The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-02-14
A Card From the Mayor.
Bellefontaine, O., Feb. 13,

| Bellefontaine, O., Feb. 13, 1899.
To the Council of the City of Bellefontaine,
Gentlemen:-For almost a year we have
| been without the protection to be derived from
a well equipped fire department. This is not
as it should be. Two attempts have been made
| to secure authority to issue bonds, wherewith
| to raise the necessary funds, but each time the
people have voted in the negative.
The Spring election is now approaching, and
I think that another effort should be made to
| ascertain the will of the people in the matter.
Three reasons are usually assigned for the
| adverse vote on the former elections. The first
| is that the amount asked for on each occasion
was excessive; the second is one that is not at
all aattering to the Council, but it is one that
we have got to face, and it is that the people
are afraid to trust the Council with the expen-
diture of any large amount of money; while
the third reason assigned is that in each of the
plans already formulated and placed before
the voters no definite assurance was given that
any calaboose or city prison would be incor-
porated in the building which would be erect
ed
A., presume, the Councilmen are each of
them eager to act for the best interests of the
tax payers, to give expression to the will of
their constituents and put an end to the dan
ger to which we are now exposed by erecting
such a building as would satisfy the needs of
the city, take the liberty, under Section 1-5O
of the Revised Statutes of Ohio, of Offering q
few suggestions which the Council may adopt
or not as it sees fit
We are all agreed that we ought to have
building for the use of our fire department.,
and that too at the earliest possible moment:
/ would recommend;-1. That the Council
select committee of not to exceed five citi-
zens, men whose reputation for integrity and
business qualifications are above suspicion.
For such committee would suggest the fol-
lowing: Robert Lamb, e. J. Howenstine, ]. @.
Brand, Robert Cotton, and M. C. Boals. To
this committee let the whole matter of erect
ing and equipping fire department building
e. That then one of two things be done.
Either wait until this committee shall have
met and reported what amount will be needed
for fire department building and its equip
spring election on the question of the issue of
bonds for that amount or take immediate &C.
tion with view at our April election to take
vote on an issue of bonds for said purpose
IN an amount not to exceed five Thousand dol
lars.
8. That the Council pledge itself to turn
ing fire department building and of expend-
ing the money raised by the bond issue to the
Committee of citizens as above suggested and
let the decision OF that COMMITTEES in all mat
ters connected the, ewith be final.
offer these suggestions in order that our
merchants and property holders may have
some protection from fire in return for the
large amount of taxes they are yearly called
on to pay, and In order that the taxpayers
may have the utmost assurance that such
money as they are willing to give will be ex-
pended with the utmost economy and probity.
1t Is about time that the dog in the manger
policy should be dropped in Bellefontaine.
Let us exercise little common sense and
dropping all petty discussions, get together
and do something for the good of the city.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. CASSIDY, Mayor.