The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-06-21
MAYOR RUssELL's MESSAGE.

GENTLEMEN:-By the suffrage of my
fellow citizens, it falls to my lot to pre-
side over your deliberations; In doing
SO | shall expect your cooperation,
assuring you of mine, and would assure
you in advance, that i shall do 80 i'm
partially, and with but one aim, one
desire, the good government of LexiDg-
ton, and for the welfare of our fellow
citizens.
As the executive officer of this city, |
am called on TO see that the laws of the
state and ordinances now in force, or
those that you may pass, are enforced,
that all contracts made by you, or that
you may make, are strictly complied
with, aud from time to time, make such
recommendations for your considera-
ton as | deem best for the general
good of our city and citizens; that all
officers elected or appointed do their
whole duty, thereby keeI ing your
honorable body and myself Informed,
and that the rights OF all are respected,
protected and good order maintained
| find your income for the current
year will be, (approximating it with
last year, $l6,4l6 90, less your current
expenses, registered and contracted
debt, will leave you only about "a, 200 TO
expend in making general improve
ments. In my opinion you will receive
considerably less the coming year from
the county collector on lakes ron real
estate than was paid the city the
past year: Again, registered and con-
iracted debt will about use mp all
the city's income, other than that aris-
ing from fines and scales, and yon will be
forced TO 90 ahead without money until
January.
Your own and the attention of the
citizens is called TO these facts, that the
citizens may expect but little of you in
the way of improvements until next
spring, and 1 request that the finance
committee keep both vour honorable
body and myself well informed, month
ly, thereby preventing your expanding
more than the current income for the
year, as the law provides, and l would
urge upon you, as we are now tinan-
cially situated. 10 do just as little loose
or useless work as possible. A great
deal can be thrown away upon our
streets with needless blowing, scraping
apd shauling that . under the present
circumstances be- auusi sway with. Do
that only as is absolutely needed.
Permit me to recommend that you
select one Or more blocks, and have city
rock contractor hanl rock thereon and
let all who are ont of work, old or
young, white or black, break them into
macadam, with which to mscsdamiZe
the block or blocks selected, thus re-
lieving many who would not beg or
borrow. be dependent or go TO the poor
house, aud saving considerable TO the
city in this way over contract work.
Your especial attention is called to
The ridiculous and shameful condition
OF Our side walks all over the city. !
would urge that you insis; and order all
that need repairs, ~ whore CURLING Ii
do wn, that you have the one repaired,
and the other put down, even though
you are forced to have the one and the
other done, going to law to recover
amount expended in doing so, if need
be.
Yon will agree with me- inat this ball
is in no condition, such as our citizens
would like to see it. and | request that
you ct opce order it papered painted
aud plastered where needed at once.
You and those VINO will take your
places will not have performed y0ur
and their whole dnties until there are
gas, sidewalks and macadam from the
ponto0n bridge, foot of irish town hill.
Third street, and from Third street,
Main and Franklin and South, from
Ninth are extended and completed TO
Twenty fourth street and blocks be-
tween Main and Franklin on Eleventh,
Twelfth and S~cventeeth, from u to
Central College are In~acadamized, and
Nineteenth from South 10 city limits in
POIheroy's addition.
Also, would cali your attention 10 lie
fact that a vast amount OF water ID
draiued from Eleventh to Thirteenth,
onto Twelfth and carried off through
the alley OF block %, fret addition,
passing through private property 'do;ng
damage and greatly inconyeniepcing
tbs owners | trust you will examine as
to these facts aud cOnsiIer the proprieiy
of extending brick Cnlvert from SoR,h
street to alley named and thereby Apply
the remedy and relief asked Tor. All
this you can do within the next three
years. When completed you can look
back upo., your work with pride ana
have pleased yonT fellow citizens. But
few will then walk in darKissa AoE
wade in mud going tome.
l would urge upon the city msrshaii