Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-04-19

Assistant Chief, Wagon DrlYer, oloch Impounder and patrolmen, was J.
 ANNUAL REPORT Of the the Chief of Police for the Fiscal
 Year ending March 3l, 1898;
 Currency y....--...--..-----.-.- $s'aS9 70
 Committed .................. 2,405 30
 Total receints. ................ $l1 .2O5 10 Totat disbursements ................-... 9,z0o l9
 Earnings in excess of expenses. $I ,996 sl
 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 The Fire Department so nearly touch es all of our personal and commercial ln- terests that it's annual showing invites attention. Its work has been much hampered on account of insufficiency ef water pressure, which oftentimes proved the occasion for greater damages to burning property than would have been the case under an ample supplyof water. It's report clearly establishes the fact that under the capable lemanagemento ot its honored Chief, MT. Charles Senyard, It keeps abreast of the cityis growth, and will in the future, as well as in the past, justify our confidence. The department during the past year received and re- sponded to 70 fire alarms, of which 34 were actual fires and 36 false alarms. Of the 34 fires there were 23 partial and Il total losses. In nearly every instance the fire was confined to the initial building.
 HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
 During the past year the Board of Health has had more demanded of it, more to contend with, more extraordi nary conditions to meet than usual, and yet, the occasional criticisms of it's man. agement to the contrary notwithstand- ing, the records and the results obtained demonstrate beyond question the great efficiency with which the duties of the department have been discharged. An example of how much can be done, and has been done. in the way of warding off and stamping out contagious and other diseases, is shown by the prompt action taken by the Board last summer in quarantining against the possible inva- sIon and spead of yellow fever in our midst, and likewise by the promptness taken to effeetually stamp out scarlet fever, which at one time had almost be- come epidemic among the children of the city. With pardonable pride we are enabled to point to the prevailing good health of the inhabitants of the city and it's remarkably low death rate, which must be, in part attributable to munich pal cleanliness.
 BELLWooD CEMETERY.
 Your public cemetery, while having undergone considerable improvement during the last year in the way of street grading, new fencing, etc., is still in need of attention. The money which is being collected and held for this purpose should be used unstintedly, to the end that this sacred spot, in point of beauty and attractiveness, be made to compare favorably with the cemeteries of other cities.
 PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
 l again invite attention to the growing need of a new City Hall and prison. The present approximation, aside from being old and inadequate for present use, has fully served it's purpose, while your calaboose is little less than A dis grace to our community. Sufficient ground upon which to erect a suitable edifice has been bargained for. and I would recommend that ways and means Tor the construction of such a building be provided at once.
 WATER AND LIGHT.
 The needs and requirements of a more perfect system of lighting and better water supply for both public and domes. tlc uses are questions which should have the fullest consideration at your hands Poor light and bad water is a menace fo the health and prosperity of any citv Pine Bluff Is afflicted with both. The former has met with solution in the recent granting Of franchises for an electric street railway and new Gohtino plant and the awarding of q contract by the Council for readiustine and TO lighting the city with electricity hv inc new company at greatly reduced fiSures rom the prices now being exacted by the old light company. This leaves onIy the water part of the question. which has been the shibboleth of the peonle and the bone of contention in inc Counell for many years, for you to con sider and settle. A brief outline of the water contract between the city and the Light and Water Company. tooetbar with partial review of the many efforts | that have been put forth from lime to tune by the City Council, myself and predecessors in office looking to ifs an lofeement, Will, l trust, be not ont of place at this time. In the year 1889 the Clty Council granted franchise to inc then principals of the present Lieht and Water Company to construct and operate water works and light plants and thereupon entered into a 30.vaar contract with said company for the c;tv @ and It's citizens in which the said con;, y pany agreed and bound itself to tha c;t,, and It's inhabitants for term of 30 years