Arizona republican., 1903-04-05
MAYOR BURKE
 ROOMS PRESCOTT
Progressive Mayor Talks About
 Progressive City
The Prescott of Today Like the Denver of Yesterday-A Situation Full of -Encouragement-An Appeal to the Civic Pride of the Mountain Me tropolis.

Prescott, April 4--(Spec1aD.-A pa per by Mayor Dennis Burke on the sub ject of local Improvements and read be- fore the Monday Club has been so generally commended that numerous citizens oi Prescott have requested the publication of the paper in The Repub- Ecan in order to give the mayors re- marks the wide circulation they de- serve. Mir. Burke said:
 1T must most empha tically protest against Prescott. Arizona. being classed with villages or being called Q village for we have long since passed from the title of village" with our more metropolitan blocks of sub stantial business buildings and many handsome residences. These, together with our municipa1>ownership of wat erworks and sewerage system and pri Vate ownership of electric lighting plant, and contemplated building of electric street railway that will eX- tend not only to Broom and Lynx creeks, but to other recognized valuable tributary points. in my opinion give us the right to feel that We are residents of a city. And do not the improve ments wherein the public are directly benefited, such as the enlargement of the Mercy hospital to twice it's present size; the completion of this fine build ing in which, by the courtesy of the Odd Fellows, you are assembled today; the prospect, in the near future, of d new opera house, with all the modern accessories, and the starting of a build ing fund for a new Congrega tional church-do not all these enterprises en- courage the belief that Prescott is en- titled to be classed as a progressive metropolis?
 Passing the question of village inn provement," we will now assume the responsibility of not only attempting to care for but of recommending such improvements as suggest themselves for the betterment of our metropolis.
 "The first and most important ques- tion which should suggest itself to the taxpayer should be the actual necessity of the improvement Of our waterworks, thus rendering them more adequate to meet the demands of our rapidly grow ing and anticipated increase in popula- tion. The growth of cur city today is in evidence and al this moment de- mands expansion of our present water and sewerage system. It may not be out of place to here state that bids are now called for to rebuild Whipple bar racks, and when this work has been completed, while we cannot claim the residents of our near neighbor, Whip pie, as part of the population of Pres colt, we are al the same time, I believe under agreement or contract to furnish water and sewerage. Contemplated i'm provements of Prescott's waterwork. and sewerage system will meet all de mands in this direction from Whipple
 The improvements of our streets consider an important matter. Espec ial care should be taken that they b, kept in as clean and neat Q condition as the funds for the purpose will per init. There is nothing that catches tn eye of visitors quicker than the appear ance of our streets, and first imDres sions are generally lasting ones. I'm street committee should take grea pride in establishing a reputation fo Prescott. al least in the territory O Arizona. With our facilities for sprinkl ing, we certainly should keep the dus well laid. Many Improvements, in fact too numerous to mention, are in evi dence, in beautiful lawns, planting O shrubbery in front and around many 0 our handsome residences; this gran work should be kept up and encour aged. With our ample supply of wate there need be no fear of shortage i this respect for all such purposes.
 The substitution of a magnificen modern school building, for a danger ous trap and a building, which 1 ar led to believe, will be furnished wit every facility known to educators fo the betterment and enlightenment C our young hopefuls, is indee a credit able improvement, and one which wi forever stand as a monument to tn public spirit and intelligence of tn taxpayers of school district No. l. Ar other improvement, frcm an educa tional standpoint, will be the substitu tion of the contemplated modern builG ing for the present St. Joseph's COT vent, which will. when completed. nc only be a credit to Prescott, but to tn entire territory of Arizona, and reflet great credit upon the energy of tt Order of the Sisters of St. Josepl Still another evidence of Prescott public spirit towards educational in provement is the commencement of tt building of a fine public library whic has been brought about very material