Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-28

| Inc SurY6ylhB uOPoi ohShs' 10 iuisS S>
pensivt Iranging from S25, 900 to $50,
900 year.
The fire department. say $4,000.
Lighting the city, say $4,000
Sprinkling streets Sl3,0 per annum.
A new department was instituted dur
ing the year by "Board of Fruit Pest
Inspectors, and is now maintained at a
cost of about $4,000 yearly. This was
partly experimental and is believed to
be useful.
The interest upon our city debt Will
average over $50, 900 year.
| | mention these prominent items to
give the taxpayers an outline of what
constitutes some of the expenses OF
city. 1t will be noticed that salaries OF
officers, police expenses and very
large outlay for the support of the pub
| lie schools are not estimated.
L hope you will pardon me for men,
tioning that the salary of the Mayor and
his clerk is $2400 per year, and l am
happy to say that during the two year .
term Just ended there has been paid
into the city treasury the sum OF SSooO
from the Mayors court.
As my successor doubtless has an ex-
haustive communication to make to you
upon assuming the Mayors chair, l
might be touching upon his ground were
to make many special recommends
tions, consequently l will refrain from
doing so, except in the following ih-
stances, and 1 trust their force will be
understood without special explanation.
| will recommend low rate of taxa
tion by an honest assessment (as an ex-
periment.) Our city is assessed at nine
teen millions when any sensible person
knows that four times nineteen millions
would be nearer the figure; a low assess
ment makes high rate OF taxation; a
fair assessment of values makes a low
rate of taxation.
would recommend that a street grade
be established, irrevocable and unchanga.
able.
Iwould recommend that all contracts,
plans and specifications for city work,
when adopted by the Council, be placed
on file in the office of the City Clerk.
l would recommend that a solid wall
of granite be placed in the upper or in
ner side of the embankment of Reservoir
No 4.
And lastly would recommend as soon
as practicable, of the main sewer system
to the Pacific ocean. This may seem
somewhat visionary, but let me ask the
simple question, can we hope for con-
tinued prosperity without perfect sani-
tary arrangements!
feel like congratulating your honor
able body, and through you eongratu-
lating the city, upon the favorable au-
spices under which you enter upon your
official duties. During theyear just closed
many important transactions in the in
terest of the city have been done well.
I wish to allude only to one, that is the
purchase of the property on First street
for the uses Of the city, and sale of a
portion of the corner lot on Second and
Spring streets, facetiously named the
mud hole. This transaction
was managed as cautiously, as shire wdly
and rs honestly as any careful business
man would manage his own property. l
hope that the same care will be exercised
by our successors.
And now, gentlemen, in retiring from
an office which the people of the city
gave me willingly two years ago, l do so
with consciousness of having done my
duty. My intercourse with the mem.
bers of the Council and the officers and
of the various departments has
been pleasant. have found fault with
some; some doubtless have found fault
with me; but my impression is that each
accorded to the other an honesty of pur-
pose while differing in opinion.
T bo oL op1 : re, Jtr
ties with pride that do not desire to
express.
To my successor l will give cordial
and as | return to the ranks OF
the private citizens, l know l will as a
taxpayer and one interested in the well
fare OF our city, feel assured that the
men whom the people have chosen IN
their electicism to guard the interests of
all, high and low, rich and poor, will do
SO faithfully and well.
Upon motion of Mr.. Frankenfield the
was referred to a special COM
mittee. The President named Msssrs.
Frank enfield, Teed and Lowell.
THE NEW MAYOR TALKS.
Mayor.elect Workman then addressed
the Council in the following words: .
Gentlemen In assuming the office of
Chief Executive of this progressive and
city, | am deeply sensitive
of the magnitude of the trust repossd in
me, not only by those who have acted
and voted with the party to which l be-
long, but also to those numerous elec.
tors who, holding political sentiments
diverse from mine, have expressed their
preference for me. My sense of respon-
sibility is increased when l reflect that
the gentleman whose successor in office
| am has so well and ably discharged his
duties, that it will be difficult to insti-
tute comparison which will not be to
his credit. | do not think that any off
GER of this city has sought position or
place for mere personal purposes, and l
ana certain that the public will require
of us all intelligent and faithful dis
charge of the obligations which we have
incurred. There are no ofti'
ces within the limit of this corporation
which can be said to lie purely honor
ary. There is sufficient hard work in
each place to keep its occupants busy.
As do not believe that those who are
interested in the government of tho city
require or wish for any display, but pre-
Ter the application of practical business
rules to municipal requirements, l will
proceed to make such recommendations
10 you as seem appropriate under the
present circumstances.
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
The condition of the streets of Los
Angeles city and of the highways in the
suburbs is anything but creditable. In
Iced, it is almost impossible to drive in
my direction without encountering some
obstacle, or finding that the
,oad is so rough as to render it imprac..
;icabls to drive with any degree of speed
Or in such manner as to feel that the
vehicle or its occupants are perfectly
,afe. OF course it is not easy to deter
nine exactly what ought to be done to
improve this condition of affairs. Some
,f our more progressive property owners
nave been lately making important ex-
nd mr.