The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-03-22
WHAT CITY
COUNCIL HAS
DONE PAST
TWO YEARS

II is always interesting to the pub
lie to know how it is being governed,
whather in the nation, the state Or
the city. 1t is especially concerned
in knowing how and where its money
is spent and whether it gets value re-
ceiyed or not from its investment Ii
it did otherwise than make inquiry
into such things the public would be
negligent of its duty and by its in
difference invite maladministration.
To show what the city council has
accomplished during the last two
years Mayor Cooper recently called
on the heads of the various executive
departments of the city government
for detailed information in relation
to what had been accomplished during
the biennial period ending March 1st.
1917. These various executive heads
all made reports and from the data
submitted by them comprehensive
review of the achievements of the city
administration during the last two
years has been made possible.
The council committees having
charge of the expenditure of the city
money are as follows: Finance.
streets. alleys and bridges. water. po-
lice. fire, ordinance. licenses, lighting.
building, cemetery. sewer, sidewalk,
city hall, parks and driveways. health
and Cottonwood ranches. and in order
to know what they have done brief
mention will be made of the work of
each of them.
The annual approximate revenue of
the city from the general fund is
$4,000, all but $4,000 of which is rails
ed by direct taxation on a property
levy of nine mills. The balance comes
from miscellaneous sources. such as
licenses, cemetery tees. etc. The levy
has been nine mills for the past three
years.
The city council since the begin
ing of 1915 has created a sinking
fund for the redemption of water.
works bonds, which will be due and
payable in 1923. These bonds aggre-
gate s35O.O00 and the sinking fund in
less than twenty four, months "has
grown UP from nothing to $4,000
With the $4,000 obtained from the
sale of the Cottonwood ranches. which
will be added toit in 1918. the coun-
ell confidently exepcts the water
works sinking fund TO be increased
to between $4,000 and $4,000 at the
49,.
of establishing sinking fund to De
used in the redemption of the water
works bonds is apparent to all and
is monument to the sagacity and far
sightedness of the council,
Since entering upon its work in
1915 the city council has purchased
an automobile truck for the use of
the fire department. costing $1700.
The substitution of motor power for
horses in this department has proven
eficacious and economical and ena-
bled the city to extend fire protection
to South Canon, for which II re-
ceives the sum of $3.50 year. There
has been big saving in the matter
vi hPhctP IL 10 DcltNtu tDdl
surplus will soon be created in this
way sufficient to pay the cost of the
motor installation. There is no in
debtedness whatever on the new
equipment.
The matter of providing a city
hall was taken up by the council and
IT caused to be erected year and a
half ago creditable and convent
emily arranged structure. The build
ing cost $4,000. every dollar of which
has been paid without extra taxation
of any kind.
The council recently made arrange
ments for the refunding of $4,000 of
municipal bonds that will become due
. in 1922. The advantage of this action
lies in the fact that commencing with
the year stated $1,000 of these bonds
will be paid. and each succeeding
year a like amount will be paid until
the entire issue is liquidated This
will reduce the amount of the citys
fixed charges about $500 per an
mum.
The street. alley and bridge depart
fent is given an appropriation of 49,
500 a year and II utilizes it 10 good
purpose in the improvement of the
roadways of the city It's expendit-
ures for public betterment during the
last two years have been judic.ous
and the city has received good value
N I'm fvr lie me
Many OF the improvements made by