Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-08-10
AN EXPLANATION.

To the Business and Professional
Women and Men OF Audubon.
As mayor of Audubon, / feel that
1t is my duty to call your attention
to the matter OF nightwatchman. The
18th day Of June, 1910. the council of
Audubon employed a nightwatchman
for the period of one year. He has
been continued from time to time
since the expiration of that time I'M
til Monday evening, August Z. 1911.
when at a regular meeting of the
council, they decided to discontinue
nightwatchman. The nightwatch-
man was employed year ago last
June upon the strength of petition
signed by large per cent Of the bus
mess men whereby they agreed TO
pay large portion of his salary. The
council paid the balance of his salary
out of the general fund. The petition
was again circulated this June and
only a small portion of the business
men signed the petition and only a
small part of the nightwatchman's
salary was pledged. The portion of
his salary pledged by the business
men was so small that the council
did not feel justified In continuing
his service. Since Monday night the
town has been without a nightwatch
One reason they discontinued his SER
vice was because they did not feel
justified in taking his salary out OF
the general fund when his duties
were principally In the business por-
tons of the city. OF course, IL he had
reasons to think that his services
were needed in the resident parts OF
town, he went, or IL he were called
to the resident parts, he went. 9th
erwise, his beat was in the business
portions. Other reason was that the
council felt that il was not just for q
part of the business men to pay for
the protection of their own as well
as other business mems property
when all would receive equal protec-
ton.
Business men should remember
that the business parts of town are
practically deserted at night and Il
fire should brake out, It might gel
beyond control before discovered
Your place of business might be emit
cred and great damage done before
any alarm would be given. A very
small fire would result in many times
the damage that a nightwatch's sal.
airy amounts to. There has been &
wonderful change in the peace ant
quiet of the town since the night
watch was put on over q year ago
AS business man, you surely havs
observed this. We believe that 1t II
great mistake for the town to b.
without a nightwatch. We believe
that you have retired In the evening
with more assurance OF the safety o.
your property during the past yeal
than you will from this time forth
without a nightwatch. How much
sleep can you afford to lose for dol
lar or two month. How much of Z
chance can you AFFORD to take on you
valuable stock Of goods or your build
ings for that amount. You sleep a
home and can look after your resi-
dence but who will look after YOU
business interests during the nigh
time. Audubon Is too large a tow
to be without nightwatch. II is {
backward step. Do you want a night
watch?
The council has refused to hire /,
nightwatch unless the business ans
professional men sign more gener
ally and more literally to his salary
have tried to put this up to yo,
squarely. II means no more to m,
than to you. II means much in m.
opinion to both of us. II Is up to you
r. C. SPENCER. Mayor.