Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-06-16
Mayors Annual rles. a e.


matters of importance, not only 70 you,
but to our people also
desire to impress upon you the neces-
sity of exercising the strictest economy in
all expenditures. Our report OF last year
shows thar in nearly every instance our
expenses exceeded the appropriations and
such expenses as were incurred were abb
solntely necessary. Our income is small
and the demands upon the Treasury very
large, for every department will require
far more than we will be able to expend.
Even under these conditions let not our
expenditures exceed the amount collected
BY the sergeant urge upon you to ex-
ercise due care and caution in the pur-
chase of ali supplies, in making improve
ments, only where they are imperative,
when the condition of the Treasury war
rants them.
Our streets are exceedingly bad in many
places and demand immediate attention.
Maple avenue is bad from one end to the
other. Burke street between Charles
and Raleigh streets has never had any
improvement made upon it, although the
money spent in the building of residences
in that block in the past ten years far ex-
.ceeds that spent for similar purpose in
another section of the city. | merely
mention these two streets as instances of
neglect while the streets as a whole need
thorough repairing.
desire TO call your attention to our in
adequate water supply and request you
to adopt some measures to remedy this
grave condition of affairs. Scarcely day
passes that some one does not complain
OF being entirely without water. Espec-
Tally is this true Of persons living in the
northern section of the city, who pay
their proportion of the taxes. and the same
water rent as those living in the central
section. This is not fair and moreover
places the former in an exceedingly dan
gerous position in case of fire. AS far as
our finances will permit, would recon-
mend that the pipe now in use be taken
up and replaced with new.
Our system of public lighting is INSULT
-cient 20 meet the demands OF the people,
at least IS or 80 more arc lights are nee
essary to afford the citizens such protec-
ton as they are justly entitled 10. More
over the present distribution is decidedly
unfair. There is but one arc light west
of Raleigh street only one east of High
and but two or three south of John. Even
the main throughfares are not sufficient
ly lighted and heartily recommend that
the. Light Committee take this matter in
hand and endeavor TO make more liberal
terms with the Electric Light Company,
whereby large number of arc lights may
be added without increasing the cost.
| trust you may keep the condition Of
our Fire Department before you.
heartily recommend the purchase OF
chemical fire eXtinguishers. This appa-
ratus is absolutely indispensable TO every
well equipped Fire Company. AT present
we have none and in the course of time
we are sure to need them. AS before
stated the condition of our water pipe is
such as to cause grave apprehension for
the safety OF property in case OF hre and
the addition OF chemical exiting uishers will
increase the efficiency of the Department
at least IS per cent
In order TO complete the John street
sewer, suggest that the Street or Spec
ial Committee apply to Superintendent of
Public Buildings and endeavor TO secure an
appropriation of $1,000 or $4,000 and with
part of this amount extend the sewer up
Maple avenue to the Government Build.
ing, also to FIX a rate for residents on John
extends, and with the hotels and with such
money extend the sewer as far as possible
toward TuScarora creek. | am satisfied
the Wooden Mills would willingly contri-
butte their proportlonate share towards
obviating the dangerous nuisance that
now exists in the stream that now run
under the Dry Bridge and which menaces
the health of every citizens living in that
section. There is nothing 10 be gained
by delay in this matter and respectfully
urge you TO give it your immediate atten-
ton. There is scarcely resident south OF
John street who has not complained OF the
nth that now necessarily accumulateS in
an open stream used as a sewer and their
patience is about exhausted. You can i'll
afford to defer this matter until the people
themselves, through the courts, compel
you to take action when the health OF the
entire community is one of your re-
sponsible duties.
During the past year the majority Of the
offenses against the ordinances of the
Corporation were committed by boys and
even very young children We're often gull
ty of creating disturbances which were
punishable but on account of the age OF
the offenders had to go unpublished. In
order to prevent like occurances in the
future, would recommend the passage of
a moderate curfeW ordinance. | cannot
see that any individual would file an OBJ
lection TO such law, if so wny9 Can
any parent object to such measure that
would assist him or her keeping children
under the protection of their homes
Does any sane person pretend to assert
that children are made better by permit
ting them to be free from all restraint
Does not too much freedom, especially
after late hours, courage, not only mis-
chief, but vice and many times in its low
est forms' A curfew measure would not
affect in any way the vast majority of the
homes in this city and in fact it may APP
ply to only few, but let us assist these
few anyhow, in keeping children out of
the temptation that beset so many. 1t is