Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-01


paid, as / do not believe in the Gus
tom that has been followed in the past
by holding up bills and carrying them
along for the purpose of making II
favorable showing at the end of the
year; thereby misleading the people as
to the financial condition OF the city.
While we have an overdratt of $4,042.27,
it is largely owing to the large sum
of sS,200.O0 for land damages, resulting
from the extension of Elm street, which
sum was awarded by the court and had
to be paid last year. While some of
the departments, such as the health.
paupcr and police, show ovcrdrafts.
wish to call your special attention to
the showing made by the water and
street departments.
The water department, after paying
current expenses, has paid the interest
on its bonds, amounting to $4,000; also
the sum of 81 2j4.9s, representing five per
cent. of its earnings as provided by the
city charter; also surplus earnings are
placed to their credit OF $1,15i.0o; besides
having on hand six and eight-inch pipe
to the value of $4,000 bought by F. H..
Crandall, the former superintendent, and
mcnt has to it's credit about $500 and in
addition over 100000; representing bills
for l90i which were held over by the
former superintendent, Herald Stevens,
for the purpose of making a showing.
These were paid last year out of It's an
nual appropriation.
MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT
PLANT.
In my annual message last spring
called your attention to the fact that
in few weeks the streets Of our city
would be furnished with lights from
its own lighting plant and I am happy
to say this has been accomplished and
in such a manner as to the cost per
light and service given which clearly
demonstrates that it was a step in the
right direction. This result has been
accomplished in spite of the fact that
many embarrassments were encountered
though not Of serious nature, yet
they Were the result of increasing some
what the cost of each light; and, we
have every reason to believe that at
the end OF the present year we shall be
able to make still better showing. In
regard to the commercial feature of our
plant, ] will say that at present We have
about loo customers and are making
new connections every day and in a
very short time we will have reached
the capacity of the present plant. For
this reason I am in hearty accord with
the light commissioners in recommending
the installing Of aonther unit, represent
ing Il three hundred kilowatt machine
This must be done at once in order to
supply the demand and at the same
time place us IN a position to give still
lower rate for lights. There is one thing
want to favorably impress upon the
minds of our citizens; that it is the duty
OF every public minded and spirited cit-
zen to patronize his own plant Il posi-
bic, in order to place it on it's best pos
Sible basis as soon as possible. And
whether it is to have this support or
not there is one thing think you will
agree with me in saying. by having q
municipal plant it has forced the old
company to do three things, viz, give
cheaper lights; better service; and more
courteous treatment to its customers.
COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Although this organization Is not direct
~ connected or no part Of the city gov
eminent yet feel that OH account of its
being recently organized and the large
number of business and professional men
comprising its membership, also being
conversant with the objects and aims of
the organization, viz, the advancement of
Burlngton's interests, / feel it my duty
to call the attention of the citizens Of
Burlington to the importance of their
sary. give it financial aid and this | heart
lily recommend, as | believe if this orsan-
zation receives the cooperation of the
citizens of Burlington it will be potent
factor in its future development.
PUBLIC WHARF.
For the Information or the public, |
will say that owing to the fac, that an in
junction was served on the city of Bur
lington 10y the Rutland Railroad company
restraining the city from building said
wharf at the foot of Maple street the
project is necessarily held up for the time
beirg.Answcr on the part of the city has
been made to said injunction; testimony
will be taken before Special Master J. w.
Redmond OF Newport. Vt, which will he
submitted to the court; and We expect an
early consideration of the matter City
Attorney j. A.. Brown has associated
himself with former City Attorney r. L.
Brown, and they do not hesitate to say
that after a careful investigation they
are very hopeful, of a favorable result.
In conclusion let me say that in arriving
at these estimates I have carefully con-
sdcrcd the same: and in anticipating the
ordinary increase in our grand list on
which our tax levy is made, our tax rate
should remain about the same as last
proval of all.
Respectfully submitted
JAMES T. BURKE, Mayor,
Abstracts from various city reports
which have not heretofore appeared il
the Free Press follow:
CHIEF OF POLICE.
| In his annual report Chief Russell says
| that over 900 complaints were received
and investigated in 1903. The total mum
Der of arrests was AZ, classified as fol
lows: Adultery, /; arson, /; assault with
intent to kill, /; assault with intent to
rob, I breach of peace. 6S; burglary, .
dcfraudng hotels. !; grand larceny, 10
indecent exposure, /; intoXication, 26S
keeping house of i'll fame, 2; lettering. .
non-support, 5; open and gross lewdncss
10 obtaining money under false pretenses
| /: petit larceny -; receiving stolen
| goods, B. tramps, 10: truancy, 8; violations