Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-11-05
A RECORD OF REFORM.

III ioVV Jno tity pno0cN ihtO VI
hands of Democratic council. A
that time it was in very bad cond
tion politically and commercially
There were no modern improvement
in the city, and although the tax raj
was s 50 everything was run like
country town. With the advent o
Democratic rule the city took on al
air Of progressiveness and the recon
of the seven years that will close on
the centennial Of HopkiusyiIe, OF
Nov u, 1897, has shown more pro
gress than the 90 years before tina
time. One of the first steps Of the re
form administration was to reduce
the tax rate to Sl50, saving to the
people Of more than $4,000 in seven
years.
In 1891 the Ohio Valley railroad
was built into the city at an expense
of Sll5,OOO by public subscription
and $4,000 by private donation. The
interest on this bonded debt has been
paid out of the savings of economical
government, without additional tax
to the people.
This alone is enough to entitle the
Democratic council now standing for
re election to the lasting gratitude of
the people If Hopkinsville. Not only
has the interest, amounting to some
thing like $4,000 year, been paid,
but last year the bonded debt itself
was reduced $4,000 and sinking
fund isnow on hand to be applied in
calling in $4,000 more of the bonds.
When the Democrats came into
power they found the city already in
debt many. thousands of dollars.
There were old street bonds drawing
interest and the public school BOMBS
were not all paid. These old debts
have all been paid off and the city is
out of debt, except the ten thirty
railroad bonds now being paid before
maturity at the rate of $4,000 year.
Seven years ago the city was light
ed by gas lamps and the present
council deserves the credit of putting
in the excellent system of electric
lights now being operated in the city,
This improvement costs the city $4,-
600 year, but here again is ii benefit
without cost, for no extra tax has
been levied to meet this expense.
But a greater improvement than this
has been established in the city. The
water works plant, that affords proc
lection to every property owner in the
city, that lowers insurance rates 25
per cent?, that supplies all of the
blessings that water brings TO those
who have it for use in their homes,
has been put on foot and is kept up un ..
der a contract that COSTS the city ST.
600 a year, aud this too is paid for
out of the regular levy without one
cent Of additional taxation.
The telephone system of seven
years ago was poor and badly man
aged affair. To day it is equal to the
best and the city stands ready to Of
fer encouragement to any other
needed enterprises for the convent
ence aud benefit of its citizens.
While these public improvements
have been given the people, the coun-
Gil has gone ahead with many other
substantial additions to the city's
progress.
Not less than $4,000 or $1,000 year
has been spent in street improve
ments, making an aggregate of about
$50 600 in seven years
The public schools have been paid
out of debt and two new buildings
erected, new enterprises, mills, laun-
dries and factories have been EN-.
couraged by exemption fir m taxation.
Many new and handsome buildings
have gone up, and there has been an
active growth and constant develop.
ment, although the seven years of
Democratic rule have covered the
most disastrous period of business de
preston in the history of the country
The public offices have all been
honestly and faithfully administered.
The city judges office has been made
a source Of revenue instead of tax
on the city. The work house bias been
made profitable, and the police have
been kept under rigid discipline and
instructed to perform their duties
without fear or favor.
The colored puzzle school building
destroyed by fire was rebuilt in part
by the city, the insurance of $1,000
being supplemented by $500 from
the treasury. In addition, the city has
supplemented the per capita fund of
the colored school, enabling the
school to run its full term every year.
The white schools have been en-.
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