The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-02
MAYORS MESSAGE
Advocates City Bearing Entire Cost of All Pave
 mentS.
FaVOrs BOuleVards to Payer weather Island and Tennis Courts in Parks = RecOm- mends Bureau of Electrical Inspection.


 the departmental boards upon. their. showing. He criticises the school board for its manner of doing busi- ness, calling particular attention to the fact that this board today has more money at it's dispokaf than ever before in it's history.
 Excerpts from the message follow:
 The grand list for 1913 shows an increase Of -$5, ,132.625.oO over the gross amount of grand list for 1912 I be- lieve that the property of the city is more eQuitably assessed at the present time than ever before.
 Owing to the fact that the State Legislature imposed a tax of one mill on the grand list of 1913 and 1914. after the Board of Apportionment had made it's final appropriations for 1913, 1t was necessary to levy a, two mill tax on the grand list of this year in order to meet the State tax, and this ac- counts for our present high tax rate.
 ssThe city auditors accounts show an increase in available cash amount ing to $554.99 after payment of all bills for the fiscal year ending March S1st, 1914.
 TThe proportion of the city's in debtedness to the grand list is 2.o65 per cent; this will be increased 1 1-10 per cent this year by the addition of $1, 225. 900 bonded indebtedness.
 The approval of the several pro- jects s-t the special election May I6th, 1914, is an endorsement of what be- lieve to be the only practical and cor rect financial policy for a municipal ity. Improvements which are to last for g term of years should be paid for by issuing serial notes for bonds cover ing a period of time commensurate with the life of the projects Current expenses and the general up-keep of all departments should unquestionabIy be met by direct taxation and the in-' come derived from the various sources of our city. This should be our finan-s cia1 policy as it provides improvements without un nduIy increasing the burden of the property owner.
 This board of assessors has been doing splendid work in equalizihg the taxation of property. They have re- ceived a large number of block maps from the city engineer and when these maps are completed, the assess. ment of property will be made accord ing to lot and p1otA am very glad to note that they. have kept abreast of the times and their work has been carefully and promptly done.
 The streets of our city have been greatly improved during the past year by the laying of permanent pavement and Warrenite on various streets and eastern to the western line of our city. The main thoroughfares should be first provided for and would sug- gest the Improvement of Main street from North avenue to the city line this being the most traye1ed route northerly. The state highway com missioner has agreed to accept this highways and to construct twenty foot roadway from the TruubuIl lin6 southerly to North avenue. and the city will lay a similar roadway north- erly from North avenue as far as the present width will permit. During the past year, l 8, 729 lin. 1t. of permanent pavement, and 13.223 lin. it. of War renite pavement were laid. No assess ment was levied against adjoining property owners for the cost of War renite. and it seems to me that the time has arrived when the city should bear the entire cost of all pavements.
 T would recommend that the pro- ceeds Of the serial notes which are to be Issued for. pavem ents- be in1medi- ately applied for this purpose; for while the first cost of permanent or semi permanent pavement is some what greater than for water-bound macadan, which is inadequate for most of our city streets. the decrease in the up-keep offsets by far this cost.
 ''The expenditure Of $300.0O0 voted for sewer construction will be of de- cided advantage and will greatly inn prove the sanitary COn0I10n or our city. Contracts will soon be awarded for the construction Of a large inter- ceptor sewer on the eastern and the western side of Pequonnock river in accordance with the order of the Su- per1or Court.
 sfThe Board of Education has more money at it's disposal than ever before in its history. I believe that the pres ent method of selecting members for this board is entirely wrong, as mem bership is accomplished through poli- tical manipulations at party conven- tions, and am also of the opinion l that the board as at present constitut- l ed is too large. As a board it does 1 not exercise the same business judg-I ment and acumen which the indfvid- uaI members apply to their own af- | fairs, and the efficiency is consequent 1 ly not commensurate with it's import l ance- would recommend that this 1 board at once provide sites for new school buildings while land valuations 1 years, even though it is not necessary to build schools at the present time 1 at such places. I believe it has been embarrassed by pursuing a. short sighted policy hitherto. Now that it 1 has ample funds at its disposal it l should provide for the future.
 ''The Park department has been do- ing excellent work in developing our park system An appropriation was | by the Board of Apportion- l ment for the continuation of the sea l wall at Seaside park in order to pro tect the land reclaimed at the west 1 end of the park. When this wall is | extended across FayerHeatner Island | they will then reclaim a very large acreage, which will add considerable to playground and sport facilities. | would recommend the construction | 7 f,-k. <NP our parks as I believe they would be g. source of great enjoyment to many l of our citizens. have been advised | that it is possible for the city to a.c- quire number of elk, provided it f furnishes the proper facilities for their maintenance, and would recom- mend that this department take steps I1rcvide fI11a r-tan-s fc,1. tIaasa