Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-03-10
MESSAGE FROM BURGESS.

=. JAY bOODNOUGH, SGCy.
MESSAGE FROM BURGESS.
OFFICE OF THE BURGESS, EMPORIUM,
PA, MARCH 9TH, 1904.
To the Honorable President and Mena-
be,s Of the Council Of Emporium,
Pa:
GENTLEMEN-In entering upon your
duties of Councimen for the year Of
1904, your attention is especially recon-
mended to the consideration of the Bor-
ough finances, as any considerable in
crease of taxes this year is not at all de-
sirable by the citizens and only the strict
est attention to detail will permit the
proper administration of the Borough af-
fairs.
In the year of 1903 the accounts paid
were approximately as follows:
Electric Light. ..................,......S S1700 90
Plank and labor on crossings. ,.......... 500 90
Cleaning streets and bitches, ........... 500 90
Improvement on streets, ................ 400 60
Pollce, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 700 90
Fire Department. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $50 90
Sewers, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80 90
General expense. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 200 90
$3.50 90
In addition to the above the following
bonds were paid:
Sewer bonds, .............. $ 800 90
Electric Light, 1900 90
$1,000 90
This is somewhat more than the taxes
aud liquor licenses amounted to in 1903
and the Borough credit was only kept
good by the prompt collection of taxes,
and unless some oi the bonds are reue8-
ed, the Council will be very short Of
money, until the new taxes arc collected
in the fall
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Some mistakes have been made and
perhaps too much leuicncy has been
shown, but the Burgess has held no hear
ing except with the assistance Of Squire
Larrabee and with but one exception, no
fine was taken from ny prisoner without
a regular hearing and that was OCCASION
ed by the miserable condition OF the
Borough lock-up, which is not fit to
house nan in winter weather, and the
Council should visit the cells and see
that they are made clean and comfort
able; the one in the East Ward should be
rebuilt and enlarged Mr.. Mundy as.
policeman has been very efficient and
humane, and the borough is to be con-
gratulaed that his watchfullness, and the
morcl support of our citizens, have much
reduced corner loafng and boisterous
conduct on the streets. Much credit for
assistance in this particular can also be
given the enforcement of the curfew law.
| The mischeivous conduct on Hallow cen,
night was not made Police Court case,
although much of the damage was out
rageous, but II offenders, owing to their
tender age, were let off with the payment
Of assessments amounting to S39, which
was divided among seven property own
ers, whose names are sent herewith on a
separate paper as confidential information.
The conduct of the young people, no
doubt, is the outgrowth OF wrong ideas Of
sport exhibited at the opera house in some
of the one horse shows, many Of which,
as Julian Hawthorne says, are nothing
but 'imbecility and slush" and parents
should take warning in time and not let
their children attend such shows, unless.
they so with them.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This is the most important of our Bor-
ough business and should be dealt with
literally and judiciously as its members
are unselfshly patriotic and represent the
energy and law abiding blood of our town,
and their efficiency may some day save us
from a general confagration This year
they should be supplied with at least 300
feet of extra hose for each company.
Last year the department was voted $400
for running expenses and it is noue too
much, but the Council should insist on a
general inspection Of the whole department
once year aud one separate additional
inspection of each company and the money
should be voted to each company on the
merit system, at 50 much per member
present at inspections, or any other plan
that might be agreed upon by committees
representing both the Council snd the
fireman.
STREETS.
The large sum of money paid for plank
crossings in 1903 shows how expensive,
they are and special effort should be
made to procure suitable stone to replace
any that may need repairs this year. If