The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-09-10

rho water nlaut has demonstrated that
il win be a success, both for the people
and for the government l respect
fully call your attention to the report
of the water commissioner. wnlcn
speaks for itself.
In addition to the purchase OF the
water plant. I desire to call your at
tention to the various permanent i'm
provements, constructed by you during
the past fiscal year. and the cost there
Of.
Repaving Main street. from Nc
Kinney to Me0owen, with vitrihed
brick. Cost 327,750.32.
Repaving Main street, Hadley TO Dsl-
las, with vitrified brick. Cost s12.-
44739.
Rspaving Liberty avenue with Wit
rifietf brick. Cost $S,15o.Se.
Finding the bois dare blocks tAat
were removed from Main and Milsm
streets to be in very good condition,
instead of using them for fuel. you
wisely determined TO place them oB
those streets that had no pavements'
and where the taxpayers asked Tor
them. These blocks have been laid
at a very small cost, and will last for
years.
The CITY has been greatly retard-
ed in its paving by the failure to Sc
cure material which had been CON
tracted for suggest 10 you. gen
tlemen, that instead Of depencils
upon one concern in Texas to furnish
Houston with vitrified brick. you take
steps to procure them elsewhere.
| SCHOOLS.
yhe construction of the Lub--
book s-noom brick school
| at cost of =. =. .....S So,S-1
The construction OF the Rea-
gan 8-room brick school
| at a cost Of. =. 80. S3,SO1
The construction Of the Allen
12-room brick school at
| cost OF =. 9,see
Total :. :. =. .. :. $109, 49,
It was absolutely necessary, on ac-
count of the growth of the scholastic
population to erect the above three
school houses. They are substantial
and relieve the crowded situation
for some time.
MANUAL TRAINING.
Too much credit cannot be given
the superintendent of schools, Pref
P. W. Horn. Under his management
Houston schools rank with those OF
any other city Of its size in this
country On account OF his progTes :
and interest in educational affairs
you appropriated $9,75O last year for
the introduction of manual trainin
in The schools From what / can
learn, this new feature is d decided
success and is cause for qualification.
/ PARKS.
A few months ago you gentlemen
decided to purchase five and one
half acres OF land adjoining SIN
Houston Park, for the sum of $5,50u
and paid $45,60O for what is known
| IaC V 1Oh I lClCS, CILIu SCyOOO lOI Id0~A
adjoining. These purchases served
a two-fold representations breath
ing room for the people and increased
!facilities for your water plant. l rec.
ommend tha the latter parks be im
proved and beautified, and a large re-
| serv0ir be constructed, to have sufh-
cient water for all practical purposes
for years to come This water caI
be easily obtained by the constructor
,of artesian wells Oh this property.
TAX RATE.
l recommend that the tax levy fOl
the fiscal year be reduced from SL9.
to $3.50 per hundred
in conclusion | wish TO COngTatuiau
you gentlemen upon the approval G
your conduct while in Office by tat
good citizens Of Houston, exp; esse,
a. the recent election. | believe that
adhering to the customs that hav,
prevailed for the past twenty moth
you will give the people renewed as
9 surance that public Office is a publi
trust, and that a municipal govern
ment can be as successfully managed
as any private corporation | sunni
the budget for the ensuing year.
You will note that the incomia,
. budget is $4,000 less than the pas
year. In spite of the city's growth
the departments are being econom
ically administered, and the city 4
paying nothing for water.
WATER BUDGET
Upon the recommendation or tn
. water commissio ?ner recommen
that the sum of $4,000 be approyri
ated for the operation and mainte
, nance of the water system for the en-