Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-12-21

oAeA00 w IAV Cuu VI SCCuI4uS Cut SItdL-
est good for the greatest number. The
government Of cities in this country
has changed mostly since 1900, and
in nearly every ms tance the change
was brought about by some sharp IS
sue. The city manager form of gov
ernment made its appearance in 1913
and was successful, he. said, Many
cities adopted the form and some have
since discontinued it and gone back to
the old council form, the reason he did
not know.
One-third to one-half of the funds
Of the average city IS devoted to pub
lie work. In a large number Of cases
this money is i'll spent. When the ap-
propriations are made those making
the appropriations do not always know
just what the money is to be expended
for. This and that is clamored for by
the public and is granted without much
consideration and often it may have
to be gone over again. The trouble
is, Mr.. Bass said, that they are not
careful enough. He went on to say
that they do not look after the city 3
business the same as private busi-
ness man would attend to his. NUM-
cipal government is a business propo-
sition and if a city is to be run for
the benefit of all the people it must
necessarily be run rig ght. It is the
duty Of every man at this time to see
that every cent spent N his home is
put to good use and so it is the duty
of every citizen to see that every cent
expended in the community is expend-
ed to the best advantage. "
Mr.. Bass suggestion was that city
on, a plan. This is necessary in order
that the people can understand it
readily and can have something to
think about. If we contemplate i'm
-Wovemenfs we must have something
tangible to talk about, comprehen-
sive plan is necessary in order that we
may see that no one is neglected. Pub
lie improvements can not all be made
at once and after Rnch imfFovements
have been made they will not take
care Of themselves. Some person is
needed to shoulder the responsibility
for this.
Every city, Mr.. Bass said, should
have large map for public. improve
ments, which may should show all lines
and grades clearly, the location of
buildings, the lay of the land, sew
er and water systems. lighting systems,
question relating to these things arises
the people may know where they are
at.
At the conclusion Of his talk Mr..
Bass was asked several questions re-
garding public improvements by mem
bers Of the club. One member asked
him which kind of paving he deemed
the best for this city,. II" stated that
the kind Of paving TO be used depends
on the local conditions, the lay Of the
lan', the frarci"l condition of the mu-
ricipalitv and the amount IF traffic.
Before paving is done in citv where
little or non" Of it has been done be-
fore II is advisable tn make careful
investigation as to the service gwen
bv various kinds Of paving in other
cities. M. Bass stated th"t the wood
block paving is too expensive for this
CITY and he suggested sheet asphalt or
bitu1ithic.
Another club member asked Mr..
Bass regarding the width o. pavements
in residence districts. He replied that
recently the tendency has been to
make the streets in residence sections
narrow and he said that % or 80
foot street is sufficiently wide and to
make residence street wider than this
is waste Of money. He said that
even the business streets in Little
Falls are too wide.
The business meeting of the club was
held before the talk by Mr.. Bass. Two
or three small bills were allowed, in.
cluding one for the expense Of Mr..
Bass.
Secretary Millard advised the club
that he had received letter from J.
D. Clarkson, general manager of the
Jefferson Highway association, stating
that the project of community adver.
tising in the official organ, the De.
claration, had been given Up, the as.
sociation directors not favoring the
plan. This therefore releases the Com.
mercia1 club from any obligation az
far as the contract for advertising from
this city is concerned.
J.. K. Martin told the club that Mr.
McGarry Of Walker had advised him
that the hotel and restaurant men in
the northern part of the state were
getting out q amap showing all the
roads leading into the various towns
and that they were contemplating q
tour through the southern and eastern
states to advertise their territory. Mr.
McGarry had told Mr.. Martin that they
wanted Little Falls in on the PROPOSE
tion and Mr.. Martin suggested that
something be done. On motion BY N
N. Bergheim the chair was instructed
to appoint committee to interview
the hotel and restaurant men Of thi.
city regarding the matter and see what
can be done.