The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1890-01-10
MAYOR cowANs ADDRESS.

duty, OF your presidine othccr To- nom time 70
Time, communicate with your honorable body,
reviewing the public works and enactments
accomplished, and also submitting such sug
ecslions as TO future Improvements as would
seem most to conduce to the general welfare
and prosperity el our citizens; and L Is in the
lal6llment Of this duty that shall claim your
attention this evening to briefly offer such
thoughts. touching the general advancement
Of our fair city, as appears to me TO be just,
wise and prudent.
To you, gentlemen ofthe retiring council, I
feel that am iully warranted in congratusa.
ting you upon the work accomplished. during
the twelve and eighteen months last past. The
e.ntras, in he appearance Of your city OF to.
day and the date atwhich you took Office is
most marked, and iavorably so, 10 the present
condition Of city affairs. During your incum-
bcncy we have Witnessed the retirement Of the
old coal oil street lamps. which had to give
way TO make place for the more progressive
electric light system, which now adoTns the
city aud illumines our streets at night, as Il by
the blazing noon day sun; and as the demand
may require, We earnestly expect in the very
near future, 10 sec gas Jets bTistling from every
street corner and business house in Albany.
Il Is now no longer necessary for our citizens
to trudge their way through wind and storm, OF
midday heat, TO reach their passenger trains.
forunder your wise encouragement the Albany
Steet Railway, that great engine for the de-
velopment Of realty and general business is an
active and established TACT in our midst, and
while being in operation only few month";
and It's lines al present only covering two i'm.
portant streets, VIC may confidently expect
within the next two years 10 see the western,
southern, eastern and northern limits OF the
city covered by the line ofthis important enter
prise, when the suburban property Of our com
muniiy will be made ht and convenient homes
for our business men, who now occupy First
and Seconds streets.
You have done wisely and well IN extending
financial aid and assistance toward the peFtec.
ton Of your fire department. There Is no city
to-day Of any magnitude that is devoid Of .
good fire service which IS not in rust, ruin and
decline. There is no merchant that would
carry an important business who would seek a
city without al trss enquiring TO the efficien'
cy OF the fire department. No man Of means
would rear beautiful and costly residence,
the home Of his wife and children, unless there
was evidence Of the means Of protection Of
their lives and It's beauty and value. II was
an act Of prudence, and you did nobly, in pro-
viding No Ones with their beautiful and Teh-
able steam FIRE engine, and while the cost Of
the same may have been deemed Considerable
at the time, you have the sanction OF your
constituents, who are resting under the secnr-
ity, and who feel that with the present efii-
cient appliances Of our fire department, CON-
bined with the known zeal and the heToism ol
our firemen, no such calamity can beGali Al
~
Seattle, Ellensburg and Spokane, during the
past year.
You are also to be commended upon the
wisdom you have shown In the appoint
meat and selection of your executives.
There has been no one named for duy on
the police force who has not proven him
self a sober, active, and faithful officer.
The demands made upon you for abSo-
iutely necessary public improvements
have been far in excess Of revenues al your
disposal. You can point 10 the appear
Snce and condition Of your streets, side
walks and bridges, which Is evidence piai.i
that the peoples money has not been mis-
applied, and am happy to iiform you
that notwithstanding the usual amount of
work done, We are yet within our consti-
tulional limits for public expenditures.
And now, members OF the old council,
let me thank you for the uniform courte-
sies extended me during the time that
shall have been called upon 70 preside over
your deliberations, and assure you that
my best wishes shall 90 with each and
every one of YOU. And while much has
been done the past year 10 advance the In
terest Of our city, Albany Is just now on
the threshold of her great activity, and her
permanent prosperity. And allow me to
suggest to you, gentlemen of the incoming
council, that her growth and importance
largely depend upon the wisdom, pru-
dence and foresight OF your deliberations.
Albany to-day holds the natural position
for the railroad and commercial center of
the wonderful willamette Valley. But
even these great natural advantages be-
come slumbering and valeless, unless the
opportunities they offer are seized and
tiiized By t,ie energies of her own people
There appears To me many matters OF
pressing importance that demand your
attention, some of which may
be mentioned as follows; The paving or
improvement of First street I;
the early purchase Of grounds for park
purposes; and the completion OF good
sewerage system, covering the entire city
The early extension and completion Of
Baker and Railroad street sew
srs seem to ine to be especially urgent.
Your constituents are unanimously de.
that something be done IN this
direction. Every block of sewerage pc.
fected adds immeasurabIy to the value OF
real estate. Every rod of sewer pipe laid
lessons the griefs and desolatiors of our
no .fxIr l. =.
magnitude of our doctor bills: A city
without good sanitary provisions Is
summed alike by capital and intelligence.
Without further argument take 1t .or
granted that you Tealizc the great need
Tor the completion OF tliis important work.
How is It to be accomplished, Is the only
and vigorous attention of your finance
committee TO provide tome legitimate
means whereby the necessary revenue
could be secured to defray the expense in.
Cured in the building of these sewers, and
i sufficient amount could not be realizdd
from taxation or other legal sonrces, am
Tree to say to you, gentlemen of the coui-
ell, that | would recommend that our
charter be SO amended as to allow bond.
ed debt, ample to carry this work to com
pletion. Instead of this being an extraya-
CANT idea, It would eventuate in wise and
an economical expenditure. The peo-
pie are not caplious aboat III. appropria
ions of needed money. but are exceeding
y jealous as to the manner in which the
'ame is applied.
There Is an urgent need for the imprsve-
nent Of First street and the property
holders thereon are ready with the means
D ocompIete the same, when the best, msst
economical aud permanent system of i'm
discovered or established. Your
on streets andpublic property
would serve the city well BY making care
Iul examination and inquiry in regard to
his matter.
Should the purchase Of suitable grounds
Tor public park purposes be long delayed
fear that the rapidly advancing values OF
-eality In our midst would in few years
place the value OF such site beyond our
reach. This matter should not be over
ooked.
deem It your duty to exercise inst
ind liberal policy as to the granting Of