The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-01-09
Council Proceedings.

Council met In regular session Janu-
airy 5, l903.-Present; Mayor Brosius,
Councilmen Blowers, Mcdonald, Clarke
and p. S. Davidson; Recorder Nickelsen
and Marshal Dukes.
Minutes OF last two meetings we're
read and approved.
Mcdonald, chairman of committee On
streets and public property, reported
that permits had been granted for
building sidewalks on Second and State
streets.
The mayors annual message was read,
accepted and ordered printed for the
information of the public.
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
| To the Honorable Common Council
of the City of Hood River, Oregon
Gentlemen; A pleasant duty devolves
upon me, that for the third time review
ing the condition financial and other
wise'' of the city Of Hood River, and
Recommending such measures for the
peace, health, improvement and pros
perity of the city as may be deemed ex-
pedient.N My recommendations will
naturally be brief, as my tenure of Office
practically closes with this meeting. |
the hope that future councils may find
the foundations of progress and pros
perity" which you have attempted to lay
broad enough and solid enough to sup
port the superstructure OF the future
city, practically without change. Know
ing this to be your only aim, will only
refer to it again in recapitulation.
Upon assuming Office in 1900, | found
the city embarrassed by lack of funds
for even the most necessary and econom-
iCal administration, the resources for
the preceding year having be,n but
S9S.25, while the city expenses had been
$l27 40, and but for balance brought
forward from 1898, there would have
been deficit; as it was, there was a
balance on hand of $63. 16. TAX
ing this for the basis of proba-
BILE receipts and in view OF the unwrit-
ten rule that there should be no tax levy
nor Indebtedness incurred, we were inn
mediately confronted with the probable
necessity Of providing for the expenses
of the quarantine against contagious
diseases, menacing the valleys straw
berry harvest, should they secure
hold. After careful investigation of the
menace and probable cure, we bought
an ideal location containing four-room
cottage with ample out buildings for
$6l6, giving the city warrants running
four years, and before the papers were
completed transferring the title, small
pox was found in the heart Of the city.
These cases, including the family ex-
posed TO the disease, numbered six per-
sons, all slightly affected while under
quarantine, and requiring expert nurs-
ing. The total cost Of these cases to the
city after providing the hospital, was
$500. 40, necessitating the borrowing by
the city of $424 cash with which to keep
its credit good for future emergencies.
At this iuncture new source of revenue
was offered the city and 1920 per year
added to the resources, thereby allowing
the payment of our loan as well as the
original cost Of the hospital. We then
took up the various questions needing
investigation before actual plans could
be laid, among these being street grades
and Improvements, including sidewalks
and crossings, sewerage plans, establish
ing surveyor 'smonuments, freprotection,
city jail, hall and several propositions for
present and future prosperity, temporar-
lily postponed, such as grading and gravel
ing streets, city gravel pits, extending city
streets OF county road to better steamer
landing, boundary contentious between
owners, eneroaching on the city streets
or roads etc, not to mention laborious
reading and individual and committee
work on foundation OF new charter, Sc