Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-03-28
|Abilene's City Campaign
Republicans Fine Ticket

1S05-l889. Abilene was not as large
then as it Is now. We quote from the
Abilene Chronicle OF March 20, 1888.
this summary Of Rice's business man
agement Of the city, written by @ =.
Mead:
Mr.. A. w. Rice, Dear Sir:
The year preceding your incuni-
bency ending April 10. 1885, the ex-
penses Of the city were &,718.26.
The first year Of your adminlstra-
tion ending April 10, 1886, the expen-
ditures were $11,614.10.
The second year ending April H.
| 1887, the expenditures were $lO,OS4-
90.
By this time you seemed to have
learned the harness and for your third
year, ending April 10, 1888, the ex-
penditures rose to $33, ,3S0.66.
For the last and your final year,
ending April 3, 1889, your expendi-
tures amounted to the enormous sum
Of $3S, S,936.32.
In the four years your total ex-
) penditures amounted to $SS, ,9I1.Oo.
I Your four years administration cost
the city Of Abilene more than 1t has
expended in all the other years since
1t was founded.
The foregoing does not include
: the $35,OOO Railroad bonds issued
TO the C. X. & N. and c. X. " w.
Railway Companies.
Including these bonds your admin.
i istration cost more than one quarter
P Of the total present assessed valuation
o OF Abilene.
,e You found this city practically free
!. from debt. In four years you LETT II
= with $7l, 100000 Of outstanding bonds.
10 And yet you offer yourself as can
ii didate for mayor upon the platform
IL that If elected you will give the city
in conservative and economical admin
:. istration.
W You are a candidate In the interest
In Of economy You found this city
an with au annual interest charge Of
he S21O: you left 1t with an annual in-
- terest charge Of $4,470.
a You think $500 enough annual
'k' water rentalP You found the city N
an 1888 paving annual water rental Of
ra- 81 .9SS. .SS; you left 1t in 1889 paying
70 the water company %,15O.OO per
annum.
Deducting the increased water rent
=" m during your term and the annual In
III terest arising from the bonds issued
by YOU, Mr.. Lebold, who followed you
succeeded in the next year In run
me ming the city for $6,751.
me
e. Mr.. Rice was overwhelmingly de
feated then on that very record and h
will be defeated now.
In In two years Of Rice's administra
hen tion the city paid $46OO damages 70
the personal injuries mostly the result {
be poor sidewalks. In the past tw
WAS years the city has paid $500; one bi
ira Of $3.50 for boys leg being broke
tied by falling in an alley window and 81
I to costs in suit which the city won.
The way to build upa town is
aign put good businessmen on council al
mar in the mayors chair. The ticket
the the head OF this column is made up
I
Was' that kind Of men.
|, his
.,ho 1t is a pleasure to see such go
list OF citizens as those named on
. ,or Republican ticket willing to serve
a.on city. They have no axes to grind
IT,. IT, object except to make Abilene bet
.;or. and more prosperous.
first
ment The candidacy Of A. W. Rice
It is mayor in opposition to the Republic
have ticket is, according to his signed sti
ewing ment, personal one. He seems
ously think that the town demands his
a his vices in that position though II
Ort Of repeatedly defeated him for oil
/ on since he once was mayor several y
lwsys ago. Just what object Mr.. Rice
in seeking so assiduOusly an o
that pays no salary when he is q
o the mated by no party is 3 question
BILE be many persons are asking. He
,hould never been known as philanthrc
Davers ei her when mayor before nor In
adds, years since, though he has g.
Dslder- wealthy and it is scarcely to b
shed. - pected that be would take this me
yOr in Of doing the city good.