Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-08-10
DURANGO MUST HAVE
RIGID PUBLIC ECONOMY

Itself To dictate now any man should
rum his business. nor has it ever
criticised those nolding positions OF
public trust without having a logical
basis and 1t is not now disposed 10
reflect discredit upon the admins
tratlon oil the municipal government
Of Durango, but as public officials
are servants of the people. practically
the same as newspaper, and sub
ject 10 being presented with Ideas
independent of their own. and AS a
controlled by statutory laws for city
government, the public naturally is
interested in this detail.
From wnat the Herald has been
able TO learn from the records Of the
city clerk with reference to bills pre-
scented for consideration by the conn
Gil we are led To believe that there is
much room for improvement in sever
al branches.
7 First we will take the conduct oil
I the office of street commissioner with
from $500 to $4,000 to be expended
annually under the supervision of tnis
official We would ask II the council
expense bills under this department?
For illustration, take the cross walks:
Has the council very comprehen
sive idea of what each cross-w walk
has cost under the plan wnich has
prevailed, employing day labor? Has
the council figured whether there
could not be a great saving made to
the city annually by letting this work
by contract. secured by bond, tnat the
work will not have to be replaced in
year,
II does not take the ordinary OBJ
server long to see the number oi
piles of stone fagging at the different
corners around the city, ready for
replacing board walks. We don't
know, but presume tnis stone Is sup
piled and laid down at so much per
perch or measurement. and furnished
under contract. II not, with the
great number Of cross-walks delayed
in replacement the contract snould
have been let after advertising for
proposals for furnishing and laying
these walks. the contractors giving
bonds that these structures should be
laid on solid foundation to endure
sihe tests of traffic aud the elements
for one year: to be accepted by the
properly appointed and authorized
street and alley committee. Tnis
would relieve the street commissioner
OF the responsibility of purchasing
the material and doing work which
might be done at a saving by contract
under the supervision of the proper
committee. The street commissioner
as a rule. together with tne men un-
der him. knows nothing about laying
stone walk. We have observed that
when the cross-walks are broken they
are repaired al slight expenditure
when tagging remains at each cor
ner 10 replace tne old wooden struct.
ures
II Is learned since writing the
above that this tagging is furnished
the city at l5c per square foot, the
cost before laying =
Much unfayorable comment we be,
lieve would be avoided over the city
paying extra time to the street com
missioner for time supposed to be
rendered were this official compelled
TO render a daily report, and it is
proable there would be no extra time
When he does some extra time the
city should pay for it. and he should
give the city credit for the time ne Is
not engaged during the hours the
city claims from him.
We believe IL the duty of tne city
council TO contract for supplies and
materials needed in construction and
to contract for laying walks. Mucn
no doubt could be saved annually
As to side walks much can be saved
by establishing a precedent, at least
III the principal business sections, re
guirng more substantial structures
We believe further that the city
should exercise a more rigid policy
In supervision of what the street com
missioner does or accomplisnes
monthly and annually. checking up
every item of material used and
WHeTe used ana tne lttmlLed COSTS
Of materials purchased in compel
tive market Blank forms should be
hlled out every day showing the de
iiil OF the days work Great leak
age could be saved annually.
The whole plan of delegating bust
ness OF the council or proper com
nittee To a street commissioner we
oelive CD investigation. will be found
o be Illogical and uprotitable.
From what Tae Herald has learned
rom recent observations the system
n vogue for years appears to be
wrong. We refer more specifically
O the conduct OF affairs by the finance
committee Is it not fact that the
nance committee Is more than an
.uditing committee? Financing the
fairs OF the city should be in the
ands OF the finance committee and
his body should have exclusive pow
n to purchase and contract for every
Hem OF supply and material for whicn