Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-04
MAYOR SUBMITS A MESSAGE
Affairs of the City Are Reviewed at
Length,
SUGGESTIONS FOR COUNCIL TO FOLLOW
Finances in Good Condition, the
Municipal Expenses Having
Been Materially Reduced
During Past Year.


At the meeting OF the city council last
night Mayor Jennings delivered his annual
message and reviewed the condition of the
several departments and suggested such ac-
tion as seemed to him to be needed, The
heads of the various city departments like
wise submitted their annual reports
Mayor Jennings referred to the harmony
| that existed during the past year in the
! work of the council and committees and
the confidence that the affairs of the city
| VIII be honestly, economically and credit
ably conducted in the future. He took up
department matters as follows:
Before the beginning of the last fiscal year
an appropriation ordinance was passed al
lotting to each department a fixed sum as
the maximum of its expenditures The
operation OF this ordinance has been very
gratifying. The revenues collected have
been sufficient to meet all appropriations
and every department has been kept within
lts limit. In fact, the expenditures have
been even less than was anticipated and Mt
the close OF the year there is a balance
or $o,275.54 remaining from the appropria-
tlon The citys current expenses for the
fiscal year were $3,SS1. 10 less than those of
the preceding twelve months
lhe reports of your city officers show the
financial condition of the city to be better
than one year ago and that the nat city
Indebtedness has been reduced about $50 600
October l, 1898, $4,000 of regular CITY 7
per cent bonds matured. Forty thousand
dollars OF these were paid and the balance
$4,000, was refunded with AN per cent
bsnds. which were sold at a premium of
siOo. Ihis transaction while il did not nf-
fc%t the net city debt because the fund a
used were already hand saved the city
$2,SOO interest on the $4,000 paid and $3.50
reduction annually in interest on the portion
refunded.
The work of the street department during
the last year was confined to the betterme ut
of streets, sidewalks and roads. and was
well distributed over the city
lhe granite paving on Broadway and Main
streets shows no appreciable wear but its
surface mas become uneven, largely on ac-
count or careless retilling of excavations
LOT water and gas pipes. / recommend that
action he taken to guard against further
damage from this cause. and that the ordi-
nance governing the taking up and renlacing
OF pavement be more strictly enforced
After referring to the fact that the cedar
brock paving had proven an unmitiRated
failure, Mayor Jennings suggested that all
streets paved with this material should
Wherever practicable be repaved and for
paving he recommended brick
Referring TO the condition of tho side
gested that the aldermen make a very thor
ough personal inspection of all walks in
their respective wards and report their con-
dition at an early date, and that all walks
which are low be ordered relaid and raised
10 grade He favors plank wafks being
done away with and nothing but brick used.
upon the subject of lights he says:
me annual cost, of lighting the ,itv is
ABOUT Sll,OOO under the existing Contract
win the council Bluffs Gas and Electric
company which expires in December. 1t
WIN aeVolve upon you to determine whether
OF not this contract shall be renewed
Wodld suggest that the council or a proper
committee enter into negotiations with the
Council Bluffs Gas and Electric company
it oking to better service, and to a reduction
IN the cost of light both to the city and
private consumers
Our system of lighting is very expensive
and you should demand a substantial reduc-
llon in the rates for both gas and electric
light An early determination of this aues-
tlon is important. | would recommend to
the present company that it reduce it's rates
on public lighting and to private consumers.
COmmends the Police Force.
After referring to the ract that the city
during the last year was comparatively free
from crimes of serious nature the mayor
compllmented the department on it's efficient
work and threw bouquet at the members
or the police force for their good appear
ance' He suggests thar the department
should be removed from political influences
as rapidly as possible and placed upon
civil service basis
The fire department, he says, has been
conducted with economy and the citizens
nave cause for congratulation upon the small
amount of fire loss sustained. Sufficient re-
NAMED OF the appropriation for this depart
ment to purchase 900 feet of new hose
Iaking up the parks, Mayor Jennings says
1t Is his judgment that 1-mil levy would
be sufficient for the present maintenance of
them.
In conclusion, the mayor said:
have faith in Council Bluffs and its |
commercial future. Its outlook has never |
peen more promising. The large number |
Ot railroads OF which II is already the ter
minus are preparing to invest hundreds of |
thousands of dollars in this city during the |
present season. One great railroad system
me Illinois Central, has already commenced |
iaylhg track on an extension of its line to
ms point Another company has completed
surveys and may build to lis this year.
Council Bluffs is coming to be everywhere
as great railroad center.
These Indications point to better ondi-
.lons and permanent prosperity [ be-
Iieve that with skillful management of our
lnairs the day is not far distant when Coun~
Ell Bluffs will rank high among western
cities.
Condition of City Funds
The report of City Treasurer Brooks Reed
showed that the balance on hand at the
beginning OF the fiscal year was $74.O55. SO .
ana the receipts during the last twelve .
months to be $226825,O7, making total of .
$500 SSO,69 The disbursements during the
year were s21O 425.9S, leaving balance on
hand of SSs,954l, The special assessment
grading fund is overdrawn $4OOSl The
balances in the different funds are as fol-
ows;
ieneral fund .Sll SOa07 |
bond loan ...'........,..,...,,....... 252j.O2
intersection paving and grading. I1Su. n .
uusHehI .'''...'., Observation-Disclosures, IA G6 /
w aver q h5IlI
ark OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1S4.g9
library ...,......,.......... 9266S .
Special asses sment for sewer........ l9N5.7a .
Special assessm mt for paving. 2g997 (
surbing and dewalk,................ 1000 ,
ollce 10 Ni5.42
intersection sewer .,............,..,., 13 pos 40
lily bridge '''....,....,................ 5,S2Sl4 (
! runued debt '...',....,................ 2S4329
5ehsral sewer Observation-Disclosures. goa IS
Hpad i'';.,,';'.'. .:.............,.. 299 70
SpeeldI pohd ptlon.....,.,..... i2S37
Jas ana electric lght.,..,.,.,.,..,.... 6i252