Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-03
Tho MAYORS Message.


The annual message Of the Mayor
which we print to-day. is more than ofd'
narily interesting il presents a great ar
ray Of facts. and much comment Thereon
by an cGccr distinguished FOR thorough
ness Of research and ability as an analyst
Of public questions.
The mcssake throws great nood o.
light upon municipal affairs at mo
mont when all patriotic and puOhc'
spir.t,a citizens ought TO be thinking no"
they may vote az the coming primary
election - as t. advance best the inter-
ests of this community.
Mayor EIysou gives a chapter on the
city debt which viii command general
attention. The long and the short ol il
IS that We must exercise more economy
in expenditures. The Mayor says very
polntodly that we must learn 10 i've
within our incomaor "soon bee coiIfoi''e'
with tine necessity Of increasing the tax
rate TIE Mayor no dotbt, suspects
that -.. cry Council will not venture
to tai. the latter course.
W. ioH SUI. that now the Councn VIII
realize thai they must reduce expenses
but We fear that they are going to Try
TO do it 10y stripping the Street Commit
tee of the means TO keep up our old
streets and to open new ones. This
would Le q calamity only second to IN
cr,asiu, the tax rate. However, We shall
intericct no more of our own ohserva-
tions here. Tho Mayors message is before
the public ana our people VIII find 1t fun
OF facts as an egg is of meat
The Mayor has 10 report that the waste
Of city water by consumers continues.
and. consequently. our supply is becoming
sufIicient-iusuhlcient for use and waste
both. Since the financial condition OF the
city will not permit it to enlarge its bond
ed debt TO an amount 50 great as the
building Of additional water-works would
demand. the Mayor suggests that in our
dilemma the only remedy Is the general
introduction Of water-meters. The Dis
patch heartily concurs in the Mayor
view. Disagreeable as it may be-the I'M
deniable Truth is that the people of Rich
mond are recklessly wastoful Of water,
and they must either consent TO abandon
that bad habit or else be content to sec
the consumers who live on hill-tops re-
duced TO a scanty supply at night and
little or none i'm the daytime.
The city Hall buildins-the building, eX-
elusive Of the site--has cost US @,aoo,OO
To live in this fine building will cost us
about $1,000 per annum-that is, it will
take all of this sum to meet the interest
on the bonds issued on this account and
20 pay the corps of officials who have
10 be employed to Keep the building in
order for public use.
The Mayors message Is wade mecum
az TO Richmond's municipal and bushes:
affairs. 1t includes details as to oui
manufactures, commerce, building opera
tions. &C, &c. We commend 1t 20 every
citizen Of Richmond. And we think thai
it will he read with particular inter
est. since II is likely TO be Mayor Ely
sons last message to the City Council
as his term of office expires on July lst
and, as announced some months ago, HI
will not be candidate for reelection
lie has given us six years service, and
we believe. will 20 out Of office with
those plaudlts which are very grateful &c
the ears of a faithful public servant,