The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-06-17
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
THE CONDITION OF OUR CITY AND sUGG EsTIoNs
ON NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
To the coasanon council Of the cit,

By the charter, it is made the duty
Of the mayor to annually communl-
cate to the council general statement
of the condition and affairs of the city.
In accordance with that provision, l
desire to call your attention briefly to
some matters OF general interest
The health of our city during the
past year has been good. We have
been visited twice with that scourge.
diphtheria, but by adopting the neces-
sary precautions, it was prevented
from spreading in each instance.and
the sanitary condition of the city is
such that no one Can complain. The
financial condition of the city is healthy
and the reports of the police Judge and
treasurer show nat the revenue of the
city for the year from all sources is
. | 1876 and the expenditures about $6,-
743; for further particulars Of the fl
nances of the city, you are respectfully
referred to their reports. During the
year the city has made some very use
full Improvements. The sewers con-
structed through the alley IN blocks 9,
10 and IL, and connecting with the
Madison street sewer have been Of
great benefit to the. city and great
convenience to the property holders
and l would recommend that all prop
erty holders along the line Of the said
sewers be required to make connection
Herewith. The contract for the build
ing of a new city hall was let last fall
and work was commenced on the
building, but the rains set in and the
work had to be laid over through the
winter; work has now been resumed
on said building and it will be COM
pleted before winter. The building
will add greatly to the appearance Of
our city and will be very great bene-
fit, as all the city officers will be pre-
vided for, fine hall for our volunteer
fire department and a basement for
housing the engine and all fire appara-
tus, and our city prison, thus saving
the city several hundred dollars every
year III the way of rents. There have
been some improvements made on the
streets, but the principal street work
was delayed by the lateness Of COM
mencing the work There was plan
adopted for grading and graveling the
Main or Second street for distance Of
some ten blocks, and l would recon-
m end that The work be pushed for
ward as fast as possible, and th,t some
plan be adopted for making necessary
Improvements in all cross streets to
the city limits, and on the principal
reads leading out Of the city. The
streets i'll many places were in a de-
plorable condition last winter and it
was not an uncommon sight to see
wagons mired on the main thorough
fares. This should never occur again.
would suggest that the street com.
mittee and street superintendent have
IL careful examination made of the
streets and wherever there has been or
is now hole or bad place in the street
ascertain the cost of filling and repair
ing the same and report the same to
the council, together with the name Of
the adjacent property owner and the
council could either then require the
property owner to make the needed
repairs OF provide for the payment of
same out of the general fund under
section l20 of the charter There
has not been sufficient attention paid
to having the sidewalks kept in re-
pair. On Nam street there are, and
have been, some walks that are not
only dangerous to pedestrians, but a
disgrace to the city and the Same may
be said of some of the back streets
In my last message [ recommended
the purchase Of steam fire engine
and l now renew that recommenda
tion. There is large portion of the
residence portion Of our city that is
entirely without any protection from
fire. A better supply of water is
badly needed and might be obtained !
by obtaining from the water company
an extension Of their water pipes, the
establishing of more hydrants and the
structure of requisite number of els
terms
The charter provides that the city
may, on vote Of tllalepple of the
city, incur an indetedness as follows:
Water works s.................$ 5000
oSWerS. ................ $4,000
Electric light works .......... 2O.OOOl
Wagon aud foot bridge ........ 10000
A committee was appointed some
time ago TO consider this question and
report to the council which one of the
foregoing propositions slfould he snb-