The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-04-03

Clearance Howard, hauling --.....--.--- 62
The ma ter Of the grade on Union
street, bet weea Fifth and Sixth avenues,
on the east side was referred to the com
Mite on streets and alleys, with power
to act.
TIE following communication was
read aud ordered published:
GENTLEMEN: I told you one year ago
that I'could tell you in q year what we
had done, a great deal better than
could then tell you what we would do.
This meeting closes the year of this
council, and Twill very briefly say to you
that l am more than pleased with the
manner in which you haYe conducted
the affairs of this city. No man has got
a nickle out OF the city that he did not
earn, and no man has earned a nickle
that he did not get. Our treasury has
been at all times guarded and the spirit
of economy has always prevailed at our
meetings. So that we have been able to
live within our means and TO pay from
time TO time some of the float
ing debt that was burden to the city
d year ago.
Our scrip is worth 100 cents on the
dollar and you have paid three-quarters
of the old debt already. The balance
can be easily paid the coming year.
Tho road tax has been closely collected
and judIclously expended. The cost of
making the grade and crossings for all
the stone sidewalks put in last year was
very great and the streets had to be neg
lected to a certain extent. So much old
wooden walk had rotted out at one time
that it seemed a necessity that the whole
of it should come up and be replaced
with stone. You accomplished half of
il last year and another year hope you
will see 1t all done. You expended
nesrly thousand dollars on the fire de-
partment to good advantage, and the
city can say to-day that the fire boys Will
get thele as quick as in any city in the
state.
Our water tax has been already COL
lected and the water department has
been making great improvements gen
orally. 1t is making saving at this
time IN the use of fuel alone of over one
hundred dollars per month from what it
used 10 cost by simply using: slack coal
for ordinary pressure and lump coal in
case of fire. With the increase of con-
sumers another year and strict economy,
l see no reason why the water works
should not begin to pay. The city taxes
were neither raised or lowered, but
except for school purposes (they were
raised two mills) and over which fund
you nor have control. Next year the
taxes should be lowered.
The whisky trade in the city has had
its ups and downs like all other places
in the state and we have enforced the
law as well as well as it is possible to do
with so large public sentiment against
it. Our police have made many arrests,
and we have had many convictions.
They have generally paid their fines into
the city treasury, until it is said that
cit don't pay TO sell in Emporia-" The
city has been the gamer in these suits.
There is of course some
whisky sold in Emporia
at this time, but l think not more than
| last year, and is only sold on the sly
where ordinary men can't find it and
where it is hard for the police to detect
| il. The time will come when the law
can be literally enforced, tor l can see
that temperance and prohibition are
slowly but surely gaming ground. The
city has had little litigation. One suit
for damage from fall on the sidewalk,
in which the party got judgment for
| 81 ,000-mOre through sympathy than
! justice-and which will be tried again
or taken to the highercourt, and where
do not anticipate any such result.
Such, in brief, is a review of some of
the affairs belongipgto the city that you
have been called upon to act for, and l
| congratulate you upon your last years
work. think no council that has ever
preceded you have been more in harmo-
ny with each other or accomplished
more good work for the city, and if the
people send any or all ofyou back to this
chamber another term, am satisfied
you will continue the good work. If
M uUT will rnfirn EnnurTnoy N
own conscience that you have been true
TO your trust. Respectfully,
S. d. WARREN, Mayor.
Bills on clerks desk referred.
Adjourned.