The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1919-01-31
STATEMENT FROM THE MAYOR

proper ana my uuJy 10 SNOW u the
tax payers and citizens of Union City
the financial condition, as shown on
our books, and by an audit of the
finance committee. Every tax payer
and citizen should know where his
money has been spent and what
money has been received. In another
column you will find summarized
statement as drawn up by your re-
corder and approved by the chair
man of the finance committee. The
attention and explanation is called
to the following xhibit: Bonds
outstanding, $118,O0O; bills payable,
$17,75O. Bills payable consist of
one note dated April l, 1916, and
payable April 1, 1919, for $500,
payable to j. S. Roberts. Two notes
due the American La France Com
pany for $1,125 each, dated Dec. 10,
1916, one of which is due Dec. 10,
1919, and one due Dec. 10, 1920;
$4,000 due the Third National Bank.
Under the head of Mayor and
Board of Aldermen's salaries, l want
to call attention to the fact that
$3.50 of this is tho recorders salary.
Also that no member of this board
has drawn a penny for called meet
ings, and no member has drawn a
penny per noctem when not pres
ent.
Under the head of the water works
department, will say. that miscel-
laneous expense includes repairs on
the condenser which broke down i'm
mediately upon my induction into
office, also includes repairs on the
boiler furnaces. During the latter
part of the year, our big well col
lapsed from some cause yet unknown
and we have had to dig new we'll
at en- outlay of $4,375. This we'll at
present is affording a fine stream of
water and we have an abundance CT
water again.
ment, will say that this expense in
cludes one note for SLIPS and
$123.75 interest, for the fire truck.
We also had to purchase $50 feet of
new hose, and coats, boots and hel
NETS for the firemcn. We now have
one of the. best equipped fire cCm-
panies of any town of this size.
You will note under the head of
cemetery that it has been self
supporting and is in better condi-
ton than it has ever been. We hope
later to be cble to install q receiving
vault, which ig badly needed.
Under the head Of schools, you
will notice an item of $5,711.63,
which represents the completion of
the new school building and the
necessary repairs Of the old one. We
have built coal sheds, finished wiring
the new building, built walks, graded
the grounds, bought shades, and fin
ished the plumbing in the new build
ing. We have repaired the tower on
the old building, which was in a.
precarious condition, as we'll as over
hauling the old building in several
ways.
Owing to the price of commodities
being higher in 1918 than in any
year in the memory of the present
generation, we raised the salary of
every city employee as a matter of
right and justice.
We have paid out $16,203.36 in
accounts and notes that were out
standing end due when we entered
the office
We have begun the installation of
water meters, which we were forced
to do in order to obtain the proper
classification with the fuel commits
sion to obtain coal in case of another
shortage, 1t is not the purpose to
raise the price of water to the con-
sumeiSA,but to curtail the wanton
waste tch has been allowed in |
some nkances. The people who are
careful will save on their water bills
and will not have to pay for the
carelessness of those who are care
less, as heretofore.
1t was impossible to obtain ma
terial of any kind for the streets, be-
cause the Government would not al
low the use of ears for that purpose.
But we beg the indulgence of the
people until we have the opportunity
to do some much needed work on the
streets.
We are ready to hear all COM
plants and are willing to use our
best efforts to remedy the same and
give relief wherever possible. Any
suggestion by any citizen will be
appreciated and will be acted upon
wherever feasible.
If there is any item in this finan-
cial statement that you do not I'M
derstand, we will be gled for you to
call at the water works office and
H.. Il