The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-04-19

| NJ. l.. WEBB.
Sank Centre, Mimi, April 10, '06
To the Honorable Common Council o
The City of Sank Centre.
Mr. President and Members of the
Council:-
In assuming the Office to which
l have been elected realize that there
is much responsibility and many
duties to perform from which | might
we'll shirk were it not for the able and
we'll selected council who are to take
part and share with me these response
bilities. You gentlemen have been
chosen as the legislative body, to pass
such ordinances and make such laws
as in your judgment will tend to the
best interests for the peace and
prosperity of this our city. 1t is for
me to approve and execute such
ordinances and laws, and with you, as
far as possible, to bring the most good
to the greatest number of people.
You gentlemen are the servants of the
people of this, our city. l am your
servant, so let us assume these
possibilities together, and thus be
able to go on with the work, taking it
up where our predecessors have laid it
down, and thus be able to accomplish
more than we could otherwise. [ do
not need to draw your attention to
what has been accomplished during
the last eight or nine years. In 1897 1
was elected member of this body,
and remarked at that time that this
city was ten years behind the times
with their public Improvements, and
having served on this body several
years of this time l am pleased to
know that we have caught up and are
now in the advance of most cities of
our class, especially in regard to fire
protection, sewerage, parks, walks and
streets. Yet, there is much left to do,
and take care of that which has been
done. Our finances are now in fairly
good shape, as the financial report
shows, and it occurs to me that there
is valuable property that cost large
amount of money that will need care
full attention.
FIRST: In my judgment, the city
waterworks have been neglected, no
doubt, owing to the very important
such as the sewer
system, streets, bridges, walks, parks
and the fair ground, all of which now
are in excellent condition. It will
therefore be expected of you, and /
believe it your duty, to at once take
up the matter of the needed improve
ments of this system and give it your
careful consideration. There has been
much discussion, quite an amount of
time spent in investigating this matter
by your predecessors, during the last
four years, but, owing to the necessity
Of completing the sewer system and
the extension of Third street and other
important matters, it has been left to
this council, and l feel it my duty to
bring the matter before you with a
most urgent recommendation that it
have the preference to all other i'm
portant improvements at this time.
SECOND: The need of proper
drainage of streets and low places in
the city, some of which are seriously
walks and other property.
THIRD: Our sewer system having
been now we'll completed, the city
water should be at once placed where
owners can avail themselves
of its benefits and thus encourage the
early use Of the system by the resident
portion of the city.
FOURTH: The city hall, court room
and all other property owned by the
city should be we'll protected and
cared for. Your early attention is
called to the condition of the city hall
and Jail, the necessity of connecting
with the sewer system in order to pass
state inspection, and to preserve the
building and properly protect the fire
apparatus, which should be the first
to consider, and then to see that our
volunteer firemen who work without
compensation and have shown their
ability to we'll protect the city from a
serious confagration, and should be
furnished with all needed fire appara-
tus and in the most convenient form
as to access, also to see that the best
and most comfortable quarters to hold
their meetings and care for their
records and uniforms is provided. In
my judgment, nothing within our
reach is too good for our volunteer
fire companies.