The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-09-15
FOR MUNICIPAL
IMPROVEMENT
Mayors Message to City Council
Regarding These Necessities
URGES EARLY ACTION
Recommends Purchase of Suitable Lot T or
future City Hall and Improvement
In Present Street Conditions
To the Honorable City Council, Fort
Pierce Florida.

10 the Honorable City Council, Fort
Pierce, Florida.
Gentlemen: The City Charter makes
1t my duty to communicate to you such
recommendations touching the public
service of the City, from time to time,
as in my judgment should be made.
The lack of the necessary utilities
and the urgent need thereof impeIls me
to call your attention to the crying
needs of the people along this line
The last official Government census
gave US population of something like
fifteen hundred and the last tax assess
ment roll shows an assessed valuation
Of the property of the City to be $780,
1884 90. Now, let US reason together
and see if we are able to install a sys-
TEN of waterworks, sewerage and a
light plant. We will first estimate the
cost. A water plant will cost us about
$35, 900. This estimate is based upon
the cost of plants in other towns of
equal size. Sewerage system will cost
$40, 900 90, electric light plant, $50, 000
AL of the above figures are based on
towns elsewhere in Florida of the same
size as Fort Pierce. Now then, that
only makes a total of SIS, 10000 to
place the above systems in operation.
We have an assessed valuation of $780,
$4,000. Say we bond for thirty years,
the bonds bearing per cent interest,
you see it will only take about seven
mills on the dollar to meet the interest
on the bonds and to take care of the
slnki ing fund, based on thirty year
loan, and if the plants are managed
land | feel sure they will be- the
profits will be more than sufficient to
liquidate the indebtedness incurred in
their installation as the same shall be-
come due. SO you see by actual fig
ures that the undertaking will not be
an expense, but will be a revenue pro-
Queer and at the same time properly
equip our little city with an up.to-date
water and light plant and perfect
system of sewerage. In order that we
may see just where we are along this
line, and that we can be in a position
to show the taxpayer in dollars and
cents what the above mentioned plant S
will cost to install them and what pro-
fits the City will receive from them,
etc., | recommend that your honorable
body take such action as will be neces-
sarv to ascertain from other cities and
towns Just what it will cost us to in
stall water plant, electric light plant
and system Of sewerage.
This is matter that the people and
tax ayers are deeply interested in.
They have a right to have their proper
ty protected from fire, they have a
right to have pure water furnished
them, they have right to a sewerage
system to better protect the health OF
the City and to mirimze the danger of
disease. Now, gentlemen, ! contend
that we, as officials of the City, have
no right to say to these people that
they shall not have these benefits II
they want them, and wish to impress
uuon YOU the fact that through you as
the guardian Of the interest of the peo-
ule is the only way open to them to get
these badly needed improvements.
RIGHT here desire to call your atten-
lion that we are now paying out each
wear about 81, 900 90 for scavenger SER
vice, which service consists OF Tom
Hayword, blind horse and one horse
wagon. Now right here ! want to say
that any people who live in this age OF
Intelligence and progress and in town
which possesses the wealth that Fort
Pierce does and are satisfied with this
sort of thing, surely they are easily
satisfied and certainly have little care
for their present situation, and for the
future, they have no concern whatever.
| trust YOU will act on this suggestion
and let US have the opportunity to say
at the ballot box If we want these
much needed mprovcments.
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