The Tombstone epitaph., 1882-01-23
Proceedings of the Common Council.

Mayor Pridham in the chair, Present, Councilmen Harwood and Pridham; Cha. pin clerk.
 Minutes of Last meeting read and ap. proved.
 The committee on finance reported back the bill of Marshall Williams, which was referred to the next council.
 Bill of J. V. Vickers for $4750, amount due on insurance policy, was ordered pald.
 The bill of Mir. Slater for $SN, tor hang ing and covering the fire bell, was ordered paid.
 The annual report of city officers for the year 1881 being then in order, MT Prid- ham as mayor pro tenn, submitted the fol. lowing report
 MAYORS REPORT.
 To the Honorable City Council ot the City of Tombstone: Gentlemen-By ar licle 10, section 23, of the city charter of the city of Tombstone, it is made the duty of the mayor and other city officers to pre- sent to you at your second meeting in January of each year, an annual report. In the absence of the mayor, l, as mayor pro tenn, submit to you the following brief report in compliance with said pro. visions of the charter.
 The city gov, rnment came into eXis tence under the charter about the middle of March, 1881. The present city govern ment took from the village of Tombstone an indebtedness of about $660, which has since been pald.
 The Inauguration Of the government of the city under the charter presented many difficulties. The charter being lCrg. plo- lix and confused, It's interpretation was difficult. Every branch of the city gov. ernment had to be provided for, provisions by ordinance fixing license tax and for the collection of the same had to be made. Ordinances defining offer ces and fixing punishments were to be considered and passed. Provision for the custody and care of prisoners was necessary and was provided for.
 The fire department of the city had to be organized and fire appliances provided. All this demanded organization and legis lati0n, which was met by organization of an engine and hook and ladder company, and ordinances were passed providing for their government.
 Engine, hOse-carts and hose, truck, hooks and ladders, watermains and hy. drants were necessary, and these have been provided, and that too from an empty treasury inherited from the village of Tombstone The debts that have been contracted, now amounting, as per report of the city treasurer, tc $12 2400 and in- terest, have been contracted in providing for the fire department, in purchasing en- zine, hosecarts, and equlpping the Hook & Ladder company and providing building for the same; also in the purchase of ne- cessary real estate for city purposes
 The expense of the ordinary city govern. ment have been paid by about half the re- ceipis from license tax and 1 can safely say that If the future administration of the government is conducted with like econ. omy that it will scarcely be necessary to levy other than the ordinary license tax now provided for by ordinance for the carrying on of the city government,
 The peace of the city for nine months of the year just past has been remarkable, in that no grave crimes of any kind have been committed within it's borders Life 1 and property of all law.abiding persons have been as safe as in cities in older com.
  munities.
 Tue duties of all officers have been faith fully attended to, and yeu caa surrender Ile city government to your successors with clean record in every branch of | he city government.
 For the condition of the city finances | respectfully refer to the several monthly | md the present annual report of the city treasurer, and will only add that i; ap. pears from this report that the city debt s $00.s0, with funds in hand to meet the 'ame to the amount of $9S3.47.
 For the expenses of the city during the past year and the items thereof 1 make eIerence to the report of the auditor.
 For the condition of the recorders ,ourt, the number of arrests made the offences charged and how disposed of, the ,enallIes inflicted and amount of fines and rom whom collected, 1 make reference o the monthly and annual report of the Ity recorder
 l would respectfully call attention of he incoming city administration 10 the city warrant issued in pay nent of fire appliances, to wit, warrant No. 205, payable in twelve months from late of being issued and would recon. | side funds to pay for the same in a eparate fund to be known as the fire de. artment fund.
 l would also recommend to them that hey make provisions for the collection of ersonal property tax by the assessor at he time such property is assessed. This ould not be done in the past year, for the rasOn that there had been no precedent K year or levy upon which personal roperty tax could be collected at the time f the assessment. You have served the city without pay in le burdensome duty of organizing its , overnment. You have had a great mount of work t. do of which your sue. essors will be freed, and, considering the lf1iculties under which you have had to ork, you have done your duty, as con- give, well. Below give d list of city property, all , which has been purchased during the ast year. ( Not expecting that Mayor.elect Cum S ould be absent from the city at this time, I nd having no thought that 1 should be illed upon to make up this report, have Jt been able to give it the time and at. ntion that il ought to have 1 am, very ,specttully, ....
 GEORGE PRIDHAM, Acting Mayor.
 CITY PROPERTY. Office furniture and records for use of | ty officers. House end lot on Fourth l rect for use of Hook & Ltdder company. q ook < Ladder truck and apparatus. One V C engine, Two hose carIS One thou l '.