Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-04-18
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
The Old Board adIOurRs Sine Die-and
Lhe New Members are sworn In-The
Mayors AddreBs-COmmIIIee for
1879,

Ihe New Members arc Sworn In-Tk
Mayors AddreBs-COmmITIee fO
1879.
The Council met in regular session las
Wednesday evening; all members wer
present. Minutes of the previous meet
ing were read and approved.
An ordinance for the payment of claims
amounting to SI59.66 was read and adopt
ed. The committee on lighting streets wa.
granted further time on the bill of the
Ashtabula Gas Light Co. The Council
then adjourned.
The Councilmen elect, Messrs. VIM. Sey
mour, A. W. Call and VIM. C. Haskell
were then called forward bY the Mayor,
who administered the oath of office, and
the new Council was then organized. Mr..
T. L. HoYt, Solicitor elect was also called
and took the oath of Office.
Mayor Morrison then read the following
ANNUAL ADDRESS:
Gentlemen Of tie COunea:-The law
makes it the duty of the Mayor, annually,
70 report to you upon the general condition
and material interests of the Village, and
to call your attention to such matters of
general concern; and to make such sug-
gestlOns and recommendations as he NAV
deem important to the welfare and pros
perity of the whole. To you, as the i'm
mediate representatives of the people, by
them elected and charged with the duty
for ha rrar,o-.l rr,oI .
ted the responsibility of caring for and
projecting their material interests; the
preservation of good order; the enactment
Of wholesome rules and ordinances; and
the Inauguration and completion of such
Improvements as are demanded by the
growing Importance of Ashtabula. and
such Us will enhance lis prosperity and add
to its material growth.
Ia this light it is very important for
each member of the Council to bear in
mind that he is not only the agent and
representative of those who voted for him,
but to him is committed as well the inter
estS of those who opposed his election.
Considerations higher Than private or per-
sonal ends should govern his actions.
AS a whole the outlook for the future is
hapeful. The growing Importance of Ash
tabula, as one of the prominent ports on
the south shore Of the lake, and its rapidly
increasing commerce demand at the hands
Cf the council and its citizens wise and
liberal policy of improvement. While our
location and the facilities now afforded Of
fer many inducements for the establish
ment and prosecution of industrial enter
Prises, these alone are not sufficient. What
the public spirit and liberal aid of our
people hare already secured, should not be
suffered to lauguish for the want of fur
ther aid and encouragement. While we have
all the desires and ambitions of q city, we
haYe only the limited means and resources
of village.
Our most public spirited citizens have
met with severe reverses and in common
with, the whole country our industries have
Ian sished; employment has been uncer-
tain and business unremunerative. Yet
our growth has been unprecedented dur
ing all the years of depression. 1t is a
political axiom that the prosperity of any
people depends upon the productive power
of their industries, and the most hopeful
sign of returning prosperity is found in the
growing demand for labor. The men who
found empires and build cities belong to
what may be termed the ''Tin-pail Brig
ade." 1t is they who create the wealth Of
nations. It follows, therefore. that it is our
duty and the duty Of al! good citizens to
foster and encourage all industrial enter
prises and all public improvements. 1t
only remains for US then to consider, first,
the limits Of our ability; next, the extent
and nature Of our wants and, If we cannot
do all that we wish, then to so direct our
efforts as to accomplish first such needful
works as cannot be deferred, without seri-
Ous loss TO future time and which when
they are once done are permanent in their
nature and general in their benefits. To
do this wisely we need to look carefully
1ver the whole ground. Men are apt to be
tenacious of local prejudices and selfish
nteref }. They see only that which affects
their immediate neighborhood and their
OWN or their friends interests. The legis-
atOr or other public officer who cannot, or
will not, lift himself out of this narrow
vale of selishness to higher, broader
ground, fails of his duty and is unfit for
lis place. No public improvement, how
.Yer trivial or important, but that some
will be more benefited by it than others,
md if we are to wait until all shall share
like IN burdens and benefits weshall never |
move at all.
The general condition of the finances of |
he Village may be considered as healthy.TI
The following compilation from the books |
# the Clerk and Treasurer will show the |
Of each fund and of the amount |
md time of maturity of the bonded debt: |
There has been paid out during the pres
mt year,
IN acct. of General Fund ------S 527 "a |
O4ANO ------------ Ny-s1o ~ |