Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-04-22
City conncil.

- lily II
The new city council met Monday
evening. There we're present Mayor
and Aldermen Herman,
Pattie. Cockburn, Baugh.
man and Jameson.
The council was organized by the
election Of Alderman Cockburn as
president aud Alderman Jameson as
vice president.
The mayorreadthe following address:
In assuming the dutios of chief ex-
.-ecutivc officer Of u city, I have pledg-
. dmyself to support and maintain all
the laws and ordinances on u statue
books, national. state and municipal.
This ! mean to do honestly and con
scientiously, without fear Of favor, to
the best Of my ability. As far as my
power goes, aud as is within my prov.
ince as head Of your police department.
y shall endeavor to enforce the laws
against illegal liquor traffic and gamb-
ling as strictly as those against theft.
arson or murder. In helping to up
build our city, aud have it keep pace
with tho growth Of our surrounding
country, we cannot afford to have the
conviction get; grounded that we are u
lawlees community that thrives on
crime and law breaking. We gain
nothing by the increase OF population
secured by becoming the dumping
ground for the scum, thrown of from
our sister cities, where laws are en-
forced. Tinhorn gamblers and blind
piggers may swell our census reports,
but not our prosperity. They increase
our taxes by swelling our criminal cal
endar, and are q constant menace to
good government by their always we'll
organized influence on our elections.
I believe in and urge upon you the
necessity of economy in the manage
ment OF our city affairs. High taxes
discourage our citizens and prevent
the investment of outside capital. II our
merchants are, obliged to pay i've per
cent OF the assessed valuation for taxes
they cannot compete with merchants
from adjoining towns where they have
less government and lower taxes.
We need better organization of oul
fire companies. The city has one Of
the best fire apparatuses in the North.
west, and has spent money liberally to
secure it. l urge upon the fire com,
mittee OF your council to take the
initiative for a thorough re-organisaJ
ton OF our fire companies.
Our city needs a purer and healthie.
water supply and the council should
consider the advisability Of giving us a
system OF water works in connection
with our artesian we'll.
A proposition will be made during
the summer for a new system OF light
ing the city. We should be slow il
jumping at any expensive contract fol
this purpose. Our present system ID
jpoor, but it is better than nothing. ane
cheap.
IT We succeed in giving our city gooc
enforcement OF law and order, low taxes
good fire protection, and good health,
water, we will have no trouble in main
tanning our lead as the business center
OF this region, aud Il all signs do no
tail, this means q boom for Devils LAX,
beyond anything experienced in on,
past history.
Isshall have to ask your indulgence
for many shortcomings. aud ask you,
earnest support in Ill efforts for tn,
furtherance OF the welfare Of the city.
The following committee appoint
ments were made:
Finance-Cookburn, Baughman an,
Herman.
streets-serumeard, cockburn an,
Jameson.
Artesian well-Jamieson, Pattie an
Baughman.
fire observation-disclosures, Patti
and Serumgard.
Health-Baughman, Pattie an,
Jameson.