The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-04-02
Head of Retiring City Admin
istration Discusses Many
Matters Of Public
Interest.
|TREET IMPROVEMENTS
Mayor Tells Of Need Of Home
Rule in Matter of Appor-
tioning the City
Taxes.

The report OF the. retiring mayor of
keokuk, S. w. Moorhead, for the two
ears OF the administration OF which
e was the head, was presented to
be council Saturday morning. The re-
ort will be included in the sixth an
ual report of the city of Keokuk un.
er the commission form of govern
hent, which will shortly be printed for
ublic consumption.
The mayors report touches on the
lily improvements made during the
asst two years, the work on the new
keokuk and Hamilton bridge, the con-
ttion Of the city finances, the river
FONT improvements, the need of home
bile In the matter of apportioning
be taxes and other matters Of pertin-
hit public interest.
The mayors report follows:
The Mayors Report.
Upon retiring from office at the end
two years this administration
likes pleasure in submitting the fol-
living brief resume of some Of the
lore important public Improvements
Jade during that time:
Brick paving and curling IS blocks,
Dual to 1.25 miles.
Concrete paving and curbing, 1871
locks, equal to 1928 miles.
Concrete alley paving. four blocks,
hual to .27 miles.
Asphalt macadam and curbing, one
Jock, 300 feet.
Storm sewers constructed, $685.
hear feet, equal to 1926 miles.
Sanitary sewers constructed. 49,
AGO linear feet, equal to 3.14 miles.
In addition miscellaneous sewers
ere constructed at a cost of over
5000.
As will be seen by reference to the
etailed reports of the superintend.
1t Of the department Of streets and
lblic improvements and the city en-.
heer, extensive improvements were
30 made in the matters of street
leaning, resurfacing OF old macadam
reets and market grounds, oiling, re-
Yrs to bridges, parks, etc. It was
e policy of the head Of this depart.
ent to repair and maintain old
reets rather than renew them, as a
after of economy. and this policy
is been maintained consistently
roughcut. AS result the streets
Lhc City, Lbhch do a AoiC, olc III
liter condition than they have been
r. many years. ..-f...... ..- .
Other Public improvements.
Additional work was done on the
yer front during the past year and
BILE Improvement made in its con-
ton and appearance. All indications
Pint to the Mississippi river becom-
B again, at an early day. an actual
rrier Of commerce in competition
Pacific coast and foreign trade,
ID emphasis should be placed on the
gent necessity of constructing prop
river terminals. Unless such term
ais are esta blished, Keokuk will be
distinct disadvantage compared
It'll other Mississippi river cities.
The new bridge across the Missis-
ppi river is approaching completion
d should be of great benefit to the
~ because its construction makes
lssible the avoidance Of the 10 per
mt grade on Main street from Water
First street, and the II per cent
ade from First to Second street.
lst fall the city purchased right OF
~ for the extension Of Bridge street
pm First street diagonally across
IS 10, II and IL, in block - to a
nction with Main street directly east
the Blom4Collier property. By this
rangement there Is secured 2.40
r cent grade from Water street near
to the top of Main street hill. Con-
pct has been let for the grading.
wing. curbing and construction of
aewalks on this extension and the