Smyrna times., 1896-03-25
TIE TOWNS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY
An Important Question Before Our Town
Council.


Town Council met last Friday night
in an adjourned meeting at the resi-
dence of DIR. L. C. Moore. By motion
the doctor was made chairman pro TEN.
Members present being Secretary
Boyer, A. Lee Cummins, John Cos
griff and DR.. Z. c. Moore.
The following bills were read and
allowed: Spalding & Metcalf, $34. 63;
Vallee Bros. & Co., $35.53; Alfred F.
Moore, $57.98; Z. L. Jones, $3G; H. S.
Anthony, per vouchers, $134.7.
The resignation of DR.. J. r. Nc
Causland, of the Smyrna Board of
Health, was read and accepted.
Application of Abel Taylor as en-
gineer was read, and on motion, was
accepted for another year. George H.
Rose was continued on as engineer,
alternating with Abel Taylor. Both
engineers are very efficient and have
given the town good service.
On motion of Fl. d. Boyer, Henry
S. Anthony was made the superintend-
ent of our two plants for another year.
Charles G. Boyer was continued as
street worker and town policeman.
One of the greatest questions to
come before our council the present
year is the settlement of our financial
difficulty. The question is undergoing
thoughtful consideration by each in
dividual member. They feel that
something must be done, and what
this will be can hardly be determined
until action is taken at full meeting
of the council.
Before adjOurning the other night,
the members engaged in q little free
talking. One member says there is
enough uncOllectable taxes on dupli
Gates of '93, '94 and '95, which, if got
ten, would place $4,000 in the town
treasury. He thought immediate act
ion ought to be taken by which tn,
money should be collected. If thii
was done he saw no necessity of an in
crease in the tax rate.
Another member thought that fl
nance committee should be appointed
and made standing committee t,
examine duplicates and interest them
selves in all revenues of the town.
Another member thought ther
would have to be a lessening in tn
running expenses of the electric ligh
plant, which was sinking nearly 81, so
year. One of the plans suggeste,
was the taking off of all arc lights ex
cept those on the all-night Gil cult an
the placing of 80 candle power incan
: descent lamps in their places. Thi
was calculated to save the town nearl
5000 a year. There are now twent
arc lights used in town, five of whic
I are on the all-night circuit.
Our citizens would regret this NOV
after having the beautiful white light
: so long, and it is hoped that the cOuI
. Gil can see a way out of their fnancii
!. difficulty without interfering with III
r present splendidly working system
= The failure of the revenues of IL
: plant to meet its rnnning expenses
. not the fault of the management of oil
h town council, as the minute repor
g published in the TIMES the past vel
e will warrant 1t has been the dispos
7 ton of each member to run the tow
: on as cheap q basis as possible, II
L fault lies in the failure of our citizel
:. to give it their support. The electr
} light is "a public benefit, and is su
= posed to be supported by the town, y
Z we have within its precincts s
l churches, not one of which has ev
= had introduced an electric light Th
% fact grows more apparent when it
- known that these churches are pub
institutions and kept up by the diffe
ent denominations of the town, viii
in the aggregate compose the citizens
the town. Another feature is that o
st of town of this size there was by t
ia last statement or Snpt Anthony on
, eighty three takers.
Our citizens must awaken to til
n. condition of affairs. The plant W
voted for by the property-Owners
g. the town, and now having in place o
e. of the most complete systems of a
le town in the State, every prOpert
n. owner should have enough feeling
M pride to give their support for its 81
of cess. Unless this is done, they mi
he necessarily take the consequences a
n bear the increased assessment on tn
ed already high taxes. The town
he obliged to pay it's debts and to be
IN prosperous town it must maintain
". credit home as well as abroad
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