
City. In q short time It might be i'm
proved so as to raise It above high water
and then 1t would afford a beautiful re-
treat for recreation and amusement to the
people who are to come after us. would
again, as I have on a former occasion, call
your attention to the Importance ~ofwiden-
ing the pavement on that part Of Main
Street from Market Street to M~ahoning
Avenue, there are some Improvements
contemplated on the public ground be-
tween said street and the river, and IL