Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-16
Suggests Ways and Means for the
Better Government of the City
the Coming Year.
Sidewalk Resolution Passed and Other
Matters Disposedof by the Old
and New Councils.

lie pldCt VI INV Al1h 'oA " IL ShS
Fourth ward. When the new council
met a committee on credentials con-
listing of Messrs. Smyth, Cunningham
and Reade was appointed and they re-
ported Aldermen \Slattery, Reade,
Jackson and Patterson as the aldermen
from the four wards elected for the
ensuing two years.
Mayor Register delivered a brief in
augural address to the council as fol-
lows:
Bismarck. N. D., April Is, 1902.
To the Hon. City Council of the City
of Bismarck, North Dakota:
Gentlemen: Section 2126 of the Re-
vised Codes provides hal the mayor
shall annually and from time to time
give the council information relative
to the affairs of the city and shall also
recommend for it's consideration such
measures as he may deem ~expedient.
In Of this section. I now
submit some suggestions for your con-
s%ideration.
Numerous matters have come before
the council and been disposed of dur
ing the past year, which in my opinion
have resulted in substantial benefit to
the city; among these. it is gratifying
to refer to your successful efforts in
placing the loan which enabled the city
to fund all of its outstanding warrants
issued prior to January l.. 1895, at
a low rate of interest and at the same
time to secure a handsome premium of
about $1,000.
During the past year, the efficient
health officer and the board of health
has succeeded in two different occas-
sions in stamping out the smallpox
| epidemic. at small cost to the city.
The recent action of the council in.
purchasing a detention hospital is
commendable and the board of health
having at it's disposal a place to isolate
cases of contagious diseases. will be
better enabled in the future to pre-
vent the spread of epidemics.
In my opinion, the present policy
of the council in the construction OF
sidewalks is a proper one and is con-
ductive to the better appearance of the
city, insures more safety in travel
and adds to real estate values.
The streets of the city have been i'm
proved so far as the means at hand
would permit and on a number OF
streets the work done has greatly i'm
proved same.
The efficiency of the fire department
has lately been increased by the pur-
chase of new hose and the reports
of the police of the city indicate fewer
arrests and improved conditions pre-,
vailing. I also note that there. is less
{ disorder than heretofore, which has in
some measure in my opinion resulted
from the better enforcement Of, ant
regards for the law.
recommend for your consideration
that the council by action request the
proper authority in this county to en-
force the provisions of the law contain
ed in chapter 81 of the 1901 session
laws, which relates to the enforced
, settlement of all delinquent real estate
: taxes upon property situated
within the city. This law is PRACTICAL.
the sama as the Woods law, which ha'
been enforced with gratifying results
. in a number of the counties Of thi
state. By proceeding under this law
the city ought to be able to collect
large part of delinquent taxes whicl
= amount I am informed to upwards O
$40. 900. The benefits from such
course are apparent and the arrears o
, taxes if collected would enable tn
council to reduce the levy and to max
much needed improvements.
The city is practically upon a cas-.
basis, our Indebtedness, bonded an
warrants is some $1,000 less than tn
l. debt limit of the city including cert
ficates of indebtedness amounting ar
proximately to about $1,000. TIL
status of these certificates should b
determined and if the same are vail
e obligations they should be paid by
le levy of taxes covering a period {
q years. .
'e I also recommend that some suitabl
n place be provided for storing the hos
re and other property of the city and thu
an inventory of all city property /
taken and filed with the city aud
. tor.
In my opinion, the detention no
Dital lately bought should be put
as good condition for the care of I'll
sick as the means of the city will pc
nit.
also recommend that gre
economy by practiced in all depar
ments of the city to the end that I'll