La Junta tribune., 1913-12-06
LET'S GET \ TOWN MANAGER
abilene. Nan. HA, Found the Plan
Worth Whils-Nakc> III. Gov
rrnm.nt Efficient.

The city manager plan, "hlch l.
replacing the commission form Of
government In few OF our cities. Is
especially applicable to the small
toRu, provided that tn. man select
ed ar manager l. an engineer.
The greatest part OF the city's
business Is based on engineering
principles and should be managed by
an engineer. aud. OF course. 1t is nee
.ssary that he be a man OF executive
power
The Commissioner should b. the
city's governors aud the powers of
the manager should be- exercised
subject to their supervision and con
troll
A. a toSn where the city govern
mcnt has been gradually changed
to the more simplificd form, Abi-
lcue. Kans.. may b. sited a. an sN-
ample. In 1910 the council vas re-
placed by the commission form and
higher efficiency was attained imme-
liat-ly But after tn. novelty OF
the new form had worn out II Was
-ccu that there would be- som. difn-
Guilty Ia getting successful aud active
business men to serve A. commis-
-ioucrs. A. the salary In town of
tive Thousand H. not worth while and
the duties ar. numerous.
However. this difficulty was easily
overcome by hiring a man Ia do th,
tork which required - much tint.
the same a. q private corporation
would hire u superintendent Tn.
man chosen for this neSly created
oftic" Was Kenyon Ridal.. a civil en-
sinrer, then acting a. supervising
engineer, of som" paving work la
Abilene. After about six months OF
the new system IL was only u-c-s.
sary 10 examine the records NJ the
costs Of numerous improvements
don" To --- that great saving had
been already accomplished
At present the city do-- all OF IT.
own sewer aud water extension
work The material l. bought aud
then Installed 10y paving tn unit
quantity, eliminating force account,
eh"re,"r possible. Five miles OF
pavement is divided into cleaning
districts aud after each days clean,
iug a report &, made. thereby check
INK the amount Of work done aud
giving the cost per sauar. yard ~.
80 the dirt roads are di"'siyd into Dis,
tricts Tor dragging. each district
comprises a certain number OF mile.
Go be dragged and b, paid Tor at a
rate per mile
Complrt" records are kept OF all
underground work % q street is "a
to paved IA" iuturc OF this street 4.
considered and all underground pipe
systems are attended To before tho
road is paved. Al meeting of "a,
commissioners the manager submit.
plans and estimates of the futur,
weeks sork and also submits his r,.
cords and costs OF Nr past week
Since the costs Of all OF the lAboi
aud material Eo through HE hand,
he h held r"sponsibl. To accoun, foi
thr-. bills.
A. To th. "sp"ns. Of creating thi,
new office. there should be- no e,trs
draught on IN. city's funds und.,
the new plan there will b. insp-.
tion fees for all sewer work. plumb
lng, wiring. etc. and th.s. small fee
would b. paid into N. general fund
In - town OF four or rive ,housan,
they should amount 10 SIS PEE
month The usual expenses Of sur
N"Nins Ia, lines aud giving Sidewalk
and building grades should b. a
least i2b per month Th. city of fi,,
thousand will hav" also some .bxi
he"rlns for sever and water lines
curbs aud pavement. this viii aver
az. $50 per month Aud finally. 1
III. manager has charge OF III. sire.
work. th. street commissioner sal
AIRY may b. added. thi. would prob
ably he $50 per month. Th. argro