Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-04-14
TOOK HOLD OF LINES
New Council Began Their Work
Monday Night.
Mayor Wilson Outlined Plans for
the Ensuing Year-Ex- Mayor
Bricker Also Sent In Some
GOOD Advice.
Ring out the old ring in the new.
The curtain rises before our view
Familiar. faces mass away

Familiar faces pass away
And new ones spring up bright and gay
On Monday evening occurred the
last sad rites over the late city coun-
Gil and after transacting some of the
regular routine business which natur-
ally fell to the lot of the old council,
Messrs. Chare and Fisher relinquish-
cd the seats they have held with such
honor for the past two and four years
respectively, their places were taken
by Messrs. Frank Connell and Anthony
Martin, who for the next two years
will help to shape the welfare and
destiny of the Silk city.
President Fisher, laid aside the
mantle of President and acting Mayor
which position he has held for some
time, owing to the serious illness of
Mayor Bricker, and genial Robert M.
Wilson took on the emoluments of Of
fee with dignity becoming the oc-
casion. In making his remarks to the
council and outlining the line of ac-
tion which he proposed to carry into
effect, he told story which at once
put his listeners in good humor for
the receipt of his message which he
read as follows:
To the Honorable, the Common Coun-
Gil of the city of Belding:
1t gives me pleasure to meet with
you tonight, and | hope and trust we
may ali work together in harmony the
coming year. BY so doiug feel that
the greatest good can be acc omplish.
ed for the whole of the citizens and
taxpayers OF Belding.
| understand that the Indebtedness
of our city has been somewhat in
creased during the past yepr, conse-
quently would recommend that there
be no new work started, and that the
streets be kept in the best possible
conditions by making only necessary
repairs and by so doing believe that
our floating Indebtedness can be large
ly reduced
/ think that nothing has been done
in years which has so greatly improv-
ed the appearance of the streets of
our city as the laying of cement side
walks, and | also believe that the
council acted wisely in passing an or
dinance which granted to the prop
erty owner d rebate of one-fourth the
cost However, | am informed that
in the past, prices have not been uni
form for this class of work, and l
would therefore recommend the
amendment of the ordinance so that
fiat rate per yard would be paid as
rebate. My idea would be to fix this
W a
walks laid under the supervision of
the street commissioner or street COM
mittee, and accepted by them.
There will come before this body
for consideration during the next few
months, question which needs your
most careful and earnest considera-
tion and | trust that you will weigh
the matter well and carefully before
any action is taken regarding the es-
tablishment of water system. The
voters have expressed themselves as
very largely favoring the establish.
ment OF some kind of system, but as
| understand it, that vote does not tie
the council to any particular line OF
action. The taxpayers are depend
ing upon the good Judgment, and
careful investigation of the council,
as TO determining what Is best. That
we may come to more thorough un
derstanding of the matter / would re-
commend the appointment of a COM
mittee, consisting of aldermen and at
least two representative business men
of the city, TO visit a number of cities
= which have established and maintain
ed water system, and where records
have been kept which will enable us
to gather information which will be
of benefit in determining our line of
action.
/ am aware that there are many
needed improvements which haye
been partially considered-like paw