The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-07-11

Balance. ce...............S 1,3l0 II
From the foregoing 1t will be seen
that we have been able to run the city
and pay our interest for Sl,3l0.11, less
than the income derived the past year,
showing upon which 1 can congratu-
late the council.
The expenses have been further re-
duced for the coming year by discon-
tinuing the arc lights. so if the income
can be kept up to last years figures,
we shall very easily be able to have
still larger surplus at the end of the
coming year. There is now balance
on hand, exclusive of the money set
apart for the redemption of warrants,
| issued prior to the time when warrants
were paid by the treasurer on presAn-
tation, the sum of S6,940.22.
Still we should not at this time SIM
ply congratulate ourselves on business
success. but exercise vigilant care
for the future. We should watch that
our income does not shrink by any
lack of carefulness on the part of our
officers, and also that our monthly
running expenses are not allowed to
increase The system of the past year
OF closely scrutenizing every bill, and
closely considering every expense be-
fore incurring it, should be continued.
II would be very easy for expenses to
creep up again on us, and instead OF
allowing this to be done it is my hope
that in case we have any substantial
surplus we may arrange to use that
surplus in something tending towards |
the permanent improvement and ad- |
yancement of the city.
We must not lose sight of the fact |
that on account of very close economy
but little has been done toward the
keeping up of the fire department ap-
paratus, and am informed that the
purchase of quantity of new hose and
perhaps some other minor repairs will
be necessary in the near future.
The light proposition is one which
is entirely unsettled, and have never
considered that the question was one
of lights or no lights, but rather what
kind of lights, and what they must cost
US. 1 heartily approve che action of
the council in disseminating the ex.
pensive arc light, as we could not, in
justice to other matter, continue pay
ing out so much money for arc lights
alone. The former expense for light
was some $500 or $500 greater each
year than all of the money the city
could collect for taxes over and above
the payment of interest on bonded
debt, and was out of proportion to any
thing else in the city government. !
believe. however, the council should
take the matter into hand and rec
what arrangements can be made for
cheaper system of lighting, so as to be
able by the fall of the year to provide
sufficient light for the safety of the
citizens; but at the same time seeing
to II that the expense is kept in pro-
portion to other expenses of the city
and within our ability to pay.
The question of street improvements |
in my opinion should have some con-
sideration at the hands of this council,
but by this do not mean to say that
we should begin an expensive system
of improving, but that the streets
should be cleaned and at least portion
of the rut holes and sand pits, which
may now be seen in almost evesy por-
tion of the city, should be filed. Moth
ing adds to the appearance of a ! town
more than we'll graded and well kept
streets, and vast amount of improve
ment in this respect should be made at
very nominal expense either to the
city or the property owners.
A question which will soon confront
us or others in this council and a ques-
tion which must be met before long is
that of sewerage. The present sewer
system is imperfect and worn out. I
fully appreciate the 'hard time" and
do not urge or advise that this ques-
ton of sewerage should be taken up
before it is absolutely necessary, but
whenever the council lis of the opinion
that the majority of the property own
ers are In favor of new sewer syster
hey should not hesitate to take the
natter in their hands and act;' and
might go farther than this and say
hat whenever in the opinion of the
council our sewer system is inadequate
ind sfu such condition as to enda niger
he health and lives of the in habitants
# the city, they should not hesitate to
ry to remedy the evil even by new
ever system. l do. not believe any
sewer improvement could
,e made to advantage except by taking
he entire matter in hand at one time
md costructing a full and complete
ystem, entirely Independent of the
Id
I sincerely hope that the present
ouncil will be as. harmonious in the
transaction of business and as true to q
be city's welfare as has the council :"
uring the past year, and that the re- II
alton of the councilmen with each O.
ther, and that the relation of myself
nth the couucilmen, will be mutually
leasant and agreeable.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK MENEFEE,
Mayor of Dalles City.