The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-05
MAYOR YEGEN'S TALK
Makes Good Address to the
Council About Affairs Of
the City.
MUST NUMBER HOUSES
And Streets -- Water Works and
Light New Policeman - City
Licenses and Other Matters.

When it comes to speech. making, it
is doubtful if Mayor Chris Yeaen's
school of aldermen Gun be beaten, not
even the two Windy Bills" from Ne.
braska being excepted. The Billings
aldermen, apparently, are practicing for
some future occasion aud If such is the
case they are to be forgiven, 1t is said
that Il few years ago resolution was
passed by the council prohibiting any
member from talking more than one
time on any one subject, but il such is
the case the present members are un.
doubtedly unaware Of it, Or they would
keep the floor longer when they once
have it. It was thought that the coun.
Gil would turn over new leaf in this
particular with the new year, but the
members seemed to have considerable
to talk about They aired their views,
but there the matter rested. no one
seeming to be ready to carry them any
farther.
The first meeting Of the new year on
Tuesday night found every alderman in
his seat with the exception Of Connolly,
who was still absent in the east. The
usual reading Of the minutes Of previ.
GUS meetings was the first thing after
roll call From them it was CLEANED
that special meeting was held Oh Sat-
urday evening, Dec. %, 1899, at the
request of Fl. W. Rowley, Of the cleo.
trio light company, who had plan to
present to the council for placing the
lights over the streets instead of swing
ing them in the middle, as the council
had ordered. The council met, but, for
some reasons unknown to this date, Col.
Rowley failed to put in an appearance
and the lights remain as before.
His Honor, Mayor Yegen. made a
new yoar's address to the council, as
follows:
Gentlemen of the council: Entering
upon the New Year and the new CEN
tury, feel that few remarks upon
the past and my views upon the future
Of the city affairs would not be out Of
plaoe. The past seven months that we
have worked together, have reason to
believe, that every man has made an
effort to- do his best for the interest Of
the city. l believe every member Of
this council would drop his own private
affairs to serve the interests Of the city.
We have complete harmony in our
council meetings and the business Of
tbs city is carried Oh in business like
manner.
The contract on the North Side sewer
system has made progress beyond all
expectations and the property -owners ex
press their great satisfaction over the
actual relief the sewer has brought
them from the nearly intolerable seep.
age water filling their Easements and
making life a burden in their homes.
Today a cellar twelve feet deep will be
dry, whereas, formerly, the water stood
within two or three feet Of the ground
surface. Now, when man comes here
to build a home for his family, he
makes inquiries and finds that we have
little city, provided with modern i'm.
provements, and finds that he can live
here and enjoy all the comforts Of life
the same as he could in larger city.
The investor, the shrewd capitalist, CAL
come here to invest his money. They
will find that there ia a city council il
charge Of tho affairs Of the city com.
posed Of business men, all Of them hav.
ing the interests of the city at heart
willing to sacrifice time and money tt
further the welfare and prosperity OF
our town.
Municipal ownership Of the water
power and electric lights has been dis
oussed, bat without any degree of salts
faction 80 far, but good results will fol
low. Such matters take much time
and should have careful deliberation
no that there may be no chance of t
mistake
The future of a town depends largely
upon the character Of the people max
ing up the community. and more es
peoially upon the character of the mel
who are guiding the affairs Of such {
community and every man in thiI
| council should feel that much depends
on his personal az we'll AZ his officia
| conduct.
| We have the task before US of placing
our town in good sanitary condition
| M 1t ia possible to have 1t. Our sewer
system should therefore be extended Il
all parts Of the city; water mains OK
tended to all applicants.
The paving Of business streets SHOULD
come under discussion and another
sprinkling district should be establish
cd, embracing all the residence part O
the oity.
Every citizen and every councilman
! should urpa the OOuntY commissioner