The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-02

| Al t:oV tuesday evening all mem.
bers of the new city council and
Mayor Fechter, City Clerk BROKER
and City Attorney Forsyth we're in
their places in council chamber. The
mayor in calling the meeting to or
der said it was held merely for the
purpose of organizing. He would
read the committees in order that
the finance committee might have
opportunity to consider the months
bills and claims, but, owing to the
question of validity of appointments
made on holiday, he would with
hold the names Of those he intended
to appoint to various offices until
next Monday evening, regular coun-
Gil meeting date.
Clerk Brooker stated that all Of
fcers had qualified, but some had
not yet filed the required bond. No
business was considered at this
meeting.
| Mayor Fechter made short talk
to the council, dsclaiming any inten-
ton to deliver a message. He said
that during the Late unpleasant
ness he had been asked great
many mean questions, put that the
meanest of these was as to what he
knew about paving. He took up the
| rth
While he expressed his entire SYM
pathy with the movement to pave
The avenue and some of the other
business streets. he believed it was
equally important that the residence
streets of the city be paved, and
thought that the council could not
crowd the matter too fast.
In this connection the mayor re.
minded the council that the work of
paving. sewer construction and other
items of public improvements which
would be attempted this year, in all
probability, called for the services
of the best qualified civil engineer
the city would be able to obtain. He
said it was his intention to appoint
Mr.. Noble city engineer, provided
the council concurred, although it
would be necessary to pay him what
might be considered large salary;
Mr.. Noble had said he would not ac-
cept the position unless the pay was
at least $40 day for time actually
employed. But the mayor believed
that the city could not get an en-
gineer who was too good, and fur
thermore, he should be man in
whom the taxpayers had confidence.
Mr. Noble, he believed, possessed all
the qualifications essential.
Regarding sidewalks, Mayor
Fechter advocated an ordinance or
provision that none should be butt.
within certain limits of any but ce-
ment or other fireproof and durable
material. He favored anything the
city could afford that would tend to
uCddlhy llS iOCto anu ShifdhSS LIE
value of it's property. He would
encourage tree planting, although,
he said, past experience shrsldlurhd
he said, past experiments in this d.
rection had been unsatisfactory.
hardly more than 10 per cent of the
trees planted having lived. The
bridges across the bitches could be
made safer and should be but he
thought more slightly safeguards
could be provided than those re-
Gently put up. He thought the coun-
eli should take steps leading to the
removal Of unsightly electric light
and telephone poles.
In all probability. the mayor said.
, in reply to a suggestion made By
Councilman Smith, the city would re-
ceive offers during the year of sites
for public parks; he stated that he
would heartily support any move
ment to acquire parks that the f.
nances of the city would permit.
The only other matter touched up
on by the mayor in his talk was In