The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-01
MAKING UP CITY REPORTS.
MAYOR MELDRIM SATISFIED WITH
1S97'S RECORD.

He Expects to Have His Annual Re-
port Ready the Last of January.
What the Departments Accom-
pIished Last Year-The Mayor Re
views the First Year of His Adj
lpinistration.
The arrival of the new year means a
busy time for the city officials. Not only
must the business of the old year be
brought to close, and the work upon
that of the new year begun. but annual
reports must be prepared and submitted
to the mayor, showing what has been done
during the previous year.
These reports are all expected to be in
within the first two weeks of the year
and some of them will begin coming in in
a day or two.
Mayor Meldrim said yesterday that he
hopes to present his annual report to coun-
ell by the latter part of the month, but as
he will have to depend upon the informa-
ton contained in the department reports
he will be unable TO complete his report
until these reports are in.
Probably without exception the city de-
partmcnts will show d record of more
work done than in previous years. The
police department will show q greater
number of arrests than in any previous
year, and al the same time the year has
been an orderly one, with no Serious pub
lie disturbance Of any kind.
The fire department Will show a better
record of fire losses as compared with
property involved than for any recent
year.
The water department WIFI make a
showing Of more economical management
on +ay s,st fn,.
any previous year.
The public health department. will show
a record of a very large amount of work
done, both in prese wing the health of the
people and wardinB off disease, with very
good results.
The city engineer, the city treasurer and
all the other departments, with the work
Of which the general public is not familiar,
will all show record OF good work done.
In The point of public Improvement
the city has advanced materially during
the year. The paving of Ogethorpe ave-
| nue., begun at the close of 1895, has been
completed and The street is now one of the
/ handsomest boulevards in the COUNTRY.
Bryan and Farm streets have been paved
for a great part of ther length with gran
! lite block. Railroad street, now Meldrim
avenue, is one of the best pieces of paving
| ever accomplished by the city, and is re-
garded with pardonabe pride by all hay-
ing any hand in the work
Savannah is now a fairly well paved
city,, said Mayor Meldrim yesterday in
commenting upon these matters. Rail
road street, which has since been changed
to Meldrim avenue, is che of the hand
soonest paved streets to be found any
where. The Improvement was a very de-
srabe one. A perfect roadway is now pro-
vided, completing the citys outlet to the
west and giving a connection to the coun-
] fr-x- hay
deal of paving it is desirable to DO
more The paving OF Drayton street is
very desirable Improvement and one
which l hope to see accomplished. Bull
street will doubtless be improved through
the southern section and will add greatly
to the comfort and convenience as well as
increase the attractiveness of that section
of the city
Mayor Meldrim expressed himself as well
pleased with the work done by the city
during the year.
House drainage has been gotten in
I shape and the work is now under way
he said This is destined to prove a
| great addition to our city. The contract
with the Brush Electric Light and Power
Company for lighting the city for five
years al cost of $72 per annum per lamp,
a reduction of SIS in the cost of each lamp,
| is very satisfactory arrangement and
one from which we shall soon reap The
I
condition at the beginning of the year, as
the result OF the recent storm, has been
put in excellent condition. In fact it has
been q very busy year and the results
when summoned up in the annual reports
will make a very satisfactory showing"
The terms of Mr.. Joseph W. jackson
as police commissioner, Mr.. John H. Fox
as water commissioner. Mr. George w.
Parish as fire commissioner and Mr.. w.
| w. Chisholm as tax assessor
expired last night. These gem
| tlemen have during the last two
| years rendered the city faithful service.
| They will be succeeded to-day by MIR.
! f. c. Gleason, police commissioner; Mr..
! w. G.. Cam, water commissioner; Mr.. T.
| NJ Cunningham, Jr., fire commissioner,
| and Mr. M. A. O'Byrne, tax assessor.
| These gentlemen enter upon siX-year
| terms of service, and consequently may be
| expected to become expert and efficient in
| serving the public.