The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-27
MAYORS ANNUAL MESSAGE.
THE CITY'S AFFAIRS PAST AND
PRESENT REVIEWED.

ton of National Quarantine.
Drainage in and Around the City
Matter of the Greatest ImpOr-
tance--Streets Must he Kept Clean
era Uniform Sidewalk RECON-
mended For Bull street SOuth-Fire
CommissiQn's Complaint Answered.
Mayor Me!drim read his annual report
at last nights meeting of Council. Though
denominated a report, it was more Of an
annual message.
Not only was the work accomplished
during last year reviewed, but present
conditions were strongly presented and
discussed.
The Mayors annual reports heretofore
have been rather of a dry and statistical
character. Mayor Meldrim neglected sta
tistics, but gave his attention to facts and
conditions. 1t is safe to say that the re-
port is not only one OF the ablest but one
of the most interesting public documents
ever presented to the City Council.
in reference 20 the city's finances the
mayor says: The estimated income for the
year 1888, from al sources is
$T75599.S3, and the appropriations for
the same period of tine $40, 59j.25.
In order that this income may be realized
il is necessary that every tax payer he
required to bear his just proportion of the
public burden. No exemption from taxa
ton should be permitted, and by no de-
vice should any person be relieved from
this burden. Property of every cass
should be returned at its true value. and
every dollar 10 which the city is entitled
should BE- collected. In this way, the tax
rate can be lowered. Every effort has
been made to reduce expenses, ard these
efforts will be continued. There are neces-
sariiy many leaks in municipal admnisira-
ton, but, as far as practicable, they should
be stopped. L must not be forgotten mat
the maintenance of a city is expensive,
and that every improve ment adds to that
expense. The city has increased in popu-
lation; new buildings have been erected;
new territory has become occupied the
municipal assets have increased; the pre-
eminence of Savannah as a cotton port
has been restored, and her bank clearinss
aggregate the enormous sum of Sl2I71,-
40l. 49, The area acquired in 1854 which,
by reason of Legislative restrict on was not
subject TO taxation until the plan of the
city had been extended over it, WILL il is
hoped, this year be made a source of in
come. Every effort has been made to
economic. The expenses in the mayors
Office have been reduced, no extra pay
is allowed to any one. The CITY Court no
longer a municipal court, but essentially
a court belonging to the county of Chat
ham will cease on April ! TO appear In
the appropria tons, and if the representa-
tives from this county had received the
support of the senator from the First ais
trict. further reduction might have been
made in the expense account of the city
as we'll as of the county. This is no time
for increase of salaries, and l regret to
say, that / have not found every depart
ment of the city government imbued with
a spirit of economy.
ha anIaaN TOrpd encourage
aud enforce the strictest economy, yet
it must not be understood that false econ
omy has been practiced. l found the phys
ical condition of the quarantine station
bad and recognizing the Importance OF
reducing the detention of vessels TO
minimum, immediate work was done upon
it, Further work is now necessary, and
bids a this time are being invited for
necessary repair and improvement of the
station. The river front has received spe-
cial care, wharves have been repaired,
and every effort has been made to promote
the commercial life of the city. Too much
stress cannot be laid upon the subject Of
harbor work and l especially invite the
constant attention of the committee on
harbor and wharves to this most impor-
tant branch of city government.
The Council may at any time be called
upon to take decided position on the sub
ject of quarantine The experience of the
past summer has stimulated a very strong
movement in favor of national quarantine.
Whether or not the federal government
should take exclusive control of quaran-
tine both by land and water, is a question
of vital Importance to the interests of this
port This is neither the time nor the
place for a discussion of that question.
and your attention is only now directed to
it in order that you may be better able to
deal with it intelligenty when it
becomes necessary for YOU to de-
eide it; for, if the effort Is made
to place all quarantine in the hands of
the federal government, and you, in your
good judgment, should determine that such
control by The government, notwithstand-
ing that it would be a financial saving
10 the city, would be inimical 10 the best
interests of this port then you should be
prepared to resist the passage of such an
act by Congress, with dignifed remon-
STRANGE and forceful argument
In reference TO house drainage the Mayor
says: For years the question of house
drainage had been discussed. Plans had
been prepared and money expended yet
no real progress had been made. You are
aware that a contract has now been en-.
tered into, whereby a complete, and l
trust, satisfactory system of house drain
age will be provided for this city. l am
assured that the able and intelligent COM
mittee on house drainage will see there
Is strict compliance with the terms Of
the contract j have the fullest confidence
in the ability and integrity of the super
vising engineers. and shall insist that the
work be most rigIdly inspected, and that
not one dollar of the public money shall
be wasted. While there has been a divis-
ion of opinion as to the proper outlet for
sewage, the conclusion was reached, ar
ter the most careful investigation ana
study, that the proper outlet was the Sa-
yannah river. and there is no reason to ap-
prehend that tne slightest injurious com
sequences wall result from that outlet Ii
should be borne in mind that the river il
the present outler. IL is true that this
undertaking VIII incur the expenditure OF
large sum of money, but the payment :
will be extended over a period of len
years, and the burden in this way viii
not be felt. While future administra.
tons must be responsible for the enforce
ment of ordinances looking 60 the protec.
ton OF connecting house drains, vet I can
not refrain, at The inception Of this in.
portant Improvement, from insisting that
occupants of houses shall be taught
TO understand that any obstruc-
ton OF these connections, through
carelessness or negligence, will be severely
punished. You have already by ordi-
nanceS provided pQpaIfu for tho uyiIf,,l