Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-14

effort TO take up all outstanding war
, rants that are now drawing per cent
interest and issue in their stead AZ per
cent twenty year bonds, which I think
could be sold at a handsome advance
and premium.
! Under the new law no outstanding
warrants can be allowed to accumu-
late, and the city must get upon q
cash basis and can not expend money
not appropriated or in excess of its
revenue.
Water Works Departn ent.
During the past year there was ex-
pended in this department s19,567.75
We completed, this year the purchas-
ing of the mill property, or rather the
payment for the mill property, which
in my judgment, was both necessary
and prudent. and will forever protect
the water supply of the city.
Water connections should, in my
judgment, be made as fast as asked for
where the revenue from the sale of
water upon such extension will return
6 per cent upon the cost.
The laying of a tWelve-inch main
to the south from Church street should
be taken up at once by this council
and if the funds of the department
will admit of the Improvement, 1t
should be made without delay, that we
may better protect the manufacturing
industries in the south part of the city.
Another matter, to which wish to
call the attention of the council is the
very equitable manner of selling water
by meters and I would recommend that
the metering of water systems be car
ried forth in a businesslike manner
with view to finally metering every
system within the city.
Electric Light Department
Our electric light department is one
which has given us splendid service,
but at a great saving Of cost over our
sister cities, who are not fortunate
enough to own their own municipal
plant.
There is not a city in lowe, the size
of Marshalltown that is as we'll lighted
as our own. and the cost is reduced to
the lowest point consistent with good
service.
We have in use at the present time
1874 arc lights, and they We're main
tanned last year at a cost of S46.7o per
light, this cost including 10 per cent
depreciation upon the plant, and per
cent interest upon an inves tment of
$25, 900, while our sister city to the
north, Waterloo has but 1O1 arc lights,
operated by a private company at a
contract price of $72 per light thus
paying almost double the amount we
do.
1t is my judgment that we should
improve and extend this lighting sys-
tenn as the need of the city demands
I wish to recommend that the commit
tee take up the matter of placing
lights turnout the business district
of the city in the alleys, as it would.
in my Judgment. be one of the best
of crime. The criminal,
like the microbe, can not exist in the
light.
Fire Department.
This is a department which we are
especially proud of and which has
given us most effective service. There
has been little or no trouble in this
department. The policy under which
it has been conducted has been very
The men of this de-
partment, under direction of the able
chief, have responded to every call
and performed their duties to the sat
of all connected With this
1t is fact that with
the growth of our city this depart
nent will soon need additional ex-
penditures.
I believe that there should be. at
a not far distant day. another sta
ton located towards the east part of
the city for the safety of the large
industries located in
that quarter.
| think it would be poor policy UNI
Ter present circumstances to remove
station No. from its present loca-
ton, for we now have located in the
south part of the city large manufac-
turing industries which bid fair to be-
come of far greater importance than
Utmost any other manufacturing in
iustry we have had in the past.
While the amount necessary to keep
lip a paid fire department seems large, |
vet IL you will consider the low rate
If Insurance that is being obtained
here as result of our excellent de-
oartment, you will see that the