Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-17

walks and to supply needed trees
and shrubs be appropriated.
WOODEN AWNINGS.
Section 8 of Article 6 of the City
Charter invests the Council with
power to prohibit the erection of
certain wooden structures within
the fire limits. recommend that
an ordinance be passed prohibiting
the future erection of wooden avn
ings and cross signs. The necess1-
ty for this is not only a regard for
the architectural appearance for
the city, but is a safeguard against
the spread of fire.
REVISION OF THE ORDINANCES.
Another question that will de-
mand your attention is, the pres
ent unsatisfactory condition of the
city's ordinances. Many of our
ordinances are conflicting with the
general laws of the State, while a
great number of others have never
been printed in book form. 1t is a
difficult matter to ascertain what
ordinances are actually in force.
We have nothing to show for the
passage or repeal but the Clerks re-
ports, and should this be destroyed
in any way there would not be a
single copy of the others to be had.
They should be completely revised,
and printed in book form to the
end that they may be preserved.
CITY SCALES.
The ordinances provide that all
persons selling hay, grain or coal
and delivering same in the city ARE
required to weigh on the city
scales, and pay twenty cents for
each draft. This, by common con-
sent, is daily violated. The ordi-
nance should be so amended as to
place the weighing fee in keeping
with the reduced price of these
commodities, and then strictly en-
forced. Since the adoption of this
article, in 1888. there has been a
heavy reduction in the value of all
farm products, as well as in the
profits of handling coal, and the
fee of twenty cents is excessive.
THE AUDRAIN FAIR ASSOCIATION.
The stockholders and friends OF
the Audrain Fair Association feel
that the city, which is so largely
benefited by reason OF the annual
meeting of the fair. should ,'rotect
them from the possible exhibition
of circuses and other canvass show.
which make it a point to exhibits
here during fair week. This Can
be done by putting the license ST
high that circus people cannot az
ford to pay it. l regard the lie
quest for protection as reasonable
and an ordinance covering the cast
should be passed.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
Mexico has been very fortunate
in the way of electric lights. Th,
city is to-day one of the best light
ed IN the State. furnished by hom,
enterprise and capital, at a cos
materially less than is being palt
by other cities of similar size t,
Mexico. We are paying abou
81 900 per annum for eight larg,
electric arc lights of 1000 candl
power each; these lights are almos
within a steneis throw ofeach othe
!, and IN close proximity to the Pub
/, lie Square. 1t occurs to me tina
the advantages which we deriv
! from the expenditure of this sun
should be more general; iii smalle
lamp could be substltuted-say u
!, % candle power, incandescent-
and distribute them over the cit
| the people would derive a create
benefit from them. The Publ
Square is lighted by the bushes
r houses until a late hour while tn
streets leading to the homes of on
: citizens are in Egyptian darkness
save when the moon comes to OF
D rescue. / AN not in favor of il
e creasing the appropriation fc
r light, but / do favor a more geners
e distribution of the benefits and cor
veniences which the money thu
8 expended should afford.
9 SEWERAGE.
o. The time is not far distant whe
s the question of sewerage will fort
itself upon us. 1t is a questio
that involves the health, as well {
the business welfare of cur city.
J. Is one, also, that cannot be toucl
ed without provision being mad
for the expenditure of a niue
d larger sum of money than Mexis
= has ever put into a public worl
II There yet remains a small bpnde
e Indebtedness on the city, of lof
standing, and until that is cancele
I do not deem it prudent To inc,
: other obligations. A soon IS 81
: finances will admit, the question
sewerage should have the earne
consideration Of the city,
. We will enter upon the presei
: year with a balance of S1,3l4.,
. to the city's credit; the receipts f
the coming year may be estimatt
!, at SIG, 500 In round numbers, ma
Il ing a total of ST ,S14.52. This u
should be expended with the gres
,s est possible care and with q vie
) solely to the general good.
The bonded Indebtedness of 4
# city is 5000. They are 10,
"a bonds, payable at our option at i
expiration of ten years, which W
be August 20, 1891. We now ha
s763 cash and s4,497. in notes, t
latter bearing per cent. interes
1.-THE sinking fund levy car be
duced from 10 cents to 5 cents
y the 500, and I hope, with t
close of the present administl
ton, to Q this debt fully paid Q
n The Mayor then appointed t
r. following committees;
he On streets and alleys, Ness