The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1917-07-10

ard City Council last evening a com munication was received from Mayor Mcdonald in which he stated in part as follows:
 Seward, Alaska, July 9, 1917. To the Common Council of the City of
 Seward:
 Gentlemen:-
 As executive of the City of Sew ard. I desire at this time to submit the following report and recommen- dations for your future consideration:
 The Fire Department has been en- tirely reorganized and consists of the following members: Chief, Chas. Wiley; Assistant Chief, J. c. Hutton; R. l.. Thompson, A. G. Anderson, Robt. Romig, B. V. High. Leo Mar gules, Chas. Cooper, Dan Skiatitis, c. w. Fraser, Joe Campbell, L. w. Nor denshuld, O. H. Poehlman, Chas. Ben son, Frank Ennis, Lind and Ed. Craw- ford and l.. l.. James. In addition to these, the Engineer in charge for the Alaska Engineering Commission, has promised four men.
 After the appointment of Mir. Wiley as Chief, l received communication from the Seward Volunteer Fire De- artment, signed by Mir. Stanton as Secretary, which stated they had re- signed, in body.
 The officers of the old Department took with them all the records and other property which they claimed did not belong to the city. This included the money which was on deposit and which amounted to about $295 l am told. This money, their Treasurer in- forms me, went to pay salaries and sick benefits.
 This, I believe, is matter for the City Attorney to determine, and if he holds that this property belongs to the City instead of the retiring members of the Volunteer Fire Department, a demand should be made for a return of all records and property that was in their hands at the time of resignation.
 Relative to the unpaid taxes for 1916, recommend that all property upon which taxes are now delinquent and past due, be sold without delay and that the City Attorney be directed to take the next boat to Valdez and ar range for sale.
 q also recommend that a street be opened to the San Juan Fish Com pany's property as soon as confer ence can be had with MT. Christianson and that the Seward Water and Power Company be directed to extend their mains and install a hydrant near enough to give them the necessary fire protection, as soon as possible.
 "The street work on Fifth Avenue should be completed and the work on Third Avenue, petitioned for last year, should have your early attention.
 Relative to the petition to open Seventh Avenue, which, am informed is to come up again, do not believe that it would be advisable to attempt this work this year. The condition of the City's finances are such that un- necessary improvements like the build ing of another bridge over the Glacier stream ought not to be ordered in this year.
 "At this time, let me again call your attention to the necessity of an ticipating your wants in the several departments of the City, so that prac tically everything that is a necessity can be included in our annual budget. In this way we can determine what the actual expense of the City will be for the coming year.
 "Will ask the chairman of each of the standing committees to prepare statement of what his department will need, together with the approximate cost of each item, keeping in mind that we must hold down the expenses in each department.
 During the month of June, Dr. Ro-