Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-30
ANNUAL MEETING AND o19AM1EA-
T10N OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

April 18th. 1919. T.
Mayor Wheeler called the city council
to order. -
The city auditor reported that the
general city election held April Z, 1919,
had hled their oaths of office according
TO z law: e $%$
Second Ward-Andrew veitch.
Third Ward-A. G. Lockman. ~
Fourth Ward-John Eickhof.
Eth yard, G. Sheppard.
Seventh ward-Louis Kleven.
Also oath Of office Of r: J. Purcell
nedy, elected member park commission.
reported present: Kelsey: Smith. David
son. Veitch. Griffiths, Lockman, Hulteng,
Eickhof. Day. Sheppard. Turner, Bird,
Peterson and Kleven-14.
Mayors Annual Message.
Mayor Wheeler. read his first annual
message to the city council ,as follows:
To h Honorable, the Members of the
City Council Of the City Of Grand
Forks. North Dakota:
annual meeting. to briefly call your at
tention to the general condition Of the
city. as I see 1t and to outline to you
what l conceive to be its more import-
ant needs.
Financial Condition
In my judgment, the city is fast APP
preaching a sound business-like inan-
cial basis. One year ago we had on
hand a matured bono issue of $50, 900. 90
forth for it's 80 p si9h1as fu 'Ths or b otasr 5 RsSvi seen
at six per cent interest. We made APP
p1icatton to those in control of the state
were refused. We effected their refund
per cent. We have si5.ooo.oo is
sue maturing in June next. Upon ap-
promised us collectively s~everally
to furnish the money from the school
fund but our written application was re-
fused: We advertised and a W now
We have an issue OF 100000 ma
turing in 1925 that will require refund
ing In the same manner. The 100000
US by the county, if our example is
followed n it is preserved for this
purpose as designed by law.
,a AS you are aware this money has
illustrations and converted to the gem
eral fund for the purpose of showing
an economical administration. :As, a
Selling of all accrued sinking funds for
the same purpose the city has already
paid over $s5,ooo.oo in interest upon this
ludNk yOu JOT inc uHAEllIHlIy WIFI
which you supported me in the setting
aside this fund to it's lawful purpose last
year. We may well congratulate our
selves upon having done so. for had VIC
that we were at last acting in good
faith. it would have been taken from
us in spite of. the efforts of u able
legislators, J; F. T; o,Connor and w. S.
administrations $50, 900 90 in floating in
debtedness consisting Of interest and
unpaid Improvement warrants.E a portion
Of which was long overdue and by nom
payment the city's credit was becoming
impaired. This has nearly all been met
not by bond issue but by direct levy. and
I sincerely trust that the small remain
der will be cleaned up next year, as it is
successor in a sound business condition
and without a dollar of such indebted
ness. ~
Approved Salaries.
with my entire approval and was per
haps too long delayed, indeed the law
Of supply and demand compelled the
raise in order to secure and hold men
The excellent tax bill drawn by our
city attorney. introduced and passed by
the efforts Of e~x-Councilman Whitman,
will. II enforced. be-. Of vast benefit. t.
enable US to determine with greater
accuracy the exact revenue we shall
derive from a given levy. Thus. our
bonds soon to be practically all of the
serial variety and a considerable Mum.
Der of payments having been made up
On the older ones. 1t would seem that
the peak of the load" 80 to speak. has
been passed n that the amount re.
qufred for the yearly interest upon them
must gradually decrease,
city IMPROVEMENTS.
In view Of what has already been
accomplished in this line, In the way
of public buildings, paving. sewer and
water extensions and considering ais
the amount Of u present bonded in.
city as Q whole will at least. not imme.
diately. enter upon any extensive i'm.
i prOvSment program.
ls9HOwever,ritris fast becoming recog.
nfzed as an economic truth that there
must be q more equitable division be
tween capital and labor In, their Joint
production. h lAboring man is en-,
titled to- Q better. living than9Ehe ha
heretofore received. He must be Ell.
abled to WI hiss home, clothe and edu.
cate his children and by the practice OF
industry and frisalfty. be enabled Il
acquire 9 competence for HIS declining
/ or csu.se, Tiers VAIL always be some
spendthfifts aad misfaleufafors bu,
J happily they are ~ exception and mo-
n