The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-05-05

Miller:
Gentlemen:
In accordance with the duty
involving upon me under the
law, | have the honor to submit to
you my annual message.
AT the beginning of the new mum
icipal year we have eason for con
gratulations upon the growth and
progress of u city during the past
year. Many new houses have been
built, and the city has made a larger
increase in population than during
any former year. 1t seems certain
that this phenomenal growth will
continue and that this present year
will add a still larger number to
population, and show a greater
increase in the value of improve
ments added to our city. During
the past year four new additions
have been plated and annexed to
the corporation: viz:
Park Addition, Park Row addition
Wyland's addition, and Greeves' adj
ditiOn: besides which two consider
able tracts of land already included
within the city limits have been
plated and lots placed on sale.
These additional plattings became
necessary to Accommodate additions
to u population, and are rapidly
filling up with permanent and sub
stantial homes. Miller has grown
out of and beyond it's original con
fines as a village and it's government
tai affairs must be managed with re-
gard to these changed conditions.
Municipal improvements must
keep pace with the growth of the
city. During the past year we have
added largely to our already extern
sive system of cement walks. and
have extended the city water mains,
but more such improvements are
and will be demanded during tbs
coming year, and this brings me to
the subject of
Finances.
The rapnrte &C H. -
auditor submitted to you show that
while we have expended large sums
for municipal improvements during
the past year, we have kept within
the means provided for the purpose
and that the floating Indebtedness
of this city has been decreased and
is now, taking into consideration the
money in the treasury, below what
1T wa a year shut the indebted
ness is still large and calls for strict
economy in the management of city
affairs; and I suggest to the council
careful inquiry into expenditures
and cutting down expenses where
eve it can be done without material
neglect of the needs of the city and
the public. We should 30 arrange
our expenditures not only SO as to
keep the same well within the
means provided but also to reduce.
each year, our already too large in
debtedness.
Our Water Supply.
One of the first things to demand
the attention of the council is the
problem of an increased water sup
ply. Our one well is not sufficient
to supply the volume of water need
ed for a city of this size, and the
need of an additional well is urgent.
We cannot afford to go through an
other year without it. A sudden
failure of our one well would bring
disaster to the city.
The Council has the matter of put
ting down a new well. under consid-
Grafton and | cannot too strongly
recommend it.
A new well, such as is contemplate
ed, and such as the city should have
will cost, when completed, and con-
nected with the water mains and
sewer, approximately $4,000. and it
devolves upon the Council to provide
funds to meet the cost. The cost
should eventually be paid out of the
water fund. 1t is, and always has
been my idea that the water system
should pay for itself, and be self
supporting. We cannot pay the eX-
pense Of keeping up our water sys-
tenn out of the general fund, or by
general taxation. 1t should be paid
from water rates. TIE Tyeasvysy's
report shows the collections from