The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1913-01-17

This fund is levied for the purpose
of meeting the general expenses OF
running the City government. 1t will
pay these expenses b [
there will be nothing left for improve
ments. 1t was not Intended to do more
This rate was fixed years ago, before
there was any demand for these
things, and from the best informa-
ton that we can get, it is the lowest
rate in the State of Georgia to-day
for a City of Marieta's size. There is
not town in Georgia to-day that is
enJOying the benefits of these i'm
provements that has paid for them,
or any part of them out of the gen
eral fund. This fund will keep first
class streets and sidewalks in repair.
but it will not build them. 1t win
maintain adequate fire departments,
but it will not install them. 1t is not
expected to. For many years prior
to the administration of Mr.. Doibs.
no permanent improvements of any
time the principal streets of the City
were almost as impossible as the old
fashioned country roads, and it was
not an uncommon thing during rainy
weather to see wagons mired almost
to the axle on the Citys principa!
streets, and even on the public
square.
The City park was in a delapidated
and unsightly condition. At that time
the City was practically without any
fire protection, and disastrous fires
resulting in the losses of thousands
of dollars to property owners were
not infrequent. Not foot of cement
sidewalk had been laid.
During Mr.. Dobbs administration,
the City park was improved and
beautified, and all the principal
streets of the City were put in an
improved condition, such as had new
er been done before. 1t was unfortun-
ate that these improvements were
made just at that time, as they had
hardly been completed before it was
necessary to tear them all up in order
to put in the new sewerage and water
pipes, thereby losing practically all
of the benefits which we might other
wise have derived from this expend-
/ iture.
The people complain at the condi-
ton of the streets at the present
time, and we regret that the limited
amount of funds at our disposal will
not allow us to make the needed i'm
provements.
During Mr.. Clay's administration,
a new fire department was installed
at considerable expense, and from
this source thousands of dollars have
been saved to the people through fire
protection and reduced insurance
rates.
1t not only cost money to install
! the new fire department, but it takes
money to maintain it.
During this time, mile of cement
sidewalk was laid which cost the City
quite nice sum, and has been of
great benefit and convenience to a
large portion of our citizens.
During the past year we have i'm
| proved one mile of streets on Whit
I lock Ave, at an expenditure of about
100000. This street is now in first
class condition and the work has
/ been done in such a way as to make
it absolutely permanent for years to
come. If all of the Citys streets were
in as good condition as this one, the
matter of street expense, which is now
the largest item, would be practical
ly wiped out.
We would also mention that dur
ing the past year, we had tremend-
Gus flood which washed every street
in the City full of holes and gulleys.
and the expense of repairing this dam
age, we estimate at fully 100000
In this connection it must be born
in mind that during all the time that