Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-05-11
TOWN AND VICINITY.
OFF With the OId-On With the Ne,

H1eelluU Oh COuucll Ol lOJt-o 10 Ofue1
Monday evening and Clerk George E.
Stephens called the roll and aswered
''all present"
Reading minutes of preceding reg
ular and special meetings and annual
report occupied considerable time.
Mr.. jenkins moved that the annual
report be received, entered upon the
minutes and printed in the MINING
JOURNAL. Carried
This was followed by motion by
Mr.. Scott to adjourn sine die.
Before submitting the motion Mayor
Hanson very gracefully said he de-
sired to thank Council for the courtesy
and kindness shown him during his
service as Mayor-an expression man
ifestly appreciated by those to whom
it was addressed He therefore de-
clared Council adjourned without day,
and the gavel fell upon the last act of
his administration.
Mayor took the chair and calling
Councilman Gershon Anthony, C. A.
Smeltz and B. T. Schotield to the desk,
these gentlemen were sworn in. Later
at intervals George Armstrong, clerk !;
Samuel Bowen, bailiff W. R. Gunter,
policeman, and r. P. Morgan, street
supervisor, were also qualified by oath
to fill their respective Offices.
Mayor Bear established a precedent
which, it is hoped, will be followed
that Of outlining in inaugural terms
the policy which he thought should be
pursued. In brief. he said:
There are several questions which will en-
gage our time and attention that, IN point of
importance, are serious problems. We
should, therefore, give them calm, deliberate
bipartisan consideration. In doing this we
will have the satisfaction of conducting our
offices on strictly business lines and without
regard to politics. For. my own part | am
here wholly unpedged and unhampered to
legisate to the best of my judgment impair
TALLY for the interest of all the citizens of the
town, and | promise every individual effort
to give the people an honest, economical ad-
mnistration.
believe this expresses also the feeling and
policy of every member of Council, each of
whom, am sure, is animated by the same
purpose, and | am glad to be surrounded by
men OF experience and good Judgment to
supply whatever may lack in the discharge
of my duties.
The first matter l wish to speak of con-
Germs the water works. We have bonded
Indebtedness of about S55,0O0 the interest
upon which approximates $500 annually.
a If ~, ,,,Str
seems, $500 year on water account. |
learn that the income last year was near that
sum, which makes receipts and current eX-
penses, including interest, balance. This
leaves nothing to apply to construction.
The question that now engrosses attention is
how shall we overcome the apparent deficit
thus created? The sinking fund provided by
law for the eXtinguishment of the bonds must
soon be created also. Again | ask-what
means shall we employ to meet these re-
qulrements? My suggestions are these-W
let us work through every proper channel to
induce all to use the water furnished through
our system; (2) let us merge the two offices of
superintendent and pumping engineer into
one, and thus effect saving of not less than
$500 year. | believe we can thus soon re-
deem these works from mere seifsustaining
investment toa paying one.
Better protection from fire is also demand
ed by the remote portions of town, especially
i'll winter. Proper quarters for portions of
our fire equipment established on Federal
hill and Bowery would relieve the tiremen
from long pulls up our hills and along I'M
peded streets, and enable them the quicker to
reach the scene of fire These quarters ought
to be provided.
l will call your attention to the pedding
and huckstering abuses. Many of our town
merchants are placed at a great disadvantage
by transient dealers who come to town when
times are good aud reap the harvest that be-
longs to those who stay here in dull times as
well as good. The settled merchant responds
to all appeals for public improvement and
charity, but when the ''below cost auctioneer
sees slack work coming he folds his tent
and, like the Arab, silently steals away"
TO cure this injustice to our home merchants
the corporation license to transient dealers
should be raised sufficiently high to to pre-
serve to our permanent mercantile COM
munity the rights of trade for which they
pay.
Next-what are we to do with the COW
Personally | am opposed to imposing hard
ship on any man, especially any poor man,
who, it seems, is in majority as cow
owner, yet | cannot lose sight of the fact that
in this matter am not an individual As
the agent of the whole people, therefore,
am compelled, under the recent verdict, to
recommend the early enactment of an or
dnance prohibiting cattle from running at
large.
1t will be our duty to expend as much
money as possible on the highways within
the corporate limits, which, you all know,
are IN bad condition.
These recommendations are rendered in nc
mandatory spirit but merely as suggestions
worthy of your favorable attention and
action.
On motion of Mr.. Smeltz, the Mayor s
remarks were ordered TO be placed on
record.
A motion, made by Mr.. Price and
adopted, resulted in the nomination of
CouncIlmen B. T. Schofeld and C. A.
Smeltz for Treasurer. The first and
only ballot resulted:
Schonelu' .'....'..'...'..'.. '...'........4
Mr.. Schofield was declared elected.
The Mayor expressed opposition to
the appointment of pumping engineer
by the Water committee, but
On motion of Mr.. Smeltz, the rowel
of such appointment by the Water
committee was continued.
Mr.. Anthony moved that the election
of Water superintendent be deferred
until the regular meeting in June
Mr.. Schofeld amended by limiting
postponement until next meeting, May
ID. Motion, as amended, carried.
The Mayor announced standing