The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-03
MAYORS ANNUAL
SUGGESTIONS
TO COUNCILS
Concluded from First Page.

Concluded from First Page.
ing pushed forward as rapidly as is deemed
consistent with careful work and thor
oughness. Two very important decisions
have been secured from the supreme court
upon cases taken up from this city by our
city solicitor. The first in the matter of
the annexation Of II part of LacKawanna
township in which the constitutionality of
the municipal act of 1889, under which the
city has been operating for five years, was
vigorously attacked. The success of the
attack would have thrown the city gov
ernment into the utmost confusion, ren-
derlng uncertain the tenure OF office Of its
officers, and dubious very many OF
its ordinances. The supreme court, how
ever has saved and sustained the act, and
has placed municipal charters OF cities of
the third class upon an unassailable basis.
The other case was relative TO the pow
or of the city to grade and assess the cost
by the foot front rule, which power WAS
denied and was held doubtful by our
court. The supreme court, however, has
now fully sustained the power which not
only saves assessments already made under
ordinances heretofore passed, but assures
the city Of its powers To make improve
ments in this manner hereafter. IL is Il
great advantage that it eau do so,
as the expense Of viewers under
the benefit Of the system is SC
great as to represent consider
able portion of the cost in many cases;
whereas improvements made by the foot
front rule all such expenses are avoided
and much time and trouble Is saved. In
addition to these cases there has been 4
large amount of important business trans
| acted during the past year other than the
ordinary business OF the law depart ment.
There have been thirteen sets Of viewers
appointed to assess alleged damages re
sulting from street improvements, each o.
which have required constant attention
before viewers and in the court. The
damages awarded by the viewers viii
amount in the aggregate to $50, 0OO Under
direction Of councils appeals have beer
taken in nearly all cases.
A complete docket has been made of al
cases opsn aud pending in which the city
| Is q party; and nearly 1000 lien' whlct
| have either been collected during the yea
or have been previously paid and not sat
isied. have been satisfied aud the record
|
satisfied liens.
A complete aud efficient system for tn,
collection of liens has been introduced, SO
that the clashing and confusion between
the law and the treasury department.
which gave frequent annoyance to the OF
| fcials and to the taxpayers may b
obv;ated.
The collections Of the department dur
| ing the eleven months since May l hay
amounted to more than S26, 600.
FINANCES
The condition Of the finances OF our cit
at the present time is q source Of Gratiica
ton Our total bonded indebtedness
about $52S, 500. The bonds and cash in on
sinking fund amount TO Sl4', 100, leaving
net indebtedness Of 1886, 100 upon an M
sessed valuation Of about $4,000, coo, tn
annual receipts from taxation being suiti
cent to pay the running expenses Of on
city government, the interest on the bono
ed debt and TO meet the legal requirement
Of the sinking fund without making I'll
burden OF taxation Ouerous to the ta2
| payers.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The suggestion which | made to you
| honorable bodies IN my last annual con
munication aud which has baen adopted
namely, to increase the salary Of the chic
of the fire department, and which direct
! him to give his entire services to the city
has already been made manifest in tn
improved efficiency OF the department.
would earnestly recommend that permr
nent men be added to the lists OF the var
Gus companies from time to time with III
end in view that our fire system sha
eventually emerge into paid department
d condition which will soon be made in
perative by the rapidly increasing popula
,iou and area OF the city. | am muC
gratihed to observe that your holorabl
bodies have provided IN your last apprt
priatiOn ordinance for the purchase OF
chemical engine for tue use OF the depar
ufent. Tho use Of this machine will uu
doubtedly save much valuable propert
which has oftentim9s heretofore been DIT
stroyed by water.
The honorable councils provided la
year for the purchase of two sites for i
fire department, one tor the Nay AT
Hose company on Linden strest, and on
for the Cystal Hose company on Mulber
street, directly in the rear of the cit
building. There is, | believe, sufliciel
funds lett from the APPROPRIATION Tor ii
erection Of one of these buildings. / wou
suggest that it be the one i'll the rear of ii
city building for the reason that the lea
Of the building now occupied by the Cry'
tai Hose company expires within the ne!
year and also that the police deparJmel
may bs provided with patrol station
which il much needed at the present tim
/ would, therefore, earnestly urge upt
vCur honorable bodies that the bulldil
committees of the new councils be
struceed to take this matter up at on
and give il their most careful attention.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
We are pleased to note the increase
number OF our paved streets and the wol
that is being done III grading and othe
wise improving those already paved: 81
7ss. rs was spent dnring the past year Il
pavements, and 50, $500 for grading, b'
the general condition OF our unpav,
streets is n disgrace to the fair name Of o
city. This Is caused, first. from the ia
that during the past year the ward appI
priatioDs were not under the coutrol of q
street department, and second, to the II
adequacy OF the amount appropriated {
street purposes. When we consider th
; the number of miles Of streets, avenue
courts and places in this city exceeds "
} we must admit that an appropriation
|
, in proper repair, and that it is impossit
for the street commissioner note the was
! outs and other imperfections upon OF
highways, ana to be able to repair tl
| same before any damage might occur WI
the present arrangement OF the street d
partment. l suggested to the honorat
, councils last year Of the necessity OF crea
ing two assistants for this department.
held then, and still hold, that the cret
ing Of those offices would not of necessi
, increase the cost Of tanning the d
partment. We could, under this arrang
ment, hold them responsible for the cont
: tion OF the streets within their district
: and also eliminate fIom our pay rolls
expense Of foremanship IN each and eve
= ward in the city.
believe that this department Of the ci
government ia one Of the most importar
and when we take into consideration II
5 we appropriate about S4O, 900 to be G
3 pended under the direction of this depa
4 ment. we ought to provide means
5 which this large amount would be expen
8 ed with economy and to the best advan
Il age.
= ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT.
From the tabulated statement made