Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-05-20

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS
Gil met in adjourned session Monday
night, to receive reports of officers.
Present, the Mayor, and Council
men McSherry, Showers, Hill, Parks,
Cushwa, DeGrange, GroZinger, Far
rim, Lambert and Linthicum.
Order passed for rebate of 81 so on
Mr.. Thomas O'Brien's taxes of 1880
and 81; also to refund S. to John
Cav. erroneous head tax paid; also
to refund 81 erroneous head tax paid
by George Buxton; also order to re-
lieve Michael Mcnamara of errone-
Gus dog tax.
A reduction of 25 per cent. of the
taxes paid by Mr.. Thomas O'Brien,
John O'Brien, Michael Grady, John
Carney, Thomas Sullivan and John
Shea, for the years during which
they had no outlet to their premises,
was ordered.
Mr.. Hill, of the Finance Commit
tee, submitted report of final settle
ment with ex-Sergeant PtZer,
showing balance of $238.61 due cor
poration, which was received and
adopted.
Sergeant Wilen submitted his re-
port which was received and referred
to Finance Committee.
The Mayor submitted the follow
ing report, which was received and
adopted:
MAYORS REPORT.
To the Honorable the Members of the
City Council:
GENTLEMEN accordance with the
provisions of an ordinance requiring the
Mayor to make out an annual report, |
have tie honor to herewith submit the
following:
THE FINANCES.
By reference to the Treasurer report
it will be seen that the city finances are
being brought up to sound and healthy
condition The large floating debt which
four years ago amounted to over $27, 900
has been gradually reduced until it is
now less than $4,000. During this period
the interest on the bonded debt of $780,
600. together with all the current ex-
penses of the Corporation, has been
promptly met. Corporation bonds at one
time down to fifty cents, have been
brought up to par, and are now reckoned
among the best securities on the market,
and the city's credit is first-class. This
is certainly gratifying exhibit, and
could only have been attained by the most
careful management and closest economy,
in the exercise of which you have been
compelled to withhold many conven-
iencies. such as lighted streets, etc, just
as a prudent man will deny his family
81 MI 1f.h
he would like to furnish them, but could
not do without running into debt In
making an examination of the improved
condition of the credit and finances OF the
Corporation, as compared with four years
ago, certainly no man of good business
Judgment will censure you for the strict
economy you have exercised in the ex-
penditule of the peoples money, even
though it may have, for the time, deprlv-
ed them of many conveniencies. The ex
ercise of that economy has enabled you to
pay off and stop the interest on the large
debt which came to you as legacy OF
former Council, and at the same time
made it possible for the next Council Il
supply those needed wants, which, fol-
lack of means you could ao1 supply.
THE MAYORS DOCKET.
During the past year, from June LIST,
1881 to this date he amount OF tines as
sessed was S3l2 80 amount of Jail fees
paid S55 The entire number OF arrests
for that period was go, classified as fol-
lows:
Drunk and disorderly .......,....-...."...2s
Fighting l4
Profane and obscene language....".....
Nagrancy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Disorderly and resisting offiCer.......... 4
Playing cards on Sunday. ...............
The average of arrests was over one q
week, which is considerably less than
former years.
WATER DEPARTMENT..
The reports of the Chairman of the
Water Board and the Engineer OF the
Water Works submitted at former
meeting of the Council, shows this De.
partment to be in excellent condition in
every respect The expenditures in this
Department were somewhat increased du-
ring the year, by necessary repairs on the
dam and big spring reservoir, part Of
which however, may be classed as per-
mapent Improvement, and added to the
valuation of the Works. The receipts
from water rents amounted to So, 400, an
increase of 20 per cent. over the previous
year.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
In making up the estimate OF expendi~
lures at the beginning of the fiscal year,
a comparatively small appropriation was
made for the Department Of Streets. The
amount appropriated has been expended
on repairs at the most needed points, in
the jud ment of the Committee. But
while the Committee has been able to keep
most of the streets in fair condition with
the means at their command, the system
of simply repairing" will not suffice, on
some OF the most used thoroughfares al
least, much longer They will soon need
to be almost absolutely re-Macadamized,