The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-04-22

funds which should be otherwise ap.
piled. Something like 100000 have
already been paid on it in interest
Much of this should have been saved by
the gradual payment of the principal.
as was stipulated in the agreement
Debt is the great curse of our whole
country. And in our case it does seem
doubly so. What we should do, what
others before us should have done,
would be to resolve to recommence the
payment of this burden which year
after year is demanding SO great a sum
in interest.
SEWER IMPROVEMENTS.
am of the opinion, as i know you
gentlemen of the council are, that III
the way of general Improvements the
sewer system should be considered in
preference to all others. By its extern
sion as rapidly as circumstances will
admit, and as the people-the property
owners In this matter think it
would be of great interest to al if we
could place before the public, in some
concise manner, the amount of work
already done and the general expense.
OUR STREETS.
There is one thing which | hope we
may be able to accomplish this year,
and that is improve the general condi-
ton of our streets. | mean those out
side the paved thoroughfares. A look
about the city today will show in al
most every case that the bitches are
higher than the center of the roads. In
all my experience in the city the streets
| have never before been as bad as this
spring. What must be done is to see
that the cutters are cleaned out and the
dirt put into the center Of the road.
| Get an outlet for the water and great
| improvement will be the result One
trouble has been the great extent of
our city limits; and perhaps the great
attention given to paving has caused
us to lose sight of the other streets
And with the annexation Of new terri
tory we have only added to our work in
this line. But this year let US give
more attention to our dirt roads. And
with this object in view, and with the
hope of getting better results from the
same amount Of money, | would sug
gest to you, gentlemen, that you divide
| the city into two districts. Let the
first and third wards constitute the
| first district. and the second and fourth
wards the second district. All of you
must realize the extent of territory now
covered by the city, and must feel, as
do. that it is more than one man can
for as supervisor. With gangs of men
employed in remote parts of the city,
called here and there, as he is, he can
not give to the work in hand the atten
ton he should, but wastes it going from
place to place. Divide the city into
two districts and place man in charge
of each. Let them be held responsible
for the good work they may do. Let
rivalry exist, if need be, between them
as to which can do the best work, and
the most, on the funds at hand, and |
feel confident that the city will have
better streets than ever before in the
past six or eight years at least.
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
There is one branch of our city gov
eminent which all citizens are justly
proud of, and that is our fire depart
ment 1t has been thoroughly
equipped by the people, and is today in
a condition to successfully combat any
confagration, almost, that could posi-
bly, overtake US as a community.
Backed as the fremen are, with all the
modern appliances in machinery, and
with the best system of waterworks in
the state, all can lie down at night
feeling assured that good men are on
guard to save their property. Of
course, there has been great expense
incurred in this fitting out the depart
ment. But it is done ow, and
it is likely that for year or two to
come, there will be little expense neces-
sary, beyond possibly the purchase Of
new hook and ladder truck. That is
needed, but it's expense would be nom
lnal.
THE PAUPER ACCOUNT.
There has been much complaint, in a
general way, over the pauper account.
That there is much abuse practiced on
the good intentions of those in charge
here is no doubt. The list of mendi-
.ants continues to glow, and too often,
,erhaus. aid is given when it should.
.ot be. Some are inclined to think
hat the money is there and they will
.et as much of it as possible. 1t would
he good thing if we could COLOMBO the
deserving poor in home belonging to
the city and place all of them on the
ration system. At present this cannot
be done, but the committee can and
should see to it that men who are able
10 work are not taking that which
should be given to women and helpless
children.