Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-07
CITY FINANCES ARE SOUND
Annual Message Of Mayor Morgan Show
Gratifying Condition Of Treasury.
PRESENT CITY OFFICIALS REAPPoNTED
streets and Alleys Committed RECON-
mends the Paving Of Several
streets During the Pres
ent Year.

GhA war
The session Of the city council last night,
being the hrst meeting Of the new fiscal
year. Mayor Morgan, following the custom
Of his predecessors, delivered his annual
message to the aldermen, in which he re-
viewed the work Of the last twelve months
and made some recommendations for the
ensuing year. Referring to the financial
condition OF the city he said:
1t is gratifying to know that at the end
expenses have been kept well within our
appropriations, our appropriations well
within our income, and that there rema n ,
treasury. At the beginning OF the fiscal
year, April, 1902, the city's total indebted
standing bonds, and the net Indebtedness
was 1881, 2lS. 70.
There has been paid during the year. in
tersection paving bonds amounting to Sl2,-
90, intersection sswer bonds, $1,000, making
a total OF S29 .0J, leaving a balance OF
bonded indebtedness of $S6i,500. There is a
$50 90, which leaves a net indebtedness Of
only 1901 500. This showing should be a
espec. ally as we have no floating Indebted
ness and all warrants were paid when pre-
sented. It is a matter of regret that the
demand on the part of the members of the
fire and police departments FOR increased
wages could rot be recognized. Yet It is t.
z Ue nJpeu lndt In6 time Is not IdT Instant
crease in our expenses.
Touching on the water works question, he
said:
A good water works system is an abso-
iute necessity for every city. Our citizens
are justly proud of our present system. 1t
Is well equipped and up to date. is ca
pacity is amply able to supply all demands,
but the growing cost for water Service T.
becoming a heavy burden upon our city's
revenue. 1t is to be hoped that when tn
present contract. expires a very substan-
tial reduction will be had from the present
contract price.
Paving Work of Year.
We have made a marked advance in
street Improvement during the last year,
ing having been laid. with mere than 25,-
CO.. square yards contracted for, but MT
yet completed on account OF the early
these contracts are completed all but tire :
streets which were paved with the old
cedar books will have been repaved. l
added to those to be ordered paved this
season. This will complete much of the
that all streets in the central portion Of
the q v be ultimately paved. yet you hou
not lOse sisht o. me DuIoens you are put
proceed with caution. While / am sat sfe
that you have determined upon the hes
kind OF paving material for our use as re-
CARDS durability and cost. yet l believe
That from the nature of our soil, a con-
crete base would be much preferable to a
= lower course OF brick.
In closing Mayor Morgan congratulated
the citizens Of Council BLUFFS in securing
the generous gift from Mr.. Carnegie OF $780,
! 900 for a public library building.
Renppoints City Omcers.
These officers were unanimously reap
pointed for the ensuing year: N. C.. Phil
| line cifv .larL. I0hn = Tapnnlaton ohiaf
Of fire department; James G. Bradley, city
electrician; Julius Johnson. custodian OF
city building; A. Fellentretter, poll tax col
%lector; Charles Burke, ~poundmaster.
Alderman Mcdonald, as chairman Of the
committee on streets and alleys, recon-
mended that these streets be paved this
year: Eighth avenue, between Main and
Seventh streets; Seventh street, between
Eighth and Ninth avenues; Ninth avenue,
between Sixth and Seventh streets; Ninth
street, between First and Seventh streets;
Tenth street, between Broadway and
Seventh avenue; Third avenue, between
Eighth and Tenth streets; Fourth avenue.
between Eighth and Tenth streets; Seventh
avenue. between Ninth and Tenth streets
Twelfth avenue, between Main and Sixth
streets; the alley between Main and Fourth
streets. from Willow avenue to the alley
ooubh " bloduNdys
Action on the recommendation was de-
ferred until the next meeting.
Petitions for Water.
Petitions for the extension Of water
mains on Fourth avenue, between Twenty
third and Twenty-hfth streets and on
Fourth avenue, between Twenty-third and
Twenty-hfth streets and on Third avenue,
between Seventeenth and Twentieth streets
were referred to the committee on water
works. IL
Alderman Mcdonald suggested that the
city advertise for bids for keeping the
streets in the business section OF the city
clean and II this was found impracticable
that a sprinkling wagon be purchased IA
be used with the street sweeper. II was
decided to advertise for bids for cleaning
the streets.
A resolution was adopted requiring the
county board of supervisors to expend that
portion Of the county road und levied from
assessment within the city limits on such
streets within the municipal limits as the
committee on streets and alleys may desig.
nate.
l.. c. Besley's request that he be given 8
partial estimate on his sidewalk contract
was refused, the aldermen not being salts.
Ned with the progress made on the work
Alderman Lovett also called attention Il
the fact that complaint had been made
that some Of the work was defective and
; brick which Besley had hauled for the
walks on Avenue A was not Of the proper
quality.
The Groneweg & schoentEen company
served notice that it would appeal 10 tn,
district court from the assessment for tn,
J paving on Ninth street in front Of its new
warehouse.
] The city solicitor was Instructed to tax,
the necessary steps to condemn the oil
! frame buildings at 726 and 800 Broadway
The first is a large frame structure oc.
eupied by ]. Stein as a feed aud junk stor,
and is considered a menace to adjoininJ
property.
Thomson & Burke, leoIored, were glveI
permission TO conduct a saloon at 1902
: Broadway.
Church Mortgage Paid ON.
Special services will be held at Grae
Episcopal church this evening. at whic'
time the mortgage on the church rector