Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-22
WORK FOR FARco's COUNCIL.

Fargo's new city council has its
work cut out. The annual address of
Mayor SWEET indicates that 1t will tax
the resourcefulness and financiering
ability of the council to maintain the
credit of the city and make necessary
improvements. The mayor says:
ITO begin with, l call attention to
the peculiar conditions which exist at
this particular time, and to the heavy
responsibility which rests upon the
council in consequence. The city has
reached a point in it's existence when
many of the municipal improvements
have either become entirely worn
out, or else inadequate to it's enlarged
needs. In the water works depart
ment, some of the mains are about
worn out, and others in the heart of the
city are so small that they would only
suffice for the needs of a village. The
pumping machinery Is inadequate an:
nv ouAiASAOAtiy dS0itlSt tuc
contingency of accident; water for
drinking. purposes is being delivere.,
in the manner that prevailed in Egypt
1000 years agO-dragged for miles in
carts and delivered by hand in buck
cts. In the department of streets and
bridges a similar condition of exhaus-
tinn twists Tho noutn~ mn 49, -ons-
thorOughfares is SO entirely worn out,
that the expense of maintenance is not
only heavy, but the doubt of it's last
ing through. another ear is great.
In the fire department the ~organiza-
ton is not conformable to the needs
of a city of Fargo's size. A move in
the right direction has been made in
the appointment of a permanent chief
and in the addition of a steamer. but
as soon as practicable a paid depart
ment should be established, wherein
a thoroughly disciplined corps of ten
or twelve men. acting as a unit under
the control of the chief, should always
be on instant call. 1t will be found
that such an organization cannot only
be more effectively directed, but will
cost but little, If any more, than the
department as at present organized.
The conditions alluded to in the sew
eral foregoing departments has beer
the growth Of years, but the CRISIS q.
"jumping-of place" has been reached
just about as the present council
comes into power, and this, gentle
men, brings us to the financial depa.t.
ment Of the city government. At a
moment when we find the accur Mat
ing necessities of the last ten years
have come to a focus, we discover
also, that the sources from which
money should come to meet the n
nous renewals, made suddenly neces-
sGry, are exhausted-that we have
reached the debt limit. A proposed
issue of bonds to meet the cost OF inn
prOvements was voted down at the
election just pasce!. In what other
manner money may be provided will
tax the fnanciering ability of the coun-
Gil to the Utmost. There seems to he
but two courses open-either to do
nothing and take the responsibility of
allowing bad water to threaten the
city's health. and poor fire protection
to threaten the city's existence. or
else TO make an appropriation to be
levied in n assessment 10 meet the
costs. In this connection O will
also consider the advisability of rails.
Ing the assessed valuation in order to
increase the debt limit for bonding
purposes. taking also into accoun the
excessive proportion Of state and coun-
ty taxes which the city will thereby
have to pay"
The new city council began upon its
duties last night. The MAYOR md