Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-12
MAYOR BROOKS.

His Message 60 the EdgeheId Board Of
AIdermen-The New Standing Com.
mIttees.
MAXOR's OFFICE, EDGEFIELD, Tenn,
| Jan. IL, 1S7j.-TO the Honorable Board of
Aldermen. Gentlemen: II has been an
established rule since our city was incOr-
porated for the Mayor elect to submit his
views in detail, which I take pleasure in
doing. Before entering into details, per-
init me 70 express myself as truly grateful
to my constituents for the honorable posi-
/ ton 10 which they have re- elected me.
The past year has not been a prosperous
/ year. The corporation hes had a large
number of debts due and falling due con-
| tracted by previous boards. NOtwithstand-
ing a ] this, we have endeavored to live
within our income, as the following will
show:
The entire debt Of the corpora
ton, Jan. /, 1874, was. ...... SS4,01S 81
| The entire debt Of the corpora
ton, Jan. l, 1915, is......... 26,Sj9 %
Showing a decrease Of'the pub
| TIC DEBT OF. ....s....s....... S1,lJ9 81
which speaks well for the old board. We
| also have due the corporation in uncOllect-
| ed taxes $4,000.
The check system has been in vogue since
/ the city was incorporated, and the conse-
| quence is, that ninety-nine dollars out Of
every one hundred collected. at the present
day, is in checks. The street force. CITY
marshals, etc, etc, are paid of from time
10 time in checks, and these parties are
compelled to have money to subsist upon.
The consequence is, they are forced TO sell
these checks at from eighty to ninety cents
Oh the dollar, (fOr the reason that there are
no funds in the treasury-nOthing but
checks,) and they are either purchased by
Spectators or taxpayers, and the labOring
mau loses from ten to twenty cents on the
dollar for his services.
l would recommend YOU to stop the is
suing Of checks, and set aside certain DOR
ton Of collected taxes as a sinking fund, to
redeem all outstanding checks, bills pava-
bic and interest on school bOnds-this
money to be used for no other purpose;
and, if necessary, hold the Revenue Col
lector and Treasurer responsible. This,
believe, Is necessary TO preserve the credit
Otthe city. You can easily ascertain your
income, and, after dedUCting the debts now
due, and falling due during the present
year, you will readily see the amount YOU
will have for schools and ordinary pur-
poses, or, in other words, cut your garment
according to your cloth.
As regards street improvements 1 would |
say, as / have said before, build no new
streets until your main thrOughfares have /
been put in first class condition, and never
commence a new street until you can com. /
plete it. Our sidewalks are sadly out Of |
repair, and the question is often asked by |
our citizens, why il is that we do not en- /
force the sidewalk law. Il is easily an
swered: We haze none. But we hope soon |
10 be able 10 do so. The city is willing 4
now, as heretofore, to grade all sidewalks
on graded streets, if the property-holders |
will put down good substantial curbing
and payemenis, and few enterprising citi-
zens have ayaled themselves Of this CD
pOrtunity. We hope at an early day to
have our charter amended, so as to have
good substantial sidewalks on all graded
streets.
During the past year we have succeeded
in establishing gas in our city. The Gas
Company have laid two and a half miles
OF main pipe, and forty public lamp posts
have been erected at a cost Of only 81, OBS, Sc
curing to our citizens gas at a less cost than
any city in the State Of double our pOpula-
I
sister city-Nashville.
In August last a committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the various systems
of waterWOrSs. This committee reported
the cost Of the "HOlly System" if estab-
lished in our city, to be about 5000. But |
the finances of the corporation are not in
such a condition as to admit the establish !
ment of any waterwOrks at present. There |
are large number Of taxpayers, however,
who have expressed a desire, and are even
anxious to have the city furnished with wa
ter, not only for family use, but as a nee
esSary precautiOn against fires. Though |
few citizens, if any, can boast of better 1
drinking water, caught in cisterns than
Edgeheld, a single fire would, however,
have the effect to empty every cisten in |
the neighbOrhOOd. l am induced to be-
lieye that it would not be impossible for
our sister city, Nashville, to extend her
water pipes across the Cumberland, and
furnish us with water at the same rates as
10 citizens of Nashville. II this could be
accomplished, it would be beneficial to
Nashville as well as Edgefeld. For the
reason that Nashville derives a net income
Of about $1,000 yearly from her water
works, and with an increase Of consumers
hey would have an increased profit which |
would fully compensate for the outlay.
Our public schools are in a fOurishing
Main street school building
vas completed about the middle of April
asst at a cost of SIS, 1000, and was occupied
bout the first Of May, with Prof.
". p. Mares as principal. The building
S three stories high, with all the modern
and will accommodate 700
cholars. Early last spring a meeting of
itiZens was called TO devise means to pur- Z
base a town clock and bell for the new
chOOl building, and by giving several am
teur entertainments we realized $50. !
Nth which we purchased one of Z How
I'd & Co.'S tower clocks at a cost of 500. /
eaYing us a balance Of $50 towards the
urchase Of a bell. We hope at no distant
az to be able to place the bell in the tower
{ the building, and when completed, We
an safely say that we have as fine a schOO n
nd building as any in the State, and one d
bat our citizens can justly feel proud Of
As some Of the members Of the Board
re inexperienced in municipal affairs, | | B
-Ould suggest that they make themselves
lmiiiar with the condition Of the corpora
on, and avoid as much as possible hdsty
sgiSlItiOn. Coz duct the affairs Of the city d;
) you would your own private business,
eeping in view she success and prosperity
f our growing city. Ny duty as execu- &
We officer is to see that the laws are faith
lily executed and carried ont, with power
} veto such measures As in my opinion are | K
OF calculated to promote the best interests Z,
the city.
l herewith transmit list of the standing q