Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-01-04

and himself, he was opposed to pledg-
ing the city or doing anything until a
financial policy is mapped out.
Before adjournment the matter was
referred to II committee composed o.
Messrs. Scoficld and Meays to report.
An ordinance, presented by Council
man McCausland, granting to the
Olympia Light & Power company the
privilege of extending its tracks to the
Northern Pacific depot, was referred
to the franchise committee. The or
dinance was accompanied by resolu-
ton granting permission to construct
spur from the railway line at or near
the corner of Main and Seventh street
in order to extend the street railway
line to the depot. The resolution was
adopted. Messrs. Meays and Scofeld
voting no.
The ordinance grants the right to
extend the electric railway tracks to
the depot there to connect with the
tracks OF the Northern Pacific railroad
and to take therefrom and to carry
over the Light & Power company's
tracks. material to be used in the con-
struction OF the capitol.
The Mayor submitted his annual
message. in which, after review OF
the city's service, he says:
Improvements carried out during
the year have been limited to repairs
on the streets, identifying the city
park and improving the West Fourth
street bridge. This has been &C.
complished by the assistance of Cap
tain Symons, who kindly arranged so
that material dredged from the harbor
basin, was placed within retaining
walls erected by your direction. The
expenditure of the present appropria-
i ton will greatly improve our harbor
and facilitate commence on the Upper
Sound.
al learn from the prints that a
further needed appropriation has been
recommended by the secretary of war
and in connection with this l. would
suggest the formation Of special COM
mittee to procure the passage of a
memorial for transmission to our dele.
CATION in congress, asking that special
appropriation, or change of the word
ing designating the proposed ap.
preparation, so that a short channel
can be made on the line of the Des
Chutes waterway above Fourth street
bridge, and that q part, at least, can be
devoted to the building of a lock in
that waterway, and secure the neces.
sary permission for the closing OF Cap.
ital waterway, on the line of the bridge
This would give the city the advantage
OF permanent roadway to the west
side, the benefits of which will be more
highly appreciated in the future than
they are today. A lock would dam up
the Des Chutes and give us fresh
water basin which, when dredged
would form desirable site for COM
mercial pursuits and manufacturing
enterprises, in addition to greatly
identifying and improving the capitol
surroundings.
lowing to the permanent advant.
ages derived from the services of our
delegation at Washington, in bringing
about the appropriations received, and
of the interest of Captain Symons
government engineer in charge, ]
would recommend the passage and
transmission of resolutions, expressing
our qualifications and appreciation oil
their efforts in our behalf"
On the financial question the Mayor
thought that all suggestions should be
summed up in one word--ecouomy
Yet" he continued, economy of the
most rigid type will not bring the re-
lief needed unless we are able to collect
what is due the city from property
holders. Communication from parties
holding special fund warrants have
been received making demand for pay.
ment, and the replies have been that
no funds are on hand for the payment
of these demands. This is unsatis
factory all around, and an thorough
ly convinced that there is no homes,
business course to pursue but for your
honorable body to do what you can
under existing laws and circumstances
to procure for the warrant holders
their money. Unnecessary delay by
you may involve the city in liability
which should be met by the property
benefited. 1t should be q manifest
injustice to those who have no imprOv
ments, or, having them, have paid fol
them as made.
mittee on way and means proceed tc
outline the city's financial policy fol
the coming fiscal year. Let it be or
the line of economy; of the kind that
no person will have any room to com
plain of at the close of the year and
not that economy which retrenches or
the one hand and increase double folC
on the other. Let the work commence
at once. The future is not the tim.
to do good.
ITO tighten and better distribute
the city's water and light expenses, l
would, if the law will permit, create
light and water districts. At present
the payment of light and water ex'
pense is made from the general fund
and collected from all the property oil
the city. Consequently there is ,
general demand for wider distribu
ton of street lights and hydrants fol
fire protection, making the number
of both SO large that the expense o.
maintaining them is too great for the
times. BY restricting the use ol
lamps and hydrants to the more cen
trail part of the city the number anC
expense can be reduced to an amount
within our means. and by taxing onl,
the districts Immediately benefitte