El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-12-29

- MBCD4lNE IN 4 message 10 lhe CITY
council. a resume Of the accom-
L. plishments OF the city officials
during their two year tenure of office
together with recommendations to the
coming city officials who viii be elect
ed in the early spring. mayor Tom Lea.
Thursday afternoon. informally met the
city council in his office and presented
= budget of the income and expenditures
Of the city for the fiscal year ending
March 81. 1918.
Mayor Lea stated that the budget
fund and tax rate as presented mas
based on the tital valuation of s5o.el2.-
SEQ. an increase in the last two years Of
more than $4,000, 600 He called par
ticular attention to the increase IN tax
? bic values this wear. which amounts 10
approximately s4.0oO.00o.
City Growing Rapidly.
We are a rapidly growing city. Ssio
the mayor. and while ] have endeaV-
cred TO keep the expenses down as low
rs possible. I have not clipped amounts
in such q way that any department VIII
find itself held I'D on its work OF i'm
proveihent through lack OF funds Grow
ing rapidly as We are. II Is bound 10
cost US an added amount TO keep W
with this growth. and false economy IL
something I feel we should shun.
In his message TO the council the
MAYOR strongly and to considerable
length dwelt on the subject of public
parks. He outlined the need for
breathing places" for the citizens OF
the CITY. showing III what way the CITY
can be made one Of the scenic show
places of the west and south
He spoke Of the improvements when
had been made in Washington park
once q Joke" and explained how. IN
der the plans which have been made. Il
VIII be built up until il becomes one
OF the prettiesJ spots in this section
Castle Heights Plans
He spoke of the scenic possibilities OF
the tract of land obtained by the city
in Castle Heights. and stated that when
the time has come for the bulldlng up
and beautifyinE Of this tract. when the
finances of the city warrant the sui
ficient expenditure OF money which VIII
DO juctice TO the spot that the work VIII
be done only under the supervision OF
2 competent landscape architect
The scenic point just north Of the
high school. described as most strange
" and peculiarly located" was touched
upon by the mayor He stated that this
point is the key 70 the scenic driveway
now proposed. and states that some day
IN The future a wonderful scenic park
will be completed there. connected by
superb automobile road. and proving
the mecca for tourists who will con-
tinue 10 flock 10 E Paso-
Still referring 70 parks the mayor
recommended the purchase Of a part OF
the Golden Hill addition with a pur-
chase OF or 50 acres OF me Tapes tS-
tate He also suggested that the city
purchase II possible. Wintergreen park
or the palisades. for he said. no
administration should ever hesitate TO
purchase even q small tract lot parh
purposes, for parks, like streets, prove
Z city's worth"
Fire Department Efficient.
The fire department" continued the
mayor. has been brought up TO A high
point OF efficiency FL Paso has one OF
the best fire chiefs in America and the
BODY of men is credit 10 any city
This department has been. or will be
IN the next SO DAYS. completely motor
lied This is in keeping with the
growth OF an up 10 date city. and not
only decreases the great cost OF main
tenance. but means efficiency in the
highest degree"
That the police department has come
under the greatest good fortune in be
ing placed under civil service ruling, is
the opinion of mayor Lea No step
taken has meant more for the advance
ment Of the city" he stated. than the
civil service amendment for the police
department. voted upon favorably Dec
Z. With three commissioners. who viii
do their full duty in selecting men and
Who will be close at all times TO the
department and with the men free from
political influence. il would be strange
indeed that this department should not
be built up to a high degree of ef-
More Pay for PatrOImen.
Tn my budget" continued the mayor.
T have arranged for an Increase in the
ray of patrolmen. and I trust that the
succeeding administration Will make
another raise so thar the average pa
trolman viii receive not less than 500
per month"
That a city hospital should be erected
in the very near future is firmly be
lieved BY mayor Lea No city Of the
size Of FL Paso should try to get along
on the charity Of the county" he said.
and just as soon as valuations are
sufficient and the tax rate will stand
It a city hospital should be built and
equipped by the city.
The present county hospital. II il
could be arranged. could be bought by
the city and turned into an institution
run by the city, and personally. I deeply
regret that IT is impossible. by virture
Of property valuations and the cOnse-