Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-04-20
Mayor Harshaw's Remarks to the
Council.

OVuhClis
We were unable to publish Mayor
Harshaw's remarks last week, owing to
not having the copy, and we print them
this week.
Gentlemen Of the Common Council:
In assuming the responsible duties OF
this Office, it may not be out of place for
me to follow the precedent, set by my
honored predecessors, and say a few
words to you on this occasion. Our
young and thriving city is now passing
through very critical period OF It's exis-
tence. 1t is evident that the next few
years will witness many changes, and
there Is nothing to be gained by taking a
rose colored view OF our future. We
might as we'll take the Indications as
they appear to exist, and govern our acs
lions accordingly.
LAUNDERING has been, and Is to-day, the
great industry that our citizens OF all
classes are depending upon. This indus
try has built up our city to its present
proportions. Our forests of native wealth
are fast disappearing, and those of our
citizens engaged in this great industry
are beginning Ia turn their attention to
other fields. AS they disappear 1t will
be necessary and important that other
industries should take their place, In Or
der to maintain our present healthy and
prosperous condition, and thus maintain
our present population Of $4,000. Our
streets, lanes, alleys and sewers, are,
with few exceptions, IN good condition.
We now have about seven miles Of pave
ment, all In good repair. / would there
fore recommend that whatever appropri-
atoms are made, aside from paying the
Indebtedness, and the actual necessary
expenses OF the city, be made for the
purpose of encouraging manufacturing
enterprises to locate here, that will give
employment to labor, and thus, more
than In any other way, benefit our entire
population. Hence, would recommend
economy In all branches OF our city gov
eminent, wherever IL can be practioed
without impairing the efficiency OF the
service OF any department.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Should be given every encouragement,
and nothing should be done to impair its
effectiveness, but on the contrary, should
receive your hearty support, so that 1t
can maintain It's present high standard, as
1t is acknowledged one OF the best In the
State.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Our police dedartment is very efficient
under the able management of its present
Chief, but 1t seems to mo that the num-
Der OF patrolmen might be reduced with
out impairing its efficiency. Our citizens
are ordinarily very quiet and well behaved
during the day time, when all good citi-
zens are on duty, and our sheriffs, con-
stables, ETC., are on hand. II seems to
me less number of patromen is needed.
At night, when our citizens are resting
from the labor OF the day, Is the time
that this service In most needed. 1t
would, therefore, seem TO me that three
patrolmen, with the Marshal, during the
day, and six patrolmen during the night,
would be ample and sufficient.
STREETS AND SEWERS.
In regards to those subjects, | have
but q few recommendations TO make.
AS said before, our streets and sewers
are Of the best, and compare favorably
with any city Of It's size I'm this State.
Some repairs are needed; for instance,
the sewer on Second street ought to be
investigated, and II thought best, new
and substantial brick sewer be construct
ed, as the present tile drain Is breaking
and caving ip, and the street Is settled so
that water lays In pools until IL evapor-
ates. ! would also call your attention to
the very poor condition In which the d.,
B. q. 4 A, r. Co. has left Tenth, Fletch-
er, Oldheld and other streets over which
IL runs. In many places the rails and ties
are from six Inches to two feet above the
natural grade OF the street. This ought
not to be allowed, as those streets ought
TO be graded or planked so that wagons
or carriages could cross and recross on any
portion OF them, The State law provides
FOR this. The general railroad laws NJ
this State says, among othor things,
"that such railroad corporations may
construct It's roads upon or across any
stream OF water, private road, street,
lane, alley or highway, but the corpora
tion shall restore the stream, road, street,
alley, lane or highway to It's former state,
as near as might be,p | would also, In