Semi-weekly herald., 1913-05-05
BANQUET TO CITY'S
OUTGOING OFFICIALS

In retiring from hlE otflclai duties as
mayor of Durango, A. F. Hood extend
ed courtesy, in the form Of an elah-
crate banquet, to his co-owortlers, tie
new officers and the representatives Of
the press. The event will long bel
remembered with pleasure by the par
ticipants. The festal board was heav
ily ladened with choice Viands, and
proved both feast to the eye and
the palate. Mine Host Fleck of the
Savoy carried out every detail of theI
affair with marked degree of per-
fection.
The inspiration for the entertain
ment-the delicate expression of
friendship for each person who par
took of his hospitality-was indeed
most pleasing. AS host and toast
master, Mayor Hood extended, in elc-
quent terms, a cordial welcome teI
his guests. In a touching manner he
voiced his appreciation of his ofiiciai
associates and assured the new CON-
smissioners of his best wishes for their
officia! success and further assured
them of his loyal support. He re-
ferred to the record of the retiring
council with pardonable pride and cor
gratulations. That few of the ac-
complishments which were due direct
ly to their efforts might be more
forcibly recalled, the toastmaster call
ed upon Mr.. John w. Wingate to re-
spond to the toast, Our Achieve
ments." The speakers caution had
ever been to his fellow councilmen,
1--WE must cut our garment accord
ing to our cloth" The splendid fl
nancial conition of the city attests to
the consideration the advice has been
given. The large note at the First
National bank has been met in full.
All current bills against the city have
been paid without the use Of appro-
priations that belong to the new ad-
ministration. The commissioners be-
gin their official career with clean
financial slate, not with a heritage of
debts of whose origin they know lit
tie. Mr.. Wingate called special at
tention to the excellent condition of
the streets and stated that he doubted
if any city in the state had better
highways save those that are paved.
Briefly few of the things noted IN
his speech as special achievements of
the council of the past two years, he
cited the building of the substantial
bridge across Junction creek the pur-
chase of the 5000 acre water shed
that forever protects Durango's wa-
ter rights, the provision for the ST.
900 bond redemption, the improvement
or the electric light system with
corresponding reduction in cost, the
number of arc lights having been IN
creased from fifty-two to ninety ana
the cost reduced from SS to So each.
A large number of street and alley
crossing have been constructed, and
the expenses of this work also re-
duced materially, the water system
has been kept in good condition with
a pipe line almost out OF commis-
sion, 17O0 feet of storm sewer has
been built, a cement sidewalk ordi-
nance covering the business district
enacted and enforced, the parks have
been greatly improved in appearance
and provisions made for the improve
ment of the cemetery. He congratu-
lated the retiring officers on the splen-
did service they have rendered the
municipality To the newly elected Of
ficers he extended his congratulations
on the privilege that was theirs to
be first to administer the affairs of
the city under commission govern
ment and he trusted the new system
would prove all that it's friends and
warmest supporters hoped for it. He
assured them of his loyal support and
proposed toast to their success, to
which all gave hearty response.
On behalf of the commissioners
Mayor Scouton thanked the retiring
mayor and aldermen for the courte-
sizes extended. He most heartily con-
graduated the members Of the retir-
ing board upon the various things
they had accomplished. During his