The Cairo bulletin., 1913-04-21

TOT ~ pei vent VI TIC totot ~eSt "
the entire work Of building the
sewer. so that IL should be clear 10
every fair minded and thinking bus-
mess man in the City of Cairo that
the cost OF this Reconstruction. at
least SO far as IL relates To the orig !
inal plans for the sewer. is due from
the bondsmen of the Rich Consirnc-
ton Company, and every effort will
be made 10 collect the amount ex-
pended by the City that has been
used IN restoring that portion of the
sewer constructed by the Rich Con-
struction Company. which failed 70
remain in tact to the end of the two
years. for which ii was guaranteed.
Ali of the other work that has
been done during my administration
has met the requirements of the
specifications. and has been approved
by the citizens of Cairo generally.
and very many visitors. who have
been over the improved streets of,
the City and inspected them.
1t will be remembered that dur
ing the first year OF my administra-
ton, IL was impossible to start any
Improvements on account OF the
strict quarantine against yellow
fever, that was maintained here so
successfully; so that whatever has
been accomplished has been done in
| a period OF seven years. notwiths
standing the unfriendliness of the
public press towards me during prac-
ltieally all that time.
| While this work OF improvement
was in progress. financial panic
spread over the entire country, and
during the latter part of the year
1907 and the early part OF 1908 it
became necessary for the banks OF
our city to issue certificates, which
were used in the place of money. as
it was impossible to obtain bank
notes from any source of supply. 1t
will also be remembered that it be-
came necessary to advertise three
times for the paving on Washing
ton Avenue and otherwise improy-
ing said Avenue, on account of this
financial panic Being extremely
anxious that this important JIM
iproycment should not be delayed.
went to ST, Louis and secured the
promise of certain bankers there to
take the bonds for this work. pro.
lvided the City of Cairo could secure
satisfactory bids upon it. In this
way, and in this way alone II was
possible for the people of the City
to have Washington Avenue i'm
proved when it was improved.
Il Ex-Congressman Thistlewood pub
licly denounced the present admin.
istration at the court house on the
evening Of March 10th for not hay-
ing provided for sinking fund tc
meet the Clty's bonded Indebtedness
for which refunding bonds were is
sued in 1894, under the administra.
, ton of Mayor c. o. Patier Under
the administration of both of these
Mayors, as well as others who have
held the office from 1894 to this
lpresent time. no steps have beer
taken to provide for the payment o.
the principal of these bonds. Ex
CONGRESSMAN ThistleWood wa
Mayor for four years since that tim
| (1S97 to 1a01) and. therefore. is re
sponsible to the people of Cairo fol
his failure to take steps providing
for the payment Of the principal o
the bonds in question. Since h,
has had the opportunity to handle
the payment of the City's bonds ant
neglected to exercise 1t. it seems (,
me that it Is in bad taste for him {,
criticise the present situation with
out having first obtained any Of tn
lfaets as they now exist. 1t is gen
orally conceded that q sinking funi
should have been provided for at tn
time the bonds were issued, or sooI
after that time. The question @
the payment of the bonds now un
der consideration was taken up ,.
the Mayor and Special City Attorne.
Leek late last year with the Stat
IOfficisls, and 1t was arranged tina
enough money should be extende.
on the tax books by the State Of
ficials this year to pay the interes
ION these bonds, and that the admin
istra:ion would in proper time pro
vide for Issuing new serial bond
with which to pay both principa
and interest of the maturing bonds
and thus wipe out this long out
standing Indebtedness against tn,
City Of Cairo, upon the easiest term
possible to the tax payers.
When took up the reins OF gov
eminent as mayor. eight years ago
there were in operation Throughout
the city honki-tonks and slot ma
chimes, as well as public gambling
establishments. All these evil
have been either wiped out entirel,
or ~edueed IN a r1fniuutm fit,rin,