The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-11-09
Mayors Message.

Mayors Message.
Oskaloosa, Iowa, November 6, 1911.
To the City Council-Gentlemen
This administration commenced on
the evening of the Bird of April, 1911;
they commenced business under the
most favorable circumstances, per-
haps, of any administration in the
history of your city; they commenced
operations with the good will and con-
fidence of the people and all elected
by an overwhelming majority and on
progressive platform, one that was
outlined by the mayor, signed and
adopted by all members of the Coun.
Gil, as we'll as some of the other can
didates for office, at the time of the
city election, and | wish to congratu'
late you at this time upon your work
and to thank you for the confidence
you have reposed in me and for the
assistance you have given me.
To the best of my recollection
there has not been single measure
advocated by the mayor, of any con
sequences, that he hasn't had the
unanimous support of the council.
Again, | want to remind you that
while we have spent considerable
money, yet, we have the physical evi
dence of the money spent; your
streets are in better condition; youl
lighting system in better condition
your park in better condition thar
heretofore; and you are erecting 9
city hall that will be a credit not only
to this administration, but to the citi
Zens of OskalOosa. The Water Com
pany has made arrangements and are
completing water plant that will be
adequate for a city three times the
size of Oskaloosa, which shows the
confidence of this corporation in the
future of your city. But there are
are many things yet to be done and
should be done, by this administra
ton, and | am going to call your at
tentiOn at this time to them, so that
there may be no misunderstanding as
to my position in the future as well
as in the past.
First.
The first thing | am going to call
your attention to is the Gas Com.
pany. In my opinion the facilities for
serving the people by this corporation
are wholly inadequate. Their gas
mains and pipes are leaking and you
liUht a ri in hn ctr in
many places. Again, many people
are wanting gas but are unable to
get it. The Gas Company is charging
a rate, running from S1.40 to $1.65,
while many of the cities of Iowa
have a rate, varying from $50 to
S1.05, and it occurs to me that We
ought to have rate of perhaps $1.00
in the city of Oskaloosa. know of
no reason why they cannot manu-
facture and furnish gas to this city
at as low a rate as any city in Iowa
This corporation is using your
streets, which belong to the public
and | think they owe the city some
thing. They certainly owe the people
good service at the lowest rates pos.
sible, to make adequate returns on
the money invested. The present
is a gentle man, and think
he is doing all in his power, for the
people of Oskaloosa, but he is only
an agent, and has to work and con-
fine himself within the limits of his
authority.
am going to advise you to in.
Sestigate this matter at once and to
BIO advised at the next regular meet.
ing of the council as to the proper
Second.
We have a number of applications
Ior the building of sewers in your
;ity and with one exception, have
been neglected. OF course you have
been busy and have a great deal OF
business to transact. and we may be
excused az to our delay up to date,
'ut there is no excuse for longer de-
ay.
My suggestion is, that you take the
eport OF the civil engineer and adopt
t, and provide the public with a.
lotice as by law required, for all
ewers where there is an application;