Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-07-02
The Mayors Annual Message

To the Honorable Common Council OF
the City of Lewiston. Idaho, Gentle
men: *s
In accordance with the provisions Of
our special charter I desire. at this
time. to call your attention to the work
done within the past year. and also to
make a few suggestions as to what
should be included In the work for the
coming year.
It is extremely gratifying to note that
within the past year some OF the most
substantial improvements Of our city
have been commenced and completed,
all of which have necessarily entailed
considerable work on the part of the
council Of 1903 and 1904, and 1t had
also been considerable expense to the
nroperty owners OF our city.
Commencing with the year 1908 our
CITY government was reorganized UNI
der the provisions of our new charter,
and it Is a source of pleasure to note
that it has been, in nearly all respects,
perfectly satisfactory. Some Of the
most substantial improvements made
during the past year consist of the
Normal Hill sewer system. which has
cost the property owners within the
district the sum Of $4,000: the repair
ing of the high service reservoir, which,
when completed will cost in the neigh
borhood of $1,000; the extension Of the
water system in the eastern portion Of
the city: the construction Of the power
house for the water plant: the inn
provement Of the parks and cemetery;
the permanent improvement of many
ing Of six or eight miles of sidewalks.
These Improvements mentioned, to-
gether with many others, will indicate
to you the substantial growth Of our
city, and the endeavor on the part OF
the city government to onYy make such
improvements as will be permanent,
and will place the city upon such q
basis that it may hereafter be governed
in a conservative and economical man.
ner.
City Finances
desire to particularly call your at
tention to the finances of the city, and
recommend that during the present
year that all departments of the city
government be required to curtail the
expenses and that no money be APP
propriated for any purpose other than
that necessary for the ordinary run
ming expenses Of the city, and to care
for substantial improvements under
taken and already made. Our citizens
have responded most Loyalty to all rea-
sonable demands of the city govern
ment and it is not my. desire that we
shall create any more burdens upon
them, than are reasonably necessary
in order to maintain good government
and successfully care for our city in
terests.
During the year commencing July 1,
1908. and ending July I. 1904. the city
treasurer has received from .flnes the
sum of $2,s52.40: from licenses. S.
b02..95; from water rents $19,391.3O;
from city taxes. $14.264.09; from special
assessment $2,4S9.56: county appor-
tionment Of license, $s.44s. and from
miscellaneous sources. $1.s01.3e; all Of
which was apportioned to the various
funds. The items above named do not
include the Carnegie library donation
or the money to be received from the
sale OF the $4,000 bond issue.
desire to particularly call your at
tention to two funds OF the city-the
general fund and the street fund, as
these are the only two which have been
oVer-drawn during the past year. Out
OF the receipts which I have mentioned
above. the sum Of $13.5O0.47 was APP
portioned to the general fund, and war;
rants have been drawn against the gem
eral fund amounting to $14,5s6.05,
showing that the fund has been over
orawn $1.0S5.5S. have ascertained
that there is still due the fund about I
sooo on account of fines for the month /
VI June. this year. and from unpaid
taxes' which will reduce the amount
oVerdrawn to about $585.5S. During
'ne portion of the year Of 1908, COM
''o Will TIE IlrSt OF July, ana eX. |
lending to the latter part Of October, /
Tue expense of sprinkling the streets
was paid out Of the general fund and
- amounted to little more than $780,
ms amount Is to be collected by a
special levy which must be made dur
Jug tne present year and when returned
the general fund. the warrants
urawn on that fund will not exceed the
amount appropriated.
IN explanation of the street fund
N.sre to state that from the money
'ece'ved by the city treasurer, as above
stated the sum Of $s.7o2 was appor-
soned to the street fund. and warrants
mounting to $13.sss.s2 have been
awn against the street fund, indicat-
Jug mat the street fund has been over.
Drawn s4,l1s.so.
ne members Of the old council will
.snemoer that the Judgment Of 5000
pa'd 70 J. B. Morris Gin condemnation