The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-26

1S97.... .......... ............60sl
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In entering upon comparison of the
Thompson administration and the Har-
rington administration, the Inter Noun
tain enters upon sinking ground. 1t
is true that the Indebtedness of the
city of Butte was reduced somewhat
during the administration of Mr.
Thompson. 1t is also true that abso-
lutely no public improvements were
made during the administration of Mr.
vor public improvements, and the city
stood still during the two years he was
in office. The streets We're a mass of
mud during the spring and We're filled
with dust during the summer. The
sidewalks became dilapidated all over
the city. No public work was done.
During Mayor Harrington's admins
traton, on the other hand, more public
work has been done than in any pre-
vious administration Butte has had.
One-third of Butte's sewer system has
been laid during the past two years.
The main streets have been paved and
other streets have been graded. The adj
ADMINISTRATION has been progressive, while
stagnation characterized the admins
tration of Mayor Thompson. If the
people want public improvements they
must expect to pay for them. They do
expect to pay for them. Much money
has been expended by the city govern
ment during the past two years, but
there is something to show for it. The
people have the worth of their money.
Ask the business men CT Butte whether
they prefer the progressive admins
tration of Mayor Harrington or the
stagnant administration Of Mr.. Thomp-
son, and they will tell you that the
Harrington administration is far pre-
ferable
Nevertheless the city's indebtedness
has been materially reduced during the
past two years. Bonded indebtedness
to the amount of $4,000 has been paid
during Mr.. Harrington's term. The
floating Indebtedness is about the same
as at the close of the Thompson ad-
ministration. The Inter Mountain
claims that the indebtedness has in
creased more than $4,000 since Har-
rington went into office. But the Inter
Mountain fails to credit the present adj
ministration with the fact that more
than 100000 is now in the city treasury,
as shown by the last report of the city
treasurer. Within few days this mon
ey will be applied to the payment of
floating indebtedness, which will then
be 100000 less than stated in the Inter
Mountain.
The city'S warrants are now paid up
to about a year ago. Never before were
the warrants up so close as at present.
Some large items of expense and in
debtedness have been paid during Mr..
Harrington's administration. The Rem
shaw alley cost was $4,000 The debt
was incurred years ago. The city has
had to pay 25 per cent. of the cost of
street gradings, none of which was paid
during Mr.. Thompsons rule. The city
has had to pay for paving street inter-
~
There was no paving under Thompson.
The Harrington administration has
paid large share of the cost of the
public library, the warrants having
been issued in the Mantle administra-
ton.
But a worse boomerang appears in
the Inter Mountains local article head
ed Taxpayers pay for it, 1t says
During the administration of Mayor
Harrington judgments aggregating
s9,320s0 have been obtained against the
city in the district court, and the end is
not in sight, The funny thing about
1t is that the judgments rendered dur
ing the Harrington administration are
for damages incurred in the Thompson
administration. The Inter Mountain
enumerates the following judgments as
having been entered during the past
$uyo