The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-06
Show City Is in Most
rosperous Condition.
Y IMPROVEMENTS
That Add to Appearance and
Value of City Property.
OTHERS CONTEMPLATED
That viii Make Wichita a
Better Place to Live in.

Last night at the council meeting re-
ports were read from all OF the city Off
GERS except the city attorney for the
nine months preceding December 81, 1902
These reports were called for by Mayor
Mclean some two weeks ago, and he
stated as his reason for the call that he
believed the taxpayers of the city would
be interested in hearing reports of the
conduct of the citys affairs just as the
city was entering on a new year and
not wait for the reports to be made in
April The year just passed has been
one Of unequalIed prosperity for Wichita
more sidewalks and curbs have been laid.
more Improvements of Importance, the
streets are in better condition and the
city as a whole is building up rapidly.
The coming year will be one of even
greater prosperity than the one just
passed, and the mayor thought il would
be a good idea 10 have these reports
that in coming years the reports may be
compared and thus show the exact con-
oition of the city on the eve Of its great
est improvements.
ne reports read were as follows:
Report Of Mayor Mclean.
We have thought it might be Of interest
TO the taxpayers and citizens of this city
at the beginning of the new year TO have
reports made by the various departments
for the nine months which have just
elapsed so that all who desire to know
might be informed as 10 what has been
accomplished in the various branches of
our work. l desire 10 thank, at this time,
the members of the council, the city at
torney, and all of the city officers and
employees Of the city for their earnest and
loyal cooperation with US in transacting
the business and doing the work which
has come before US for the time men,
TONED
During this period the permanent i'm
provements made by private individuals
have far exceeded anything we have ever
known in the history of our city; thus
recessitating the expenditure of more
money by the city in bringing our streets
to grade, putting in street crossings, drain
boxes and rev ditching to care for the
accumulation Of surface water, etc. Aside
from the convenience TO the people the
city was compelled to make these i'm
proverents to protect itself from possible
damage suits for personal injuries.
In this connection, for your informa ton
we will say that during the past twenty
one months there has been built in our
city. thirty-eight and one-quarter miles
OF permanent walk. and twenty-four and
one-half miles Of permanent curb, mostly
by private individuals.
There has corre~to US frequent demands
for new hydrants that we have been IN
able to ignore. from localities where new
homes have been built and well settled
Eeighborhoods established. These condi-
tons have also created demand for ad-
ditional lights. some of which we have
located. In all cases. however. il has
been our policy TO carefully investigate
the need of these localities for these i'm
provements and none have been granted
unless the conditions justihd the same.
On the subject OF finances. We have paid
all our current bills. retired all bonds
and interest as the same have matured
without refunding in any instance
In bonds and interest we have paid off
during the past nine months SIS 500. -
During this time we have issued bonds
as follows:
New fire engine ....................s $500 90
New hose house ---..-.---...----..- 4I4. 70
Special improvement bonds for one
year OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Io,4te. Il
Making a total Of .-.-.-.--.----.-s22 S. 451 .l6
Ten thousand two hundred and
seventy-four dollars and eghty-hve cents
of which you will observe was paid for
the new hose house and equipments
We VIII further state that during the
past twenty-one months or since We have
had charge OF the citys affairs. no bonds
have been refunded and there has been
paid in bonds and interest $l24 %, for
which showing We feel highly gratiHed.
We will not attempt TO enter into de-
tailed account Of what has been accom-
plished by the various departments Of our
city government as their reports are be-
fore the council for consideration. We
will say, however. that the work done
and carried out by the competent gentle
men who have been at the head OF these
departments. also including our police
matron. reflect great credit upon them,
and further entitle them to the commen-
datien and praise OF all who have the
interest Of our city at heart
Let US in conclusion. gentlemen. express
TO you the hope that the year which is
Just opening before Us. be as prosperous
and full of pleasant conditions and high
aspirations for our city. both morally and
financially. as the one which has Just
closed. Respectfully submitted.
3 z. MLEAN.