Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-04-11
HIS HONOR'S MESSAGE
TO THE ALDERMEN OF THE CITY.
de Praises Them for Management Of
City Affairs, and Makes Several
Valuable Recommends
tiOns.


40 tNe COunctt of me Csty or DecOr0h,
GENTLEMEN:
In accordance with the requirements
of the law, l make report to you CON
cerning the municipal affairs of the
city.
From the verv complete and explicit
report of the city clerk for the year end
ing April |, 1900.
find the total receipts from all
sources Si6,54364
Total disbursements..... l5,9HX
Showinga balance of......-....l.. s58s.sf
Unexpended:
The total receipts for the previous
year Were sl7,57i2l
For the last year ,655.8s
Showing deficit in receipts OF
this last year off,. ................ .oso.S
Adding to this excess of receipts
over expenditure. S599.3G
Shows decrease in disburse-
ments OL.. .............................. $l,629.a
The amount of decreased expenditures for
the year ending Apr. l. 1900 notwiths tandine
the unusual expenditures for the following.
New waterworks main, etc.. s2.4ll.M
Remodeling city hall, NOW paid
tnereon) ........ l992.&
Amounting to-. $1,000
Shows conservative management Of
city finance. The smaller amount
($l ,030.57) received for the last year
shows q slower collection of taxes up ts
Apr. l, 1900 and there will be CORES.
ponding increase and more for the next
semi-annual payment. The levy being
slightly large for 1899 over 1898, and
the total taxable valuation greater.
While firmly believe that economy
should be practiced by the council, YET
it seems to me that there are .certain
improvements, the necessity for winch
is imperative.
FIRST. Water street is disgrace to
the city, and should be either macada
mized or paved.
SECOND. But before any permanent
work can be done upon the streets .
sewer system should be adopted and
sewers laid down upon streets under.
which sewers must be put. The estab
'lishment ofa sewer system should be
made at once.
THIRD. The Oil tanks erected in
the streets by the Standard Oil Co. are,
perpetual annoyance to the people
living in the vicinity of the same, and
constant menace to life and property.
FOURTH. The law gives the council
power to change the course of streams
in the city and condemn property for
that purpose. Your property commit
tee has recommended that immediate
action be taken to protect the hitchins
grounds.
am informed that the course of the
river can be changed for about the sum
that it will take to protect the grounds
If tins be true large tract of land can
be reclaimed and the whole property
rendered much better and in every way
more desirable.
For such change much individual
help could be obtained by private sub
scription. would recommend thai
investigation into the matter be made
at once and if found feasible the work
be ordered.
l would recommend that an ordin-
ance be adopted rendering it illegal to
throw offal of any kind into Dry Rur
or to place any distinctions therein
on the grounds of sanitation and
cleanliness.
would suggest that a hay
straw and wood market be established
upon the east end Of the public hitch
ing grounds
l would suggest that an ordinance
be adopted regulating the speed of
trains, clearance of crossings, flying
switches, etc. within the city limits.
A change in the ordinance licensing
shows: Under the present ordinance,
the mayor has no discretion, the house
is licensed for year and the manager
let's in such shows as he sees fit to do.
Many cities in Iowa have public
libraries, purchased and sustained by
taxation.
The Decorah Library Association
have now about 900 volumes of books,
but have no room suitable and conven-
lent.
An application was made to me SF
officers of the association for room up
on the ground floor In which to place
the books and for use for the purpose
of library and reading room. l adj
vised them to apply to you and would
recommend that the city paw. the rent
for a suitable place for such library,
which can, l think, be done legally in
conformity to the statute.
Respectfully,
GEo, w. ADAMS, Mayor