The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-04-19
Sll5S51 80 1851 9C


TO error II O
Balance ...".... 1890 2
Your committee on claims and accounts re
specially report that we find the above report
OF the city treasurer correct as rendered anC
would recommend that the above balance o.
Si29O II be credited to the contingent fund o.
this city Respectfully submitted, a.
II. C.FRIEsEKE, s. LAhFRoM, I.G. CURRY, Com
In very pleasant manner Aid. Lamfrom, in
behalf OF the Council rendered thanks to Mayor
Dawes
Mayor Dawes made tn Q following address:
TO the Honorable the City COuncll:-
conference.-the hour has arrived when
transfer my official title and authority to anoth-
my administration desire to extend to each
and every member of the city council and its
officials who have served during my term of Of
flee my grateful thanks for the uniform courtesy
kindness and consideration shown me. What
ever good has been accomplished in the forma.
ton Of needed legislation and which received
your and my appreciation, Is due as much to the
legislative branch OF this government as to its
executive.
Despite unfair criticisms which is the misfor-
tune OF public life. claim without fear of contra
dcton. that the history of the administration
now coming to close and the records of its va
rlOus departments will show an honest effort to
efficiently and economically administer public
affairs. In transferring the municipal govern
ment to other hands do so confident that there
Is a determined desire upon the part of each
member.of this council to Loyalty and contlnu-
0usly uphold my successor. He has assumed Il
task that to many may appear OF no particular
Importance, but can assure you that 1t Is o. O
that requires a great amount of attention and
much serious thought. The eyes OF the public
are ever upon you, and any deviation from an
honest, economical government will call forth
such energetic protest that it will not be hard
to find wherein you have erred.
Our FinanceS-When you assumed control of
the city affairs one year ago there was floating
debt against the city of about Sl5,0O000 which
you have paid besides tile running expenses.
The only debt against the city at the present
time, besides the bonded indebteness is S4222. so
balance on Washington street bridge, due the
18th OF next August. You have made contract
for lighting the city for the coming year at Il
saving of about 81 600 from last year. | am con-
fident that my successor will conduct the affairs
of the city with Us strict economy as circum-
stances will permit.
Our fire department still maintains under the
capable management of its chief a foremost rank.
It's well equipped with new hose and is in good
condition. and will in the future as well in the
past justify our confidence.
We have very effective board of health.
Early in the spring Of "a small pOX was very
prevalent In Beforehand Chicago, and 1t was eX-
pected-indeed. it was reported-there was a
suspected case from Chicago in the city at one
time. Upon investigation it was found to be a
false alarm. Later on the disease made its APP
pearance In ST. Johns and quite q number OF
our citizens were thought to have been exposed
The were hunted up and ordered vaccinated and
held under supervision. A theatrical troupe
supposed to have been exposed and were CON-
Ing 10 OWOSSO 10 SDeDu OulludN NeIe nOllHtu u
keep away and did so. The city hospital was
repaired and put in such shape that in a few
hours 1t could be in readiness for the reception
of patients. In fact the board of health used
eternal vigilance to prevent the visitation of the
dreaded disease in our city, Much might be said
of the sanitary work done by the board and what
ought to be done in the future, There has been
last April. The board insisted on quarantine of
the strctest character There has been forty.
five gases of typhoid fever and five deaths, and
oil fntn nc
water from wells. There Is no doubt the water
supply Of wells has been contaminated by the
ceSSp0Ol system. Typhoid fever filth disease
and strict sanitary measures should be carried
out as to sewerage. cesspools, etc. Too much can
not be said in praise of the board Of health for
the act We, energetic aud effective manner in
which they have performed their duties for the
past year.
You have constructed the past year $780,
feet of sewers. at cost of S2G70.79.
Our water works SO far as completed seem to
be as perfect as possible and are managed by Il
board of gentlemen who seem to take the same
interest and run il on the same business prnc
pies as if private property. During the past
year II ,5jI feet (3% mesl OF new mains were
laid and one hundred and seventeen new taps
made, supplying domestic water to several hun
dred new consumers, manufacturing concerns
and others, and need not to |, mind you of the
Importance of keeping the supply as pure rs II
now Is.
These extensions have been made at an expense
of Sl2,27D.G3, which taken from the 900 voted
for water works Improvement leaves S7,72991
for the future Improvement of the system.
In this connection wish TO call your attention
to the report of the superintendent of the water
works for the year 1894, in which sets for II the
fact that without additional storage il will be
impossible to supply the people with good and
voir should be Immediately provided.
Our streets are in us good condition as they
ever will be under our present mode of building
them. | think that every one Is prepared tC
grant the value of good roads to the country al
large. When this community was u small one
you could not afford to construct expensive roads
but now we have grown inIo prosperous city
and we cannot neglect to make good highways
leading into the country In every direction with
out serious loss to the prosperity of the city
The prosperity OF any city depends largely upon
the surrounding country, and the better the
road facilities the faster the country will grow
In population and the more business the city viii
Il We In supplying their nts but the matter
of expenses Is one OF greater Importance to us as
taxpayers. A. right here we come upon prob
ably the greatest stumbling block that has put
itself In the way of the attainment of our person
al aim. 1t Is always economy to spend enough
always costs less In the long run We have the
misery of bad roads and we are actually or prao
ticaly called upon to pay premium for them
1t would be undoniably cheaper to have good
roads than poor ones. road well built Is east
ly kept In good repair. A mile of good macad
amZed road Is more easily supported than a poOi
horse The obstacles which have stood In the
way of securing the streets we should have arc
too numerous and varied to admit of full discus
sion h ~ Like all public works road building
Is. and fear always will he, too much dependent
upon politics. Tho only way we can ever get
just return for our money expended upon oul
streets will be under the direction of commits
soners far removed from political influence
This can be accomplished by circulating popular
and technical road literature. having for It's OBJ
ject the enlightenment of taxpayers upon sub
ject which vitality afIectsthelr pockets and thel
interests. Watching and introducing Legislation
with view of bettering the existing state of af
fairs JIG Is one thing to propose, another to exc
cute. Who will be the first TO lead In this mattel