The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-22
CITYS CASH WENT
IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS DUR
ING LAST FIVE YEARS.
IN HIS ANNUAL REPORT
MAYOR MYERS WILL REVIEW
WORK OF ADMINISTRATION.

Heads of City Departments Must
Have Their Annual Reports in the
Hands of the Mayor on Jan. SAN
of the Departments VIII Make n
Splendid Showing for 19O3-MnyOr
Myers Will Soon Begin Preparing
His Annual Message to Council.
Will show How Many Improve
ments Have Been Made.
Already the heads of the various city
departments are figuring on their an
nual reports for 1903 These must be
in the hands of Mayor Myers on Jan.
5.
The Mayors annual report to Coun-
ell will probably be more elaborate
than usual, although Mr.. Myers will
not begin working upon it until after
Christmas, and will have to wait I'M
til all of the department reports are
in hand before completing it.
1t is the purpose of the Mayor in
his report for 1908 to review the work
of the administration for the last
five years, and to call special attention
to the many improvements that have
been made. During that period Of time
a large part of the city's revenue has
been expended in making improve
ments that are constantly before the
public, and Mr.. Myers will review the
work of street paving.
The New City Hall.
The Mayor will also probably have
something to say about the new City
Hall. Each year he impressed upon
Council the Importance of arranging
for the building of a new City Hall,
and now that the building is assured,
he is certain to comment on the fact
and compliment Council on the action
that it finally took. The Mayor work.
ed hard for the new building, and it
was due largely to his efforts that mat
ters have progressed so far.
All of the city departments will
make splendid showings in the re-
ports that will be submitted to the
Mayor, and 1908 will go on record as
prosperous one with the city The
report of Harbor Master Mcbride will
show a very healthy condition of the
port and that the flags of almost all
nations were seen here during the
year.
Good Health Report.
The health officers statistics will
be evidence of the fact that Savan-
nah is one of the healthiest cities in
the country and the death rate will
compare favorably with the healthiest
cities. The excellent health conditions
of the city will also be shown in the
report of the keeper of the city dis
pensary.
In the report of Supt Mcguire of
the fire department it will be shown
that the fire loss for 1903 was larger
than during 1902, but that there were
greater number of fires during the
present year and that the value of the
property involved was greater than in
1902. 1t is expected that this will
bring the percentage of loss to about
what it was last year. Thus far there
have only been three big fires during
the year, but the firemen never feel
safe until the holidays are over.
Year With the Police.
In the report of the superintendent
of police it will be shown that the
uniformed and plain clothes men did
good work during the year. 1t can
not be told yet how the arrests will
compare with those made in 1902, but
the amount of stolen property recov-
cred is certain to be large. The police
| chief will outline in his report improve
| ments that are contemplated in the
department for 1904.
The director of public works will
show balance of about $4,000 to the
| credit of the streets and lanes de-
partment. This amount was appro-
prfated for asphalt repairs, but was
held uD because of the unsatisfactory
way in which the work of repairing
the streets was done. A great deal
of work has been done in this depart
ment during the present year, and the
director of public works will be able
to point with pride to the paving Of
| Abercorn street.
The waterworks department will
| be able to show that there has been
a steady Improvement in conditions,
and that a large sum of money has
been saved the city during the past
two or three months. A further saw
ing is promised for 1904. and the de-
partment is now in excellent shape.