Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-04-16
MAYOR BRICKER'S
ANNUAL MESSAGE
From Page ID

mind has donated the beautiful summer
pavilion that covers the big city reservoir
IN the park ! believe that now the park
commission should employ a practical
landscape artist to come and lay out the
park. then hew TO the mark made ay hun
so that in few years Bedding will pos
sess park that will be appreciated by
the citizens. A liberal amount should
each year be placed in the park tund
A Clean City
Under this heading, appeal to the
pride of the people of Beldlng am sure
every man and woman N Belong Will
join with me in asking the health officer
and street committee 70 See that al allie s
and streets are kept clean. Fun is al
ways associated with misery TINS ap-
plies TO towns and cities as well IS mol
yiduals. There is nothing that aous 80
much to the beauty Of a house or puoIc
building as a well kept lawn and cieen
back yard. A visiting stranger forms
his opinion Of city by its conditions. a
clean, neat city IS an attractive city
Disorder and shiftlessness are not so ap-
parent TO the eye of those who are accus-
toned to it, The stranger passes judg-
ment and forms his opinion accordingly
A clean mon al city creates good mpfes-
sion and attracts strangers to make their
homes within its gates. ! ask ii the clt-
zens of Bedding general cleaning up Of
the streets. alleys and back YARDS Let
US each try to do our part to make Beld-
ing an attractive place to llyen.
Ordinances
Under this head, | ask the common
council to pass an ordnance governing
the tearing up Of streets by private cor
poratlons During the past year stree
have been torn up and left 10 condition
that is dangerous and unslghtly and ID
many cases have been an expense to the
city 10 repair. You have the power TO
regulate this and trust you will do it.
Public Building
desire to ca your attention to the fact
that one Of the great needs Of the city is
place of safety against loss by fire Of all
city records Ii fire should occur in the
block where the records are kept the
chances are that ali would be destroyed
believe that it would be wise and econom-
zeal to build a city hall, fire department
house and Jail, all connected with vaults
for the safety Of city records. We are
paying rent for hose house ground, for
council room and no protection or conven-
fence that we would have by owning our
own buildings.
Care OF Public Funds
The credit Of city depends upon the
honest and efficient administration Of its
finances, intelligent economy in the appro-
priation Of money, and scrupulous vigilance
in the expenditure of il are necessary to
keep down taxes. | ask that when you
make your annual appropriation you will
scrutinize the budget with care. Not in
a niggardy spirit of false economy, but
with firm purpose to prevent waste and
extravaganza; while auditing claims
against the city we should remember that
we represent the city. not the city credit
ors My long experience as public Off
cal has taught me that those who have
claims against the city get all that is COM
ing to them. ask that you scrutinze
every claim before allowing it.
Conclusion
Permit me to say ia conclusion that the
people who elected US TO office demanded
of us that we submerge our political diff
ferences for the public good. Ne res
possibility that rests upon us IS great. At
alb times remember that we are not work
ing for our own good, but for the good Of
the city.