The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-05-10

was made.
The salaries of the town officials wer
fixed as the same as last year.
Alderman Belbey moved that Jere
miah G. White be appointed assessor
Alderman Owens nominated Collinl
Weir. White was elected receiving
the five Democratic votes while Wei
received the votes of the three Repub
leans present. The board then adj
journed.
TO the Board OF "A lde7me1a Of the
Toaon Of MorrSstoa0n
1t is a cause for congratulatiOn that
you do not have to face the question
Of paying off an outstanding indebt-
edness of sufficient size to cause APP
prehension OF insolvency to the peo-
BILE who have the interest of Morris
town at heart. A review of the past
could be OF no benefit, except to
guard against the recuri ence of dif-
ficuiittiies iiiccitii have been heretofore
in the way of governing this Town
10 the most satisfactory manner. But
it is well to keep in mind those con-
ditions so that in our desire to do the
many things we all realize should be
done, we may not Overreach our
selves and leave worse financial
condition than formerly existed. A
successful administration must be
built on solid foundation, and DO
solid foundation can be founded on
the shifting sands Of q constantly ac-
Gs1mu1afinQ indebtedness,
| anticipate we will, also, find the
difficulties of constructive work fully
equal to the conservative policy of
saving money to pay OFF indebted
ness. There are many things that
should be done which we will find
ourselves unable to do. The fact
that we have no Indebtedness does
not mean that we are in the possess
sion of any Aladdin's lamp system OF
finance which will allow us to go on
aud spend money unfortunately
without regard TO the amount in
hand to expend. AS you already
know, the work of this board is prin-
cipally in the hands of committees
and the duty of the committee is
even more difficult In the expenditure
of money than it is in saving money
to use in paying any Indebtedness.
In the former case it is necessary to
see that each item of expenditure is
properly made and that The mater is
bought or contracts entered into and
properly executed, and that the
value is given for the money spent
In the latter case none of these diff
ficulties confront us.
Among the things to be attended to
- tho no no of fha cfroafc xuhiah W a
all are interested in. Certain streets
have been inacadamized heretofore,
and some of these are now needing
repairs. These are streets which are
fhoroughfares and are used not only
by the people of the Town, but by
strangers coming in the Town, either
ON business or pleasure, and the good
name of our Town rests in a measure
on their being kept in. proper condi-
ton There are other streets that
are not thoroughfares, that will also
need attention. The property own
rTs Oi tins inter class oi streets have
paid their taxes for the improvement
of the streets that have been improv-
ed and they are entitled to have their
streets looked after. This does not
mean That fanny extensive system OF
macadamizing OF all the streets can
be undertaken, because we have no
money FOR that purpose. My person.
al idea would be that as streets of the
old kind, either dirt or gravel, be-
come in such condition that repairs
have to be made, such repairs
should be of permanent nature, as
fast as they can be made within oLr
income. Also that those streets
should have prefelenc for perma
nent repair along which the property
owners have done their part by put
ting down the curbing and paving
the sidewalks in front of their prop
critics. This is true for at least two
reasons. First, the property owners
who are interested in improving the
Town enough TO Improve their own
properties and street frontages by
curbing and paving are entitled TO
the assistance of all other property
owners to the extent OF part of
their tax contributions IA preference
10 those property owners whose ouly
functions in the body polite, accord
ing to their own apparent concep-
ton, judged from their actions, is TO
complain about everything that is
done or left undone, while at the
same time they are unwilling to DO
anything themselves. Second, a road
that is inacadamized before the curb
and cobble gutter is put ia may be
found on the placing OF the curbing
end gutter to be too low for proper
drainage, whereas, II the gutter is
put in first it is simple matter to
raise The road bed, so that the water
will properly drain off; but it is not
all easy matter 10 reverse the opera
tion.
have no doubt the committee Oh
streets will give attention TO this
matter and spend the money they
have in band where it will do the
most good, but this can OILY be
accomplished by unceasing care aud
attention. The careful looking alter
Of many details. fixing up all small
matters, quite often gives more salts
faction than larger work carried
through, while small matters, which
are much less expensive, have been
left TO suffer,
The matter OF street lighting is al
ways matter OF Importance. There
Is no one connected with this Town
government, who would not desire to
have the Town more adequately
lighted. An adequately lighted town
Ii, without doubt one OF the most eff
ficient means Of protection FROM
crime and many educational factors
of town life bordering thereon, or
leading thereto. The lighting con-
tracts under which the town is now