Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-06-01

4
ready to provide it, needing only to have
the proposed Improvement brought to
your attention and the wisdom of il ex-
planned. This show of confidence on
your part has kept me active in your in
terest. feel justified in saying that |
no not believe there is a town in the
as much expert information. as has Snow
Hill. II my recollection is not at fault,
less than $4,000 will cover all our ex-
penditures for expert services during the
past ten years, which amount represents
the cost of the survey of the streets for
the purpose of establishing grades.
have given you freely the advantage Of
all the knowledge possessed and have
drawn upon my friends without reserve.
! know that in the early stages of our
street work, was rather severely criti-
cised. but as the work went on and il
was demonstrated that the end justified
the means, this spirit died out, and the
people with practically one accord,
approved of and assisted in bringing
about this much needed Improvement,
along the lines your Mayor and Council
had adopted.
am proud Of our streets, and partic-
ularly so, when in my memory see them
as they existed ten years ago and before.
1t is hard to believe, that we were con-
tent with such streets from 1869 TO 1904.
1t is also a source of qualification to
me that our sidewalks were paved so
promptly; with little or no friction on
all improved streets.l except Bay street
to the railroad station, from Market
street; and the South end of Washing
ton street from Federal street and
Franklin street. which streets were not
included in the Ordinance providing for
paving.
am proud of the manner in which
our sewer proposition has been dealt
with. Practically all persons in town
who were desirous of sewer connections.
have secured them at nominal cost,
with little or no expense to the town.
The fact is, the only sewer laid by the
town, is in Church street from Martin
street to the River. which is 4 combina-
ton storm and sanitary sewer, laid at "A
cost of some $780, 90. The town has re-
ceived up to this time $3.50. 90 for privi-
leges to tap this sewer, in addition to
incalculable benefits to this beautiful
section.
Again, am proud of our Municipal
self, which is credit to the town and
an ornament as well, but on account of
the fact that its erection was contribu-
tory to our policy of improvement, for
know of no public improvement more
marked than Bank street.
You will pardon me for referring to
our Pumping Station. for this has been
a hobby of mine. realizing as ! did its
Importance in this community. There
was expended on this property during
my incumbency as Mayor over two
thousand dollars. thus rendering it COM
plete for the purpose for which it was
intended. | have always regarded any
money expended on this property that
has added to its efficiency. as an invest
ment. and not an expense.
| want to refer to our tax rate. II is
so cents, 10 cents more than when | was
first elected Mayor. This rate has pre-
vailed for the past six years. The ad-
vance of 10 cents was made necessary
on account of our street improvement.
This rate however, is lower than any
town in the State having any permanent
streets. In fact it is lower than most of
the towns having system of Water
Works and dirt streets. The rate at
Pocomoke. Crisfield and Cambridge. is,
go cents: Easton, 63l cents; Havre de
Grace and st. Michaels. 65 cents.
! want to say that ! know of no ex-
penditure Of public money that is more
appreciated or commended by the tax
payers. than that spent on permanent
streets. Neither do | believe that any
item of our tax rate is more cheerfully
paid than that made necessary by such
improvements.
Our tax rate Of 20 cents, which has
been levied for the past eighteen years
to pay the interest on our Water Bonds,
have never regarded as a tax, in its
application to improved property. The
records of the several insurance agents
of the town will show that much larger
sum of money is left in the pockets of
the taxpayers by their companies on ac-
count of the reduction in rates incident
to the protection that our water system
affords. than is paid out by them for
this protection.
Take it from me. your Pumping Sta
ton, is the best investment the town
has ever made. Personally had rather
own ii than any property within the
Corporate limits, at what 1t cost. And
| would be perfectly willing for the
Public Service Commission Of the State
to fix the rates to be charged for water
to consumers and the town for fire pro-
lection.
During the past year. it has been my
pleasure to compile for publication all
the laws governing the town, including
the Charter of 1894 and all subsequent
Acts of Assembly, which is now in the
hands Of the printer. In connection with
this work, took occasion to look into
the history Of the town somewhat. in
cluding the publication of some mat
ter which thought would be of interest.
| have no intention of going into this in
detail at this time. but think it might
interest you to know that the town was
first laid out in 1869. and contained 500
acres of land. In l706. certain Com
mission was appointed to make re-
survey. reducing the limits to 100 acres.
by Act Of Assembly. This same Act. also
provided that no house should be built
within the corporate limit. that did not
cover 400 square feet of ground or more,
and have at least one brick chimney. II
A q. A n. L. -