Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-20
ANNUAL REPORT
OF Mayor Henshaw and Other City
Officials.

NtStA VI Ad>t NCCh III tax Pun o~N Va A1SaA
ing the reports Of the officers Of the Cor
poration for the year ending May 9th 90.
Mayer Hen haw vas in the chair and
ConnciIfnen Woifes, Foley, Paulding.
Kline. Lemen. Eversole and McQuIlken
were present.
An application Of James NJ. Baker for
license for the sale Of spirituous liquor was
recommended to the County Court.
A communication. signed by q number
Of citizens was Their read, asking the
Council not to recommend any persons to
be granted license by the County Court
until notice Of the application had been
given out, so that they could appear before
the Council and enter protest against it.
The communication was received and or
dered placed uponrccord for future action
The corporation attorney was authoriz-
ed to appear before the County Court, in
conjunction with the School Board attor-
ney, at the special meeting to be held on
May 27th for the purpose OF reconsider
ing the reapportionment OF the tax upon
the b. a o railroad.
"a communication from MI. d. c. Wes-
~tenhaver, attorney for Mr.. James F.
Thompson, regarding the operation OF the
sewer, was then read. MIR. Thompsons
attorney stated that he did not intend get
ting out an injunction against the sewer
being used, but later en- he did intend get
ting out an injunction against the opera
ton of the sewer, if it made the III any
worse than it is new.
The committee, appointed to confer
withthe citizens living near where the
~ aN,~+.AI - ~sfarat1ra ~ the nraara-
ton of the sewer, reported that nearly all
of them had consented to permit the
sewer to be put into operation and that
almost all of them had com to the opin-
ion that the condition OF the run would be
bettered. They further recommended
that the Kilbourn Knitting Machine Co.,
be permitted to use the sewer for three
months before paying the 5000, which
they agreed TO pay at the completion OF
the sewer. Messrs. Kline and McQuilk-
en- said that in consultation with members
of the County Court they had said hat
they were in favor of making the Kill
bourn Co, pay the 5000 before they tap
ped it. Mayor Henshaw said that the
County Court seemed to be against the
progress of the municipality. He said
they had already taken away a revenue of
SIIoo, a year from the Corporation and
they should 0 be permitted to have their
own way this time.
Mr.. H. H. Emmert, the attorney for
the Kilbourn Co., said that they were
perfectly willing to settle the matter
amicably and were willing to comply
with the resolution which was then adopt
ed by the Council.
The names of the Republican clerks
and commissioners, as recommended by
the Republican executive committee, were
received and confirmed.
A nuisance on John street, reported by
Mr.. E~versole. was referred to the nul-
sance committee.
The reports Of the officers of the Cor
poration or the year ending May 9th
90, were received and referred to the fl
nance committee as follows:
REPORT OF THE MAYOR.
Gentleman In accordance with the
custom that has obtained in the past Of
sending a message with a report at the
close of each fiscal year, / have the honor
to submit the following for your consider
alton.
Ist. The reports of the Sergeant and
Treasurer show a deplorable condition of
the city treasury, which the imperative de-
mands of the last year did not warrant.
The present Council inherited a debt
of $4,000 from its predecessor. Instead of
paying off this obligation before mourning
more, additional expenditures have been
made with altogether unsatisfactory re-
suits.
Every member Of the Council knew
more than a year ago the exact amount OF
revenue derived from taxes and yet with
facts and with an increased tax rate the
Council finds itself further in debt than
any of its predecessors for years past have
been. This condition of affairs cannot be
charged to one more than the other of the
political parties represented. The current
expenses OF this corporation are $500 per
annum and the revenue about S2Ioo and
yet with a debt of $1,000 on its hands a
sewer was begun at a cost of $500, and
who has derived the benefit of this ex-
penditure?
End. There is a well founded suspicion
in the minds of many of BUR citizens that
the machinery and pipes of our water
works are becoming inadequate TO meet
the demands upon it. 1t is but a question
OF time when new rollers must replace
those now in use. You cannot be blinded
as to the rapid depreciation in the value of
real estate. After the assessment of 1906
our income will not be as large as it is
now and in order to meet the demands in
cident to the water works one of two
things viii be necessary:-either an in
crease of tax rate, or the issue of more
bonds, which will add to our interest ac-
count. Can you expect the taxpayers to
sanction either OF these steps?
Sd. The cost Of lighting the streets of
the city constitutes a heavy drain upon the
treasury and still HEAVIER if the Corporation
establishes a plant of its own.
4th. No visible improvement has been
made on the streets by your Honorable
body. One or two ~sweepings in the past
year is all that has been given them. The
road he'd &c oettino well worn and rOl1oher