Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-12
Annual Review of the Affairs Of
the City Government.
AVERY CHEERFUL DOCUMENT.
Much Cause IOr cOuaralulaIon-Eo Reason
for Increase Of City Debt Sound suu.
gesIiOns as 10 The Public Health.
Fire Department, Etc.

At the meeting Of the city council last
night the annual message OF Mayor Pad
lows:
Fort Worth April II. 1898
10 the Honorable City Council OF the
City of Fort Worth.
Genuemen-ln entering upon new
Official year ! take pleasure i'm calling
your attention TO the reports Of the heads
of the several departments and wish TO
Impress upon zach Of you the advisable
ity of securing copies of each and making
a careful study of them. TO the end that
you may act advisedly In legislnting
upon such matters as may come before
your honorable body for consideration
during the ensuing year.
FINANCES
or chief Importance TO the city Is the
proper management OF IFS finances. L
am pleased 10 say that the financial con
dition of the city is in the main sntis-
factory; During the year just closed.
which has been one OF great financial
depression, the city has been able 10
meet all Of It's obligations with cash.
Inc hnnnce committee have worked I'M
perfect harmony with your executive
during the year. and made every effort
possible 20 Keep current expenses within
the estimates made. An examination of
n
WINE TINS has not been done Ina every
instance the result very nearly approx
mates the estimates made by your hon-
orable body for the present fiscal wear.
Many expenditures have been reduced.
which are to take effect with the begin.
ning Of the present fiscal year which
WILL m some measure reduce the bur
den put upon the taxpayers for the sun
port of the city government.
The bonded Indebtedness OF the CITY
IS not large whom the amount Of im-
proycmcnts made In the city Is tnken
INTO consideration. There seems no oc-
casion that this burden shall be increased
lor many years 60 come, and with eco
nomicnl management nll further csson-
uQl public improvements shall be made
|lt9ont further increasing the bonded
i appeal TO YOU not without conf
dence. 10 look TO &C., that every cXpend-
lure DC ugldly scruinizod, chat there
ue no uuWiSe or unnecessary cXpcndi-
lures OF the money of The people
PUBLIC HEALTH
Second In Importance 10 n sound FINN.
clal policy Is HE sanitary condition of
the city and this : rcgrH TO announce
Is not as good as IL should be.
loo many Of our people seem not 10
appreciate the necessity of preserving
Their own health and that Of their fami-
Hes nnd neighbors by observing the es-
ldbllshed and recognized rules aud laws
of sanitation. To such of these n Ia
essential that the care of the city govern
mcnt be extended and that the strong
arm OF the law should be- invoked. and
its weight felt for the common good
Our city cemetery is marked by many
little hillOck where tine virgin
SOD might have remained uu-
disturbed; many n mothers
heart Is lacerted and torn where hnppi-
ness might have been enshrined, because
the plain principles Of sanitation hive
been neglected and disregarded. / in
woke your aid IN inaugurating reform IN
this direction.
recommend the enactment Of the
most rigid and inaexiblc ordinances upon
this subject and that their enforcement
be equally rigid and inhexible Measures
which may appear harsh and burden
some are frequently the most kind and
beneficial.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
This department Of the city govern
meht. the most difficult and onerous.
has been conducted satisfactorily bv
those In whose charge 1t has been in
trusted. The rules adopted have been
| wholesome and salutary and have been
| impartially enforced Members of the
| force who have been found to be dere-
lict in the performance of their duty
| and who have violated The rules laid
| down for their guidance. have been sum
marily dismissed Much criticism hos
| been INDUCED Ia by persons who are un-
| Informed and who have been imposed
upon by those IN whom they have re-
| posed confidence Other criticisms have
been made from impure motives and
used for dishonest purposes. Over these
| we can afford t0 extend the mantle Of
charity and forgiveness.
/ recommend that in the selection Of
! the force for the ensuing year that you
employ none but men Of good moral
character, who viii not bring rnproach
upon themselves. their associates or the
city they represent
The conduct Of the business of the city
court should be such that IL be- made
self-sustainiug 1t Is the lawless and
vicious TINT render the city court, a po-
lice force and city prison necessary, aud
they should not complain IL they are
made TO bear the burden Of supporting
these Institutions. IL Is a mistaken poll.
cy TO impose light fines because of the
misfOrtunes of the eyil-docrs. Let them
feel the full weight of the law aud they
Will the sooner abandon their unlawful
practices.
WATERWORKS.
I take pleasure IN announcing that the
management OF this department meets
with my candid approval. This pleasure
is Increased by reason Of the fact the
official chosen by YOU 20 conduct its af-
fairs was selected against my official
and personal protest. / cheerfully ac-
cord to yonr honorable body superior
wisdom and discretion In this matter.
In justice to this official / make this
statement that Ii may be a part Of the
administration Of which l am an humble
part.
i also take pleasure in announcing that
our city will soon be IN possession Of the
most complete and perfect system OF
waterworks IN the South, and the equal
OF any city Of like proportions ia the
country
In December 1891, the city govern
ment contracted for an extension Of the
wateiwOrks plant. With that actin nei-
ther you nor / were connected ibid are
in no wise responsible. TO us IL was
niNnn no soc IhnI IMn cnmLnlci Mna lnLIh