Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-05-02
THE MAYoRs MESSAGE.

The Mayors message is a brief and
business-like document 1t recon-
mends progress, but only such progress
as is consistent with prudent economy.
He appreciates the fact that the city's
finances will not permit of any extern
sive development at this time and eau
tons the council to exercise the same
careful judgment in administering the
public business that they would use in
managing their own affairs were their
private finances in like condition.
The Mayor believes that the macad-
am streets should, after completion.
be kept in repair at the expense of the
city. He argues that property owners
who have paid the whole cost of build |
ing such streets should not be burden
ed with the expense of keeping in
repair "city property used entirely by
the public" This recommendation is
in line with fairness and justice, and it
is probable that the adoption of such
regulation by the council would
meet the approval of a majority of the
taxpayers of the city. 1t seems GER
tain that the day is not far distant
when Dallas will begin the work of
replacing the macadam streets with
hard-surface pavement, which requires I
little or no repair for many years after
1t is laid, and until such time as this ,
Improvement shall be commenced II :
would seem only fair for the city to
bear the expense of street mainte-
nance.
!. The suggestion that provision should :
be made for the safe-keeping of the I
city's books and records is wise. This
recommendation has been made by =,
nearly every Mayor elected by the
people of Dallas but as yet the coun- :,
ell has not seen fit to provide the J..
greatly-needed protection. The cost =.
of fire-proof vault would prove small =
indeed, when compared with the loss :,
that the city would suffer by destrue- =,
ton of Its records and valuable papers, r,
and 1t would seem the part of wisdom -
TO take immediate steps to prevent any -,
such embarrassing and expensive dis
aster.
The Mayors suggestion that the l.
charter should be so amended as to -.
permit considerable increase of our ~
Indebtedness, both general and bond an
ed" is one that will doubtless cause n -
division OF opinion among the taxbay- a@,
ers. 1t will be argued by some that -
the present limit of $4,000 is too low. Wv
and that this section of the charter
operates to disbursement of import .,,.,
INT improvements. on the other hand. a
VIII be urged that this section 49,,
erves as a safeguard against extrava- d,5
rance, and that no change should be -
'oted until such time as It can be
hown that there is imperative need ,,ao
+ II. This recommendation of the cas
layor should cause no alarm, how mn,
YER, as the charter can only be -
mended by the vote of the people.
nd any change made in that docu- ~
Ient would represent the majority u,.
III. piio
,r,,.oa,... ing
go thn,,a '"e '0" mayor mes they
at bespeaks an abiding interest in 1000
e welfare OF Dallas and an earnest 700,
sire for hearty goodwill and loyal ,eo-
operation among its people in pro- ,9oe
Dung the growth and development ,oo7
the city. 1t is this spirit that has 1eoo
ven Dallas its present importance as tOoo
i've and busy town, and II is this ,ooo
rit that will eventually make the too1
80, u's oap'.a, one OF the I'M 1902
-, -, ... anu INDUSTRIAL 1903
tiers of the Willamette Valley. Ioo1