Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-07
MAYOR HOWELL.
His First Message to the Municipal
Fathers.
A Comprehensive Exhibit of the Cify's
Affairs

Gentlemen Of the City Council: In &C
cordance with the long established an,
laudable custom, lay before you the con
sIderations and suggestions which appea
to me to be most deserving your presen
attention. From time to time, as occasion
may require, and as my duty is, / shall
present to you such other subjects as MAY
arise, and shall endeayor to keep you con
stantly informed in regard to the cOndi
ton Of each part of the city government.
The most obvious duty resting upon Il:
now, and which first suggests itself, is thai
concerning our financial affairs. 1t is ne
ceSSary that we shall restore and preserve
the credit of the city. To do this, we
must, as soon as practicable, pay, or arrange
in a satisfactory manner, all past due obi
cations, and provide means for meeting
such as are to come due. The details OF
the means by which these ends are to be
accomplished, must be considered and de-
termined by the Finance Committee as
their special province, but every member of
the City Council will feel 1t incumbent
upon him, to give to them all the aid of his
sympathy, advice and official action. As
to the general plan to be pursued to attain
these ends, there can be but one opinion.
We must conduct the affairs of the city as
prudent men would manage their private
business. The income of the city can be
aseertained with reasonable certainty. The
outstanding matured debts, and those which
will mature during the present year, such
as interest on bonds, and other obligations
are definitely known. Having provided for
these, it is plain that We have only the resi-
due Of the annual income of the city with
which tc pay current expenses. Whatever
course may be pursued in regard to the
particulars Of the public business, there is
no safety for us unless We follow the rule Of
living within our income.
But while | counsel economy in every
department, and the closest attention to
details, | do not wish to be understood as
being opposed to pushing forward the i'm
provement of the city. Every considera-
ton of love for our city, of desire for its
increase in population and for the health
and happiness for ourselves and those who
are TO come after us, Impels us to not only
make safe and pleasant every part Of it,
but to adOrn and beautify it by all means
within our power.
/ call your special attention to the disa-
greeable and dangerous condition of very
many of the public sidewalks, and their to-
tai absence on many streets. Within a few
years past the city has been compelled to pay
damages TO persons who have been injured
by reason of the failure to make proper
pavementS, 10 an amount that would have
built, at the usual prices, nearly five miles
of good brick sidewalks. The city is en-
powered by its charter tOprovide by law for
the construction and repair of sidewalks,
ard if there be any defect in the Act of the
General Assembly, whereby YOU are pre-
vented from exercising the authority in
tended t. be conferred, suggest that you
take steps to have the defect removed. The
made in regard TO sidewalks apply
with equal force to the bridges and cause
ways over the Wilson's Spring and Lick
Branch valleys. The bridges over Lick
Branch demand your immediate and active
care, and the plank sidewalks on Cherry
and College streets, in both valleys, which
were possibly very we'll when they were
new, are fast becoming dangerous to the
lives and limbs of the people and to the
treasury of the city. l specially ask that
you will give to this subject your most
careful considerations.
| hail, as good omen, the fact that the
City Council have directed committee to
inquire and report what offices shall exist
and what salaries shall be annexed thereto.
In reference to them, 1 find upon examina-
ton of the law, that there is but one sala-
ried office, to which the Mayor has the
power Of appointment, and that isthe Office
of Secretary.
find that the following positions have
been filled by the Mayors appointment,
with the salaries annexed, viz: