The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-23
LIBERTY NOT TO BE LICENSE
New Mayor Declares For Public I'm
provements, Cleaner Streets, Pure
Water and Low Taxes Pledges
Best Efforts to the People

| lowing address to the members OF the
Council and the people Of the city.
Official Publication)
Gentlemen Of the Council:
The people of Kenosha, by an over
whelming vote of confidence, have dele
gated to us the responsibility of con-
Quoting their business in the admins
tration of the affairs of the city.
am deeply gratifed and truly APP
preciate this expression Of the people,
and shall do my utmost to meet the ex-
pectations and merit the approval Of
our citizens.
I have promised to do my best to
give the people Of Kenosha a good,
clean, efficient and economical admins
! tration.
| intend to keep my promise, and can
do SO by and with your earnest and
hearty cooperation.
| l most urgently solicit your conf
dence and support, without which our
administration must be failure.
We enter upon our duties at time
when the business of the country, fol
lowing a general financial panic, is in
an unsettled and somewhat stagnant
condition. Our city being manufact-
urging center, seems to be affected to a
greater degree than other localities.
Our great industrial plants have not
regained their normal conditions; we
find many of our people unemployed,
with no bright prospects for the near
future; our duty demands the exercise
of rigid economy in order that the
burdens of taxation may be as light as
possible.
These conditions would not warrant
the suggestion at this time of all the
public Improvements needed for our
city, and which must await revival of
the times and the return of prosperity
which we shall all welcome most
heartily.
The improvements now contemplated
and contracted for will be pushed to
completion during the coming summer
We must insist upon the strict perfor
nance Of the agreements of the con-
/ tractor before we permit him to receive
the peoples money, and must hold our
inspectors and officers to more rigid
inspection and to a full performance
of their duties
Measures are now pending looking to
the cleansing Of our river.
1t is not necessary to call your at
tention, or the attention of those hav-
ing to cross Main street bridge to the
filthy condition of the river.
With the ofal and filth from the large
tannery and gas house, the odor has
become offensive, almost unbearable,
the river a public nuisance, menace
to health and comfort.
l would favor the measures now pend
ing for it's publication, and confidently
expect that the corporations largely re-
sponsible for it's filthy condition, will
willingly contribute their just share of
the burden to abate the nuisance; other
wise, I would urge the enforcement Of
the rights of the people by resorting to
the courts.
Our people have justly complained
of the condition Of our water supply.
Every effort should be made to insure
a supply of pure water. | would recon-
mend that all aid and encouragement
within our power be given the Board
of Water Commissioners to remedy the
cause of complaint and to insure the
people a supply of pure water.
Whatever action is taken to extend
the intake, or to lay new intake will
require the expenditure of vast sums Of
money.
In this connection, it may be we'll to
consider that the present water works
site is far from being an ideal location
for the plant.
A more desirable and logical site
would be on the north side of the har-
Dor. 1t may be wisdom on the part of
the council and the water commissioners
to consider, before the outlay of vast
sums of money the ACCESSIBILITY Of To-
eating the water works plant at more
suitable site on the north side, free from
the dangers which now surround and
threaten the present location.
In the meantime I would advise the
free use OF the artesian wells until such
time as new intake can be completed,
if this is feasible and can be done with
small expense.
The problem of street lighting must
receive early consideration at your
hands.
The question of a municipal lighting
plant has occupied the time Of former
councils with no definite results, and
its final disposition must be settled by
the present council.
The City of Kenosha pays $500 pei
annum for each street lamp, the light
ing company making some concessions
to the city in the way of lighting the
library and engine houses, but with the
J concessions made, the price per lamp is
exorbitant.
| The contract for lighting the streets
will shortly expire.