The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-07
SPECIAL IMPROVEMENTS
Should be Held in Check
During the Year.
Recommendations as to the Amount
of Appropriations for the Various
Departments are Made.

interesting communication TO council
last evening-his annual budget with
recommendation for the ensu lg
year. 1t follows:
Owing to the fact that for several
years last past the greatest progress
has been made in city improvements
until today Marion has more well
paved streets, and stone side walks,
electric and gas lights and better
Sewerage system than any other city
Iof its size In this State. Your pre-
|decessors also gave us three parks,
an up-to date sewage disposal plant,
"a public library building, new fire
department building on West Center
street, with an apparatus for same
'of latest pattern, additional police
and firemen, all of which places cur
city In the first rank of its class.
This has also augmented our bonded
debt and increased our tax rate to al
most the prescribed limit, indicating
that retrenchment and economy are
the needs of the present administra-
tion's policy. Sectional and public
clamor and pressure often bring on
additional burdens resulting from
Isaid purchases and improvements;
for instance: when the park lands
were purchased with the money from
la forty thousand dollar bond sale. it
was stated and intended not to begin
some extensive and expensive i'm
povements thereon, or to employ a
park superintendent and a number
of helpers requiring as it has,
yearly appropriation OF about four or
more thousand dollars, but TO only
make each year smsll outlay and
hold the land for future require
ments as public parks to be i'm
proved when the city has a popula
tion commensurate Herewith and can
afford to beautify. them. Street paw
ing and sewers, also street lighting
in territory where same is not abso-
lutely needed or will warrant the ex-
pense because of present financial
conditions should be discouraged, and
granted only after a careful inves-
tlgation by the proper committee,
where found expedient.
Street lighting is one of the large
items of expense, to the city, and, as
stated above, this is the best light
ed city OF it's size in the State, re-
quiring yearly appropriation of
twenty -one thousand dollars. BY a
careful, judicous and systematic re-
adjustment and change OF the pres
ent arc lights and in certain out
lying districts Of eliminating said arc
lights and placing gas lights instead
would cause an annual saving OF
many thousand dollars.
Your honorable body deserves our
commentator for your timely legisla-
tion for vote TO be taken on bond
issue for city building, market
house and fire department The re-
suit of said vote will be known when
this budget Is presented before you.
In my first annual report to the Coun-
Gil two years ago, recommended
Legislation for the erection of a new
city building, market house and CEN
tral fire department and also fire de-
partment and equipment for the east
end, similar to the department in the
west end of the city. The need of an
appropriation of money for an east
end fire department Is becoming daily
more apparent. Our manufactures in
that vicinity not only are entitled
TO the same fire protection as those
in the western part. but they are
compelled TO pay higher rate OF
insurance than those adequately pro-
tected.
All the departments of the city
are working together in harmony and
for its best interests. To your hon
orable body here express my graft
tude for the support received from
you and the City Solicitor and for the
hope expressed that in the near fu-
ture you may be able to grant and APP
money for the long desired
and necessary revision and codihca-
tion OF such ordinances for the gov
ernment of the city as are needed.
The new Board OF Public Service and
of Health Is to be commended for
Its excellent work and for the good
judgment exercised in the appoint
ments made for the engineering,
street cleaning, sewer, park. sewage
and health department OF
men of capability and integrity, and
we recommend that the amounts here
In named for said department of
Public Service and the Board OF
Health be appropriated. This is the
most important board In the munic-
ipality. Upon its management and
wisdom in handling the money ap-
the caution and painstak-
ing care in seeing TO 1t that the art
icles OF agreement In public con-
tracts are strictly complied with, that
their appointees in charge of a special
department use care. vigilance and
economy in the discharge OF their
public duty and that full return
Df value for the money expended re-