The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1916-08-11
A Wonderful Success
In City Management

What can be done with town
when it becomes necr ssary is plain
" shown by the history of the ad
ministration of Dr. J. L. Wikle of
Admission, Ala He is a brother of
DR.. C. L. Wikle of Marietta After
you have read the story you will
not wonder that he is kept in office
by the people Ct Admission.
when Or. ], L. Wikle entered
upon ne duties of Mayor of the
City of Admission eight years ago, the
task before him was one which de-
manded the attention of one possess
ed of more than ordinary executive
ability. How we'll he measured up
to the occasion can best be attested
by few facts and figures.
''When he took the office Of Mayor
the city had floating Indebtedness
of SAC, 828.92, accumulated during
several preceding administrations.
No money in the treasury, and no
credit, either at home or abroad. To
add to his difficulties, the State
Legislature had just passed certain
legislation, advancing the payment
of taxes from April lst, tc December
LIST This required the feat of fl
nancing the city for another six
months, requiring approximately
sos 100000, in addition to paying off,
the floating indebtedness, or in
plain figures, it was up to him to
carry on the city business, requiring
total outlay of Sol, 82S.92, with
no money on hand, no credit, and
the regular source of revenue cut
Off Just how he managed he alone
knows pest, but suffice to say, that
by disposing of 100000 of the
citys bonds, and by his personal en-
dorsement of the city's paper, he
managed to pull through, and as his
reward the city Of Admission, Ala, is
at this time On a paying basis for
the first time in it's history, with ev-
cry bank in town anxious to handle
it's paper, and is said to be the only
city in the State whose source of
revenue is greater than it's legiti-
mate expenditures.
Neither has this been accomplish
ed by cutting down expenditures for
improvements such as are required
and are necessary for any growing
city. During Mayor Wilkes incum-
bency, more than fifteen miles of I
streets have been macadamized, $15,-
10000 has been paid out for con-
crete bridges and culverts, seven
miles of additional sewer have been :
constructed, two Automobile Trucks
have been added to the Fire Fight
ing equipment Of the city, to say
nothing Of thousands of feet of new
hose, representing an expenditure of
more than $12, 10000 in this de-
partment of the city alone The city
Jail has been overhauled and recon-
structed at cost of more htan ST.
10000, the Street Department of the
City has had new equipment to the
value of approximately $15,000.OO.
Telephone rates have been restored
to the old basis, and the city has a
contract with the Electric Light
Company for lighting the city streets
at figure $50 lower than ever be-
fore.
New enterprises have found this
city, under it's able and economic ad-
ministration, most desirable place /,
to locate, knowing that the tax rate =
will be kept within those reasonable
bounds required by a city enjoying
a steady growth, and with an ad-
ministration opposed to the useless
expenditures Of city funds.
Some Of the enterprises which
have located here within the yas1
eight years are: The Lynchburg
Foundry Co., The STANDARD Foundry
Co., The Alabama Pipe & Foundry
Co., The Admission knitting Mills.
The Admission Heading Mills, Or
namental Foundry Co., Admission Or
dlnance Co, Woodstock Iron 6 Steel
Co., and many smaller institutions
all of which go to make a most cred
liable showing as regards the growth
OF the city. 1t might also ~ men
toned that during this period the
alabama Power Company with its
hydro-electric power brought from
the Coosa RIVER, a distance of Is
miles has made Admission one Of lis
largest distributing centers.
Also the Great White Way" of
which, DIR. Wikle was one of the
leading opponents has been installed :
and at this time, the city of Admission
has the best lighted thoroughfare.
(namely Noble Street. in the Unit
ed States.