Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-07

mayor. early in January this year called
the attention of the board TO this same
matter and the result was the adoption
Of resolution authorizing the city at
torney to take such measures as he deems
proper to collect all unpaid taxes and
assessments, and to incur the necessary
expense In so doing. Bills for most of
these taxes and assessments have passed
from the hands of the city treasurer, by
his warrants. into the hands Of the city
constable and collector, who has under
my direction classified these warrants and
drawn duplicate bills. I am sending out
letter with a duplicate bill to each delin-
quent person against whose property taxes
or assessments have been laid. Already a
number of such persons have expressed
a purpose to pay on receipt Of such bills
| I am inclined to believe that In most
instances failure to pay has not been due
to desire to evade payment but due to
other reasons, SO obvious that need
not state them.
| TRUNK SEWER.
| In 1893 an agreement was entered into
between the city and the Rutland Railroad
company involving, in part. the right of
the city to build a trunk sewer In the
southerly part of the city through land
coupled by the railroad company. to the
waters Of Lake Champlain. In this agree
ment each party undertook to do certain
things for the others benefit, but neither
party had fully performed.
Early in the year 1917 Z. w. Lawrence,
Esq, general agent for said company, in
formed the city that the company desired
to fill a portion of this unused land in
crease its dock privileges, and build a
round house on the land lying northerly
Of this trunk sewer, which might in part
extend over a section of 1t and to which
tracks would be laid passing over this
section Of the sewer to the round house.
The engineer Of the company presented
a plan showing the proposed work.
Originally this trunk sewer was built of
wood which gave way in time, and in said
agreement 1t was provided that when the
railroad company should want to use the
land Tor railroad purposes the city should
build a permanent sewer in place Of the
wooden structure. In 1914 the wooden
structure was replaced with an iron tube
This tube had begun to rust in places and
the work could not be called a permanent
sewer construction.
Mr.. Lawrence for the company and the
city attorney for the city, after confer
ences with the mayor and the board of
aldermen. agreed upon a contract. which
was duly executed, by which the COM
pany should encase said iron tube with
a concrete covering, or easement Of at
least Il inches in thickness made of one
part cement. three parts clean sharp sand
and five parts crushed stone, or clean
} gravel, and otherwise reinforced in such
manner and according to the plan fur
nished by the company. as to make 1t
permanently durable and be suitably and
safely protected from damage from the
heavy usage by said company Of its said
land for said railroad purposes; 1t being
agreed that no bearing on any superstruc-
\ ture shall rest on said sewer"
For its share of the cost. the city agreed
. to pay the company a sum not exceeding
200 within 80 days after the completion
.. Of this work and the acceptance Of the
; same by the city engineer. 1t is claimed
by the company that this work Is COM
pleted and bill has been presented to the
city for $780, the entire cost being some-
thing over $1,600. The city engineer has
been directed to inspect the work and
make q report thereon at an early date.
The city paid June "a, 1917, the balance
; Of $4,000. which was its proportion of the
cost Of the Union depot and station
ground and thereby discharged its obi.
: cation created in the Public Act author.
, king the building Of this depot.
CITY's BUSINESS RAPIDLY IN
: CREASING.
The business Of the city is fast increas
/. ing in variety Of needs in volume Of bust
h ness. and in obligations assumed and thu
= ONCE Of the city attorney becomes CORE
A spondingly more important.
In the administration Of city affairs W,
y have departed somewhat from the simpler
4 methods which the trainers in the origina
charter provided.
q. This departure Is due, In part, to thu
. changed conditions which have in many
= ways come into our individual and cor
!. porate life. in part to legislation which
has added duties and responsibilities. II
. part to multiplied and enlarged bushes.
interests. in part to the urgent call for &
u more perfect and advanced system of in
struction in our public schools. in par
to the actual needs Of our people growing
out Of increasing activities, and in part t.
Q the necessity Of adjusting ourselves t.
e the expansion of business interests ant
y the extension of moral and civic obliga
y lions.
In all these experiences we should holt
fast to those fundamental principles Of on
government which are abiding and no
= yield to temporary expediency at the cos
,, Of ultimate right and permanent prosper
n ity.
= One more word: In my opinion the cit!
- charter should be carefully revised. som
= parts changed. some parts cut out an
, some additions made; and tn
! ordinances should be rewritten
made clear and definite in state
nent and more easily workable 81
i that there will be less need Of reading
] into the administration Of the affairs o
the city the rule Of reason"
| Respectfully presented,