The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-03
Saloon Ordinance Effective on
January 1st, 1897
a HEATED DISCUSSION
Important Report Of Alderman
John c. Drewry.
NO CHANGE IN TAX ASSESSMENT
But the Same as in Former Years
MIR. Robt. Simpson Elected Mem
Der of the Board to Sue
coed MIR. Cnas. {.
johnson.

There was a full meeting of the
Board of Aldermen last evening, and
much business of unusual Importance
was transacted. The reports of the var
ious committees were submitted and
adopted.
The report of the street committee
was submitted by Mr.. j. c. Drewdy and
unanimously adopted. 1t is given here
with:
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of
Aldermen:
Your committee on streets beg leave
to submit the following report:
1t has been the custom in this city
for some years past to anticipate the
taxes to be collected during the imme-
date succeeding year, and during the
summer months. before these taxes
were due and collectible, we have been
forced to seek aid through the kindly
assistance of our banks, which cashed
the city warrants in order to enable us
to meet the regular weekly pay roll.
This year the banks varied from the
usual custom and cashed all warrants
presented up to the usual amount OF
about $4,000, and then notified the
further. After consultation with Mr..
Brown, president of the Citizens Ma
tional bank, he very kindly consented
to continue cashing the city pay roll
to the amount of $500 per week, and as
this amount had to be divided between
the fire department, sanitary depart
ment, the parks and the street depart
ment, it became necessary to reduce
the street force and in consequence we
were compelled to suspend the work
almost on our street Improvements
during the past month. But owing to
the fact that the time of our State fair
is near at hand, and being DESTROYS of
finishing the work on Hil1sboro street
by that time, we have again increased
our force to some extent and we are
now concentrating all our forces and
energies on that work with view of
having it in readiness for travel during
fair week.
We regret very much our inability
to push the much needed improve
ments on many of our streets with
greater rapidity. This inability is pro-
duced by lack of funds with which
to operate, and presents condition
which this board is powerless to REM
edy without the cooperation of the
people of our city, as the present in
come of the city is hardly sufficient 10
meet the current expenses, which prac-
tically leaves nothing for street inn
provements of a permanent nature.
We have done the best that we could
with the means at our disposal. We
have been as economical and progress
siye as we could under the circumstan-
ces, but we believe that if a specific
fund was created each year for street
improvements, not out of the current
income of the city, but running
through period of years, and covered
by bond issue, that much better re-
suits could be obtained, and we know
of nothing which would add more to
the material prosperity of our beauti-
full city, and the comfort and conyen-
fence of its citizens.
Our streets are regularly and sys-
tematically laid out, and they are al
most perfect in grade and width, and
are more susceptible of improvement
by the expenditure of a small sum of
money than any. town in the South.
Our city is now on the upward grade.
to prosperity, and is advancing almost
daily with visible strides of internal
improvements. There is scarcely a
prominent street in the city on which
there lis not being erected several hand
some dwellings. The growth Of our
city during the past year has been
gradual and constant, regardless OF
the depression everywhere, and We
have everything to encourage us to
greater efforts, and we feel that our
greatest need is better streets and bef-
ter sidewalks, and if our finance COM
mittee will provide the means for max
ing these improvements we will guar
antee to have it done.
Respectfully sulbmlUted.