Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-04-16
Mayor Bricker Reads
Sixth Annual Message

business in a businesske manner, anc
that everything large or small, be done
right. The people have ideas as TO whC
have served them faithfully or unfaith-
! fully, lnterestedly or uninterestedly, anc
they may be trusted to use their stamp o
approval or dissapprovai Officials whC
serve fearlessly and faithfully, work ir
the light and keep their skirts clean, neec
be IN no fear of the people they represent
Public improvements
believe that public improvements
should keep pace with the growth anc
needs of the city. The needs Of the peo-
pie should be supplied and the health oi
our citizens guarded To do this, public
impro sements must be supplied. My ad-
vice is to add little each year so as not
to make taxation burdensome- only
enough to meet the necessary needs Of
the city.
Water Works
Under this head | want to congratulate
the people of Beding on having one OF the
best systems for the amount OF money
expended. in the state of Michigan. The
board of water commissioners are practi-
cal, painstaking officials. Although serv-
ing without remuneration, they are giving
the work their best thought and attention
Extensions of water-pipes will be made
as fast as limited finances will permit.
1t is the desire of the water board and
council to serve all who want water as
soon as the demand will warrant the ex-
tension.
The peoI e of the South Side are be-
ginning to appreciate the value Of sewers.
Our health officer in one Of his reports
says that never in the history Of the city
of Beding has there been so small num-
Der Of typhoid fever cases as since we
have commenced our sewer system. Let
any person who is skeptical on the elm
ination of germs by right sanitary condi-
tlons, visit our public schools and compare
their sanitary conditions today with those
three years ago. The money expended
for sewers has been spent to good adyan-
tage. Not only as a sanitary need, but as
a great convenience to the people, do
not hesitate to recommend the building
of more sewers where demanded by the
taxpayers.
street improvements
Where sewers, water-pipes and gas
pipes have been laid, some permanent i'm
to see Main street paved; the abuttlng
property would be taxed fve-slxths OF
the expense, the city at large one-sxth.
This would be paid in five annual install
ments and would not be burdensome TO
the taxpayers. This improvement must
of course come from petition OF the tax
payers along the street. /, for one OF
them, would be willing to pay my proper
ton of the expense, il majority petition
for it. When the annual appropriation is
made, hope the council will place sum
in the street fund large enough to make
all needed Improvements
sidewalks
1t has been my policy in the past to en-
courage the building of new stone walks
and cross walks. Petitions for new walks
and cross walks will be looked after and
acted on promptly, to the extent of our
limited appropriations.
Park
We have a beautiful rest spot for the
people, This was donated by the Belding
Bros to the city free of all expense and
now public spirited person having the
hap piness and pleasure of the people 1t
(Nontipt,aJ m Da0a 2\