The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-01-13

the past year. No Indebtedness ex-
lists on this date, all current expenses
have been paid, and the treasurer's re-
port will show balance To the order
Of the city. Nothing retards the
growth and development of cOmmu-
nifty more than large amount OF out
standing obligations, Involving * cor
responding degree of taxation. Our
state, county aud district taxes are suf-
iicienily burdensolne upon our people,
and you and your predecessors have
done well In maintaining our city gov
ernment without levying any property
tax for municipal purposes.
No ordinances have been passed du-
ring the past year. Our people as a
rule are disE osed to govern themselves
in proper manner, and u multiplicity
of laws would only tend TO impair that
sense of individual responsibility that
all worthy citizens should feel. In this
connection ! have to recommend that
ordinance he amended so as 10 ad-
ih0riZe the recorder TO discriminate as
to amount of license To he paid for CIV
ing entertainments of an educational
nature. To preserve The peare of the
community some suitable place should
be provided where vioators of the law
may be confined. During the straw
berry harvest not less than thousand
strangers, many Of them Indians, come
to us, and an efficient marshal and Sc
cure Jail would afford IA most whole
some restraint. AT all other seasons
uniform peace has prevailed.
The health of our Town during the
past year has been excellent, no con-
tuginus disease, with the exception of
whooping cough, having prevailed.
Hood River, with its invigCrating air,
its well drained soil and pure water,
will never be unhealthy except through
the neglect of its citizens In the care of
their premises. Your committee on
fire and police have visited tenements
deemed unsafe and recommended inI-
provements and changes that have
been cheerfully complied with. IN the
absence Of an organized fire company,
| recommend that suitable ladders and
buckets be procured and placed at CEN
trail places. As further precaution, l
suggest that our citizens provide rub.
Der hose that can he attached to the
hydrants and carried to the roofs Of the
buildings.
Our educational interests are in a
most satisfactory condition, and never
has greater interest been shown by
teachers aud pupils than ut the present
time. The wisdom of erecting our
large and beautiful building Is con-
stantly becoming more apparent.
The outlook for both town and valley
was never brighter than at present.
Our fruit growers have taken new en-
c0uragement from the experience of the
past year, and the near advent of i'm
portant manufacturing interests is Civ
ing hope and life TO all classes of our
people.
1t is expected that several brick husi-
ness buildings will be built the coming
the necessity of establishing the grade
OF our business streets before these more
permanent structures are erected.
Let us see to 1t that the government
of our town adapts itself to changing
conditions, to increase of population
and wealth. And may we so conduct
its affairs that our citizens will realize
that we who temporarily fill these Of
fees seek only the public good. |
thank you, gentlemen, for the uniform
courtesy extended to your executive
officer during the past year. Respect
fully submitted f. l.. SMITH,
Mayor.
On motion of Bradford, so much of
the message as related to establishing
the grades of streets was referred to the
committee on streets and public prop
erty; so much of the same as related to
a city Jail, to the committee on health
and police; and so much as related to
better protection from fire, to the com
mittee on fire and water.
Adjourned to meet January 10th at
1880, to receive reports from finance
committee.