Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-05-10

address to the old council, which is as
follows:

Before this council finally dissolves,
inaSmuch as some of you will not re-
main as members Of this body. l want
to take this opportunity of thanking
each and all OF you for the considera-
tiOn and courteous treatment you
have shown me during the past year.
| assure you it has been appreciated
and l think the disposition generally
among the council members to be con-
Siderate OF the opinions each of the
other has helped to make the work Of
the council more pleasant and at the
same time has reduced outside criti-
cism because we have been free from
friction from within.
For the tirsU time in the history of
the city so far as | know our council
board has been broken by the death
of one of it's members. Mr.. Anderson
perhaps was the freeSt among us all
from giving Otfense, and was an earn
est willing worker in the line Of his
public duty. His sudden taking off
compelS our recognition of his worth
and suggests again the thought that
mans best legacy to earth is good
name.
l do not care now to review in de-
tail our work of the year In gener-
ably successful. We have kept with
in the limits of our appropriations
while at the same time we have been
liberal in improvements along the u.s.
ual lines. We have taken up and
paid warrants outstanding at the be-
ginning OF the year amounting to
over $l90O.00 and today there are no
warrants outstanding marked unpaid
for want of funds and none whatever
in excess Of 500. So. And we have al
ready made our annual contribution
to the sinking fund of 5000. We have
worked reform in the management
of our water works plant whereby the
cost of operation outside of the COM
missioner'S salary, has been reduced
forty per cent. During the four years
immed lately preceding the average
annual cost of fuel for this plant was
somewhat in excess of $l6OO.O0. This
year it does not exceed $4,000 or a
saving of $3.50 We have increased
the cost of street lighting service
quite materially but as all the people
contribute to the. taxes it is only fair
that all should have this service.
We have enacted ordinances calcu-
lated to assist in making this an ord
erly town and l think it is to our great
credit hat during their passage no dis
senting voice was heard. Nor yet
again when you were asked to pay
the bills which their enforcement en- :
tailed. And incidentally l might say
that the net cost to the city of all
prosecutions for the year in excess Of
fines collected amounts now to about
$95.00 Who can say but what by
reason of less disorder and crime
which follow drunkenness we have not
saved to the people of Canton and of
Lincoln County many times this num-
ber of dollars and much useless mis-
cry and suffering. But the record is
made and good DRILL it represents an
other stage in our communal life
which will remain, to us at least, not
without interest in retrospect.
Again thanking you all, this coun-
Gil will now dissolve by motion to
adjourn sine die.
1t was moved and carried unani-
mously that the address be spread
upon the records of the city.
On motion the council adjourned
sine die. w. G. GEMMILL,
Attest: Mayor.
q. G. GLENDINNING,
City A uditor.