The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-04
illustration of what American naval
gunncry amounts to.
MAYOR BRANsFoRD's MESSAGE.

TO find the message an important nell
in its work.
The Mayor adverts with much salts
faction to the expansion and phenome
nal growth of the city. He refers To
the many improvements instituted and
to the increase of the expenses of the
various departments, and yet the
finances have been so well admins.
tered that the city is in very good
condition. He recommends the con
tinuance Of The improvements, and
hopes for change in the law that Will
put the expense OF them entirely upon
the property that is benefited. This is
proper, and doubtless the Council will
be ready to recommend this at the
next session of the Legislature.
| Street lighting is referred TO. and
the condition Of the city with respect
to it is fairly pointed out. In connec-
ton with the suggestion of a municipal
power plant at the outlet of the Big
Cottonwood conduit, the Mayor sug,
pests the advisibility Of putting in
such a plant and shows that the cost
Of it would be saved to the city with.
in a few years.
The licensing department shows dis
tinct advance in collections, much TO
the benefit of the public treasury. This
showing is satisfactory one, and the
Mayor expresses his qualification upon
the good showing.
The Mayor suggests the organization
of purchasing department, and REIN
forces his suggestion with good rca-
sons. He also recommends again the
providing OF city stable and store
department centrally located to meet
the requirements and needs of the city.
He directs attention to the import
ancc of the careful auditing Of the
books and accounts of all departments,
and urges the appointment of some
proper person to go over all tho de-
partment books and report his findings
at as early date as possible.
The Mayor dwells upon the impor.
tauce of a well organized and efficient
health department. and asks the peo.
pie of the city to assist the department
! by q strict compliance with the provl-
sions of the law applicable to the hand
ling of everything necessary to enforce
the best health conditions. He also
commends the activity of the depart
ment regulation of food products, both
as to quality and the securing of full
weights. In this connection the gar
bage question comes up. and the May
or recommends more efficiency. and
suggests change in the matter OF pay
ment of teams employed that would
lead to better sanitary conditions.
The Mayor is strong in his recon-
mendation for public comfort stations
and for the Improvement and enlarge
mcnt Of our public parks and the pro
viding for play grounds, all being di-
rectly in line with the best modern
ideas Of providing for the necessities
and comforts OF metropolitan life.
The Mayor recommends improve
ments and engagements in the city
Jail, and tho installation of additional
cells. He commends the work of the
police department, and nrges that it
should have the requisite number of
quiremerts Of the city and the defense
of the public against crime.
The fire department is commended for
it's work, and the Mayor directs atten-
tion to the necessity for the highest
standard of excellence in equipment
and apparatus.
| The work Of the street department
increases all the time and the Mayor
shows that with the increase of mileage
of streets caused by the annexation of
contiguous settlements, additional
equipment is necessary, and increased
work must be done.
The opening of surplus canal is
recommended, and the proper provision
for handling high water is urged.
An important fenturc of the message
is that paragraph relating to franchises
in which the Mayor commends TO the
attention of the Council the careful
scrutiny Of all applications for fran
chises, with a view TO proper control
of operations under them, and also that
proper compensation be given the city
for such privileges as the franchise
grants confer.
Another important matter is the re
vision of ordinances. The Mayor rec
ommends a new revision, the last hav-
ing been made six years ago. There
have been many new ordinances, and
many amendments to old ordinances
since that time It is difficult for the
officials who are entrusted with the en-
forcement of the city legislation to find
ont precisely what their duties and pow.
ers are, and what they are expected to
do in the present scattered condition OF
the provisions applying TO their separ'
ate Offices. 1t would certainly he ad
vantagcous TO the public, and, in fact
a necessity 10 the officials in the diff
fercnt departments to have this revi
sion made.
The salaries Of the different officials
the Mayor sets forth, are unduly low
compared with the increased cost Of liv.
inu- md his ind 10 that .d