South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-05
In Final Report to Council
City'S Retiring Executive
Tells of Work Done BY His
Administration.
CITY IN GOOD SHAPE
Report Tells of improvements,
Finance and Opening Up of
Washington Av. = Praises
Council and Officials.

/ tenure of the present city admins
/ tratiOn shall expire by limitation. At
+ high noon of Jan. 3, 1914, the mayor
atty Of South Bend will pass into new
hands-those OF the man chosen as
! my successor on Nov. 4, 1913, Fred
I w. Keller.
/ At such time IT is fitting that a ret
respective view be taken OF what has
been accomplished during the four
years of the present administration 5
activities. For, be IL ever borne in
mind, the people Of the municipality
are entitled to know TO what extent
and in what manner they have been
d served by way of public improvements
or betterment OF conditions 4 such
there be-and TO what use has been
I put much OF the revenue collected
/ from year 10 year for the purpose of
keeping in operation the governmental
machinery OF thriving and steadily
growing city.
1t will readily be understood that
a large proportion of the municipal
revenue IS annually required to defray
! the current expenses of the city gov
ernment. To have in constant service
a large force of officials and employees
/ TO discharge the various duties in
sumbent upon them all absorbs much
/ OF the c1ty's income, however care
/ fully and economically administered
/ this service may be.
/ II is gratifying to find upon exam
! ination of the city records that a good
showing can be made of what has been
achieved during the life of this adj
ministration in addition To admins
/ trative, executive and other regular
service The largest items OF expend-
l itures in the line OF service re the
police and fire departments. Both
have been kept within the boundaries
| of economy, but with due reference to
1 public safety both as to life and prop
erty A town Of over fifty thousand
} inhabitants would be a very unsafe
abiding place without adequate police
! protection. and the value of an eff
cient. up-to-date fire department can
| hardly be estimated in dollars and
cents alone.
/ Permanent improvements.
| What has the city to show for the
money expended in other directions
lin the nature of permanent i'm
Iprovements? Summarized as briefly
as possible there may be cited:
1. Street improvements, sidewalks,
! sewers, etc, TO the amount Of $751;
1880.
2. Reconstruction and enlarge
/ ment of the city water works, afford
/ Ing an abundance of pure water 10
meet public requirements for at least
twenty years. Without "a single eX-
ception South Bend can point to the
/ best and purest water supply in the
entire state.
! 3. A fire department equipped with
/ the most approved apparatus to be
/ found in any city of twice the size OF
South Bend.
/ A. A park system that is uniform
! y adjudged a blessing TO present and
\ future generations In extent. etc, il
has been doubled; its dim enslonS now
reach an acreage OF PA 1-2. Play
grounds and facilities for health-prO- |
noting amusements are pointed to
with pardOnable pride by all who
comprehend the true value of a prop
i. erly devised park system.
/ D. The sanitary condition of the
/ city has been guarded with scrupu-
/ lOus care. Epidemics have thereby
been minimized. The establishment |
I by cooperation OF the county authori- J
ties. OF an isolation house has been
l found quite serviceable and helpful.
3. Taking into account the heavy |
expenditures incident to costly per-
manent Improvements, the financial |
condition of the municipality is highly !
/ satisfactory and gratifying. At the !
advent OF the present administration
| IT was confronted with a deficit in the !
general fund OF about $4,000 in the |
/ form of outstanding warrants Not |
withstanding the fact that large extra |
I ordinary demands upon the finances
OF the city had TO be met, il is a
source Of unfeigned qualification 10 be
/ able TO point TO a neat balance of $685. |
/ 612.25 cash In hand
As a result OF careful prudent and
! economical housekeeping all Of the old
street and sewer Improvement bonds. |
5til outstanding, may be redeemed in
2 915. Furthermore. the final eXtinc-
ton Of the city hall building obligation !
viii follow in 1915. The elimination
of these membranes Will materially
tighten the burden upon the munich
/ pality and render possible some other
I form OF public Improvement or enable !
and justify a material reduction OF
I local taxation.
! Track Separation.
In the interest of a personal and I
4 public safety the administration early
/ became enlisted in a movement 10
/ provide for railway track separation. /
For a proper beginning OF this under |
I taking TO safeguard life at tho numer-
I Gus railroad crossings within the city /
1 boundaries authority had 10 De obtain !
/ ed from the general assembly OF fndi- /
ana TO proceed along well-defined
/ lines. To obtain such authorization
was no easy task Members OF the
! legislature are not easily enlisted in
matters purely local, as those familiar
with legislative procedure at Indianap-
/ oils know fun, well. To overcome op-
/ position that ncarly always springs mp
where such legislation is sought local
mem hers Of the general assembly need
reinforcement however eager they
may be TO secure favorable action. By
earnest and persistent effort the de-
sired legislation was finally obtained
4 and steps were at once taken by he
: administration here 10 put the pro-
visions Of the legislative authorization