Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-04-09
h tIc finances of th

results obtained m the financial management of it's lff ir5.
 Notwithstandi1g our beginning the year with a dcpleted tlca ury and daring the year were called upon 10 cXpcnd large sums for the necessary Improvements that mark Gn unpresad- ented period or progress and develop Ment. OHH taX rate has not been in creased. All outstanding warrants have be paid as they fell duo, and our G'ity Scrip finds I rcady market, not only at home. but abroad, al T relson- able ii count.
 In the new budget of expenses adopted for each department fHr the eomisg yc approE. fat ans have been made which will give each de- partment ample finds 10 mcer ail | demands.
 Our outstanding indebtedness for ] the year ending April lth has seam- ! in& y increased to a considerable ex- tent, but when We consider the public ] Improvements that III rll our progress, our citizens will readily sre Int the-r m2ney has not been foal shy or lecll- lessIy expended and tll7y will not be surprised at thc record which thi, Board has established. herewith pre- ent number of comparisons. which ! have taballted for the pur- pose of showing, in concrete form, the relative financial eondt 0n of su!' city. As we arc denied he right, un~ der our present csnstitut on, to issue bonds for permanent improvements, We have had to rely solely upon our annual revenues 10 meet the expenses 5f making such Improvements. This fact will explain the marked increase ill the eity's Indebtedness.
 The increase of the eity's debt, IS is readily seen, is caused in a large measure by the purchase of land for cemetery purpo es, and beccmes q permanent asset of the city, and tbe large amount expended during the year, in the way Of permanent ip- provemens. Had the city been able [ to secure, the .amount of road tax, dg4 < under the law, we could have 'dscrSas- cd the actual Indebtedness several thousand d0llars.
 In this connection, I would recom- mend that your Honorable Body, take c,to e ,r,f1J bo senr t, ,rot a more equitable and just stribution of the road tax, at the hands of tEo next Legislature.
 Street Department.
 This department has not been idle and have done exceedingly we'll, con sidering the adverse weather cond- tions and the poor and inadquate #equi9mset on hand for doing saii:fao- t3rE work. The departm Ant is very much handicapped because of insuiii- cient equipment, and l would recon mend that your Honorable Body make sufficient appropriation to purchase three additional teams, enc road scraper and there more dump wagons and such other material as will be necessary to place the department in position to do more satisfactory and efficient work. I also recommend that the street cleaners known as the White Wings" be increased to six, one of whom shall be white man who can act in the dual capacity Of driver fer the street wagon and fore man of the gang, for this service he should receive $1.50 per day.
 Throughout my administration shall insist upon more rigid en- forcement of the sanitary laws of oul city. realizing fully that the heslth prosperity and happiness of our citi Zens will depend in a large measure upo na strict observance of the laws of hygiene and sanitation, and I be- speak the hearty and cheerful co-op eration of our people along thes lines.
 In this connection I would recon mend that, as soon es practicable your Honorably Body take up the mat ter of creating the office of milk an food inspector, and select some on who is competent to inspect the e~prod Wcts of daries and meats offered fo sale on the streets and in the ma, kets and stores of our town. WI is also capable of examining dai, herds for tuberculosis and hogs 10 cholera, and acting in conjunetio with the Board of Health and Cit Physician-can protect our pe9pl ; fro mthe danger of eating unwhole . some food. The services rendered b il (Continued on Page D U