Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-04-05

The first regular meeting of the new
Board of Aldermen was called TO order at
280 O'Clock Monday afternoon by City
Clerk q 2. Allen The full Board was pres
ent a. follows; Ward l., c. G. Reed and
E. B. pays; Ward H., H. w. Hall and
H. J. Gutchell Ward III, William Fitz-
gerald and j. j. Shea; Ward ", +. G.
Harrington and J. L. Burke; Ward v, c.
L. Smith and j. b. Henderson. The onth
of Office was administered to the five new
aldermen by tho city clerk as notary. For
president of the Board Alderman Gutchell
nominated q. w. Hall and Alderman Hem
Serson nominated j. E. Burke. Alderman
Hall had Eve votes and Alderman Burke
three votes Alderman Hall was declared
elected and on motion of Alderman Hen
derson the election was made unanimous
Mr.. Hall, in taking his seat at the head Of
the table, briefly returned thanks for
the honor conferred. A committee of two,
consisting Of Aldermen Davis and Hender-
son, was appointed to wait upon Mayor Van
Patten and inform him that the Board had or
eanined and was ready to receive any com
munication he might desire TO make. They
shortly returned with the mayor, who de-
livered his address as follows:
MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR, W. J. VAN PATTEN.
TO the Honorable Board Of Aldermen:
In accordance with the established custom.
have the honor to submit the following as
the annual message of the Mayor.
We have been called by the suffraGes of
our citizens to positions of honor and trust
in the administration of the public affairs
of our city. II will, | am sure, be the aim
Of all the members of this board in response
to such manifestation of confidence on the
part Of our fellow citizens to give our best
efforts to the duties devolving upon us, spar
ing neither thought, labor nor time that
the business Of the city be carefully and
economically conducted in all its depart
mepts.
We should always consider the fact that
a municipality is primarily a business or
ganization. Men gather into towns and
cities that by cooperation they can do for
themselves what alone or in detached groups
they cannot do. 1t is over these matters of
cooperative business that we are placed,
and our duty is to Loyalty serve the interest
of all, letting no selfish or narrow spirit in
terfere with our doing what is for the best
interest of the greatest number.
Let us then be careful that a sincere de-
votion to public duty be our motive in all
our actions
We have many reasons to be proud Of our
city, not only because of its beautiful seen
cry and surroundings famed in song and
story, but also because of the high position
we have attained in the various ways in
good.
The position of Burlington in the business
world is a proud one. Very few if any,
places of its size have so good a record in
regard to high standard of commercial
morality or of freedom from business fail
ures. While during the past year the severe
depression which has swept over the country
has nearly everywhere left ruin and suffer
Ing in its wake, Burlington has kept on the
even tenor of its way, its labor has been
fairly well employed, and no commercial
disasters have crippled its resources. In
other cities building operations have practi-
cally ceased, but here they have gone stead
lily forward and at present the outlook is
perhaps as favorable as it has ever been in
the history OF the city. The lesson from
this is that we must so conduct the affairs
Of the city that men of capital, business
ability and integrity will be attracted to
our city as commercial centre and as a de-
sirable place for residence
As an educational centre we have proud
position. The high standard long maintain
ed by our schools and higher educational in
situations brings many people here as resi-
dents, and is often the determining influence
in causing business and professional meu tc
choose Burlington rather than some other
place as their home. We must therefore
seek to promote these educational interests
and seek for them constant progress toward
still higher standards
As a law-abiding place remarkably free
from crimes of petty nature or of violence
we have high record, and this, too, and
in a larger degree than we are wont tc
think, is one of the advantages which often
causes Burlington to be chosen a place of
residence or business. 1t should be our aim
to raise still higher the excellent reputation
our city already bears in this particular
Our religious and philanthropic institu
tions bear no small part in maintaining the
good name of the city aud in bringing to III
most desirable class of citizens We are
not directly concerned with these, but we
should seek to promote their prosperity in
any way in which we properly may.
FINANCES.
The bonded debt of the city amounted
January to S422, 900 gross, the amount O.
the sinking fund is 1921, 742. "a, making the
net bonded debt $500, 257. 16 The gros
debt was increased during the year by tn,
issue Of four per cent.school bonds for $1,000
and decreased by additions to the sinking
fund of 81 ,227. OF this amount SO, Oh
was received from the five per cent tax OF
the grand list, and S4593 was the interes
on the bonds held by the sinking fund. I'm
provement bonds and water bonds to thu
amount of 81, 000 bearing six per cent in
terest, will mature July l, Provision fol
refunding must be made, and | recommend
that your honorable body take such actor
as may be required to retire these aud issu,
four per cent bonds in their place.
The credit of our city is now so high anC
the demand for high grade municipal bond
SO good that we can undoubtedly place thes,
at such premium as will reduce the inter
est charge considerably.
The issue OF additional school bonds to tn,