The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-05-11
MAYORS MESSAGE

to lay before you the annual
communication required by law
respecting the government and
condition Of the affairs Of the
,ity, and submit recommends
ions for your consideration:
The year ust past has witness
I'd a growth of our city, which
both as to extent and character
# improvements, is truly graft
,ying. The new additions plat
ted and added to the corporate
limits last year are being built
I'D with substantial and comfor-
table homes. The city has broad
,ned out beyond our conceptions
ia few years since. 1t has
,een the aim of the city govern
nent to keep pace with the
| growth of the city in the matter
# public improvements and util-
8 for the comfort and conven-
en- it's inhabitants. A large
mount of money has been X
pended in that way during the
)ast year, and it is now believed
hat we have a greater extent
If side walk. and more mileage
# sewers and water mains than
my other city of like population
in the state.
FINANCES
During the past year there
has been paid off and cancelled
5000, of city bonds that have
been running since 1886. $4,40O
rther bonds of the same issue
fall due October 1st of the pres
ent year, and provision has been
made to meet their payment
when due. There will still re-
main of the old issue of bonds
$500, none Of which can be
paid before 1916. The water
bonds to the amount of $4,000
issued last year fall due in 1890.
To meet these bonds as they be-
come due the city has accuma-
lated, and is accommodating a
sinking fund sufficient for the
purpose which is kept loaned
out, and is drawing 5 per cent
annual interest.
The report of the City Treas
urer shows a gratifying decrease
in the Observation-Disclosures of the
city since his preceding annual
report. This is especially graf
flying in view of the extensive
Improvements made at the city
expen,e during the past year,
and for the further reason that
the rate of city taxation was
lower last year thar for many
years prior. Negotiations are
now under way for refunding
outstanding warrants drawn on
the general fund to the amount
of So, 900, in bonds, running 20
years, and payable at the option
of the city after ten years, and
bearing 5 per cent interest there
by reducing the interest charge.
This bond issue will wipe out
the floating Indebtedness of the
CITY up to the beginning of the
present fiscal year, and brings
us in sight Of the time when the
entire floating Indebtedness will
be cancelled.
WATER WORKS AND WATER SUPPLY
During the past year the city
has sunk one artesian we'll, to
pay for which, and additions to
water mains a bonded indebted
ness of $6, 900 has been
incurred, aud while neither the
supply Of water nor the pressure
obtained is what we hoped for,
it is believed that it will be
sufficient for a number of years
to come.
1t has been the effort of this
administration to make t h e
water system self supporting,
and in this effort we have been
reasonably successful. The rent
collected from water users now
amounts to $2,400 each year, and
it is believed will be sufficient
to pay running expenses and for
eXtentions, and eventually pro-
duce a surplus.
FIRE PROTECTION
During the year the city has
added to its fire apparatus a
Watrous Gasoline Fire Engine,
having a capacity of $50 gallons
per minute, at a cost of 81, 700.
Tests have proven it entirely
satisfactory, and the city is now
as well equipped for fighting fire
as any city of its population in
the state. An efficient volunteer
fire comuany has been organized
and | bespeak frcm the council
! every mant for tba 6ra