Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-04-26
IT'S FIRST SESSION.


The New Council Takes up the Burden
af the Old.
Tuesday evening, after previously
taking the oath of Office, the mayor and
aldermen of the new administration
! took their seats in the council chamber
for their first session. and if the mayor s
term OF office is as flOwery as was his
desk on that evening, he will have a
rosy time. The desk was not larce
enough to hold all the floral gifts OF
/ friends. and some had to be placed at
each side with the palms and ferns
A roll call sil0wef all members present
and the mayor read the following mes
sage which was ordered spread upon
the minutes:
Gentlemen Having been chosen to
conduct the affairs of our city for the
ensuing two years, we must not under
estimate the responsibilities resting up
on US. Whether or not we do cur work
wisely and we'll will have much bear
| ing upon the future growth and pros
perity of our city, at least it is justly so
regarded.
The city OF Wausau is passing
through the transitory period from
| lum bering town and assumes its proper
position as modern city. to which its
| fine location and great natural advan-
tages invites it. 1t has been for num-
ber OF years the metropolis of the Wis
consin River Valley, but ii is in my
judgment destined TO become the largest
and most beautiful city in central Wis
consin. Whatever the city government
can do to promote the welfare and in
terest of our citizens should be done,
and while we are not authorized to go
beyond certain limits by our charter,
we should not hesitate to encourage in
every possible and legitimate way all
persons and organizations laboring for
| the development of our manufacturing
institutions, and the building up of
those institutions which make Wausau
desirable as place of residence.
At least we should endeavor to keep
step with private enterprise in our pub
lie improvements. 1t is expected of US
that We continue and perhaps enlarge
upon the street Improvement heretofore
inaugurated and encourage. and assist
by example and precept so far as is in
our power the building of good county
roads leading to this city.
We will be called upon to make ad
ditions to our sewerage system.
We must take measures to perma-
nently safeguard our water works sys-
TEN.
The contract for lighting the city ex-
pires in the month OF October, and the
contract submitted by the Electric
| Light company to the last council was
rejected and it will be for this council
to take new measures to provide for
| lighting.
Whether the city can make salts
| factory contract or whether it shall pro-
ceed to erect its own plant involves in
vestigatiOn and research, and no time
is to be lost in getting all the facts nec-
essary before the council to enable it
to reach a satisfactory conclusion. II
after full and thorough investil alton
of the subject it shall be found thateity
| lighting would be highly advantageous
to the city from financial point of view,
it would seem that it was the proper
way TO do so; if, on the other hand, any
saving that might be made would be
only slight considering the amount in
volved, think it would be unwise for
the city to embark in the business of
municipal lighting to make small
gain, because by doing so the city must
assume all the risks unavoidably con-
nected with every new business enter
prise.
We must seek to maintain high
standard of our public schools. The
public library is patronized and appre-
ciated by our younger element to lar
ger extent than is generally known, and
| if opportunity offers we should give our
assistance in establishing permanent
| home for the same.
We should anticipate the growth of
| the city of Wausau and inaugurate
system Of public parks and also prepare
| for the building of new city hall.
| Those and other important subjects
will no doubt demand your attention.
In this connection it is proper to take
into account the money side of the ques-
ton. AS natural result the demands
of a growing population incur heavy ex-
penditures and consequently high taxes.
| The permanency OF Wausau being as
sured, it would not be the best policy to
demand of its present population more
than its proper proportion of the costs
of permanent improvements, and with
| that end iu view | would recommend
that the debt for water works be wholly
refunded, which can be done at a lower
rate of interest than it bears at present,
and the debt made payable in twenty
years in twenty annual installments.
! That would leave the sum OF $4,000
now in the sinking fund to be used for
permanent improvements.
/ Permit me to call your attention to
the communication of Mayor Marchetti
made to the outgoing council, which
shows in an easy comprehensive man.
ner the condition of the finances of the
city, and what amount is to be expected
as being applicable to current expenses
until a new tax levy is made.
Iu conclusion / will say, that while
the tax payers of our city have right
to demand prudent aud business like
conduct of their municipal affairs, they
are also patriotic and united and will
tassist us in advancing the welfare OF
Wausau.
Very respectfully yours.
T. G. ZIMMERMAN.
The election of officers to fill vacan-
cies was then taken up, with the result
that the following were elected
President of the council-H. Z. Head
City Clerk-ChaS. Beck.
City Attorney-M. b. Rosenberg.
CITY Engineer-Chas. A. Nutter.
Poor Commissioner-F +. Schneider
Street Commissioner-Fred Sell.
City Physician-Dr. H. l.. Rosen
, berry.
The mayors appointment of DIR. ID
Sauerhering as health commissioner
was approved.
The parliamentary rules of the oil,
council were adopted.
The bond of the city treasurer wa:
fixed at $40, 600; that of the comptrollel
nj 81, 900 and the city clerk at 81 600.
Alderman Lilleqvest introduced
resolution reading as follows:
Be it resolved that whereas there ha
been during the last few weeks mucl
discussion IN the public press ard amonl
tie people as to the advisability of tn
, cay OF Wausau owning, operating ant
:..aintaining its own electric light plan
for the lighting of streets and publ
buildings and whereas il has been as
sont,.l that fha eitv * now in a fiCancla