The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1900-04-14
TO THE HONORABLE, THE Council OF TIL
Cry OF CRYSTAL FALLS

TO THE HONORABLE, THE Council OF THE
Cry OF CRYSTAL FALLS
The charter Of our city prcscribcs that
the mayor "shal, from time 10 time,
give the council information concerning
the affairs OF the corporation and
recommend such measures us he may
deem expedient'
Upon u consideration OF the affairs OF
our municipal institution, the first mat
ter that challenges our attention is ITS
financial condition. The question OF The
public Indebtedness and n course where
10y it's alarming increase may he cficctu-
ally stayed during the ensuing year are,
in my Judgment, matters which demand
your careful consideration and our
earnest cooperation. The present in
debtedness 81 The city, aside from cur
rent expenses, not yet audited, approx
mating 5000, is ns follows:
city orders utstnndine...........-S6 ,f7I1b
VILLAGE orders outstanding, ....,..... =. 5.ili.3i
Bonded indebtedness 25.oOOOO
Approximate interest due on bonds. 100000
Total Indebtedness OF city. ...... $50, is5 40
From this brief statement, the neccssl-
" az future retlenchment i'm public ex-
pendilure becomes manifest, especially
when il is considered that at the close Of
business on April 3, 1900, there was in
the city treasury, with which To pay the
$14, iS5.I9 Of indebtedness now due,
the sum Of $1OI 81.
To the accomplishment 81 this end, /
would recommend, in the first instance,
that the expenditure OF money in all
public works during the ensuing year bc
reduced tn absolute minimum. Those
in authority during the administration
OF my honoranle predecessor having ne
complishcd much in the way 81 reclaim
ing Our city from the dilnpidntion
attending 1t upon it's Incorporation. IL
| is possible Mt the present time to permit
public improvement to halt, ternporari.
| w, aud until such time M he weight OF
our present financial burden shall be
Jesse ned. recommend thut no work bc
done on our streets during the presen
year, save such repairs as are absolute
Iy necessary for the public health and
safety.
While The scheme of vesting municipal
corporations with power to erect, main
tain and control electric light and water
plants conteinplntes that such syHtems
will be self sustaining and operate as a
source Of convenience and economy 10
the citizens, rather than burden upon
tho taxpayers 81 the municipality, such
n presumption seems To he violent when
tested by our own experience. nm in.
formed that Notwithstanding the recent
improvements nnde upon the city
electric light pmnt, the capacity 81 the
plnnt IL yet inferior TO the demand upon
%, md TINT nm additional heavy ex
penditure 81 funds for further equipment
IL we'll nigh imperative. II IL equally
imprncticablo for "a public ~ well ns foi
"A private corporation TO carry ON nny
branch az It's business without ndcqunt,
equipment. and despite tho most
stringent policy 81 retrenchment poH
sibly maintainable, IL becomes youl
duty Co furnish this plant with sucl
equipment cxigcncy requires. | trust
however, that while stunning all pursi
money in this matter, you will, through
the board 81 public works, administe
this branch Of the public business with !
true economy, directing the employment
~ such ways and means, agreeable u
our organic law. ms will render nny new
leak in the public Golfer from this caus
imporsible. Under tho requisite lrgis
lniivo authority, ] woald RECOMMEND
that an effort 10 made to dispose ~ IL