The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-05-09

ScCOn0 Annudl Report OF
| Mayor Phil {. Saunders.
! To the Honorable City Council of
the City of Milhank
In compliance with custom and
the laws of our state. beg to SUBJ
NIT to the council and to the citi-
zens Of Milbank. my second annual
report as mayor, together with such
information as / may possess rela-
tive to the city affairs during the
past year; and such recommends
tions for the future which to me
appear best for the welfare of our
people.
TAXATION
The total city taxes levied for the
past year were SIS, 10000, which
was 100000 more than one year
ago. The demands on the city
treasury for war purposes and the
cost Of all materials and labor made
it absolutely necessary to raise more
money to handle the city's affairs.
At present. we are paying more
than 500 higher wages for teams
and men than two years ago, and it
will be necessary to increase the
amount raised for taxes at least ST.
100000 for the coming year.
The assessor should raise the val
uation on all lots in this city about
one-third, as the same are assessed
too low compared with their value
and compared with the assessed val
ue Of like property in Grant county.
Milbank's taxes will average about
one third lower than our neighbor
county seat cities on the same VAL
ue Of property.
FINANCES
The financial report If the City
Treasurer will show in detail that
the city taxes have been very care
fully expended during the past year.
Figuring the cost of everything
for which the city had to pay from
30q6 to 500 higher than in pre-
vious years. we still have more
money in The city treasury than we
had one year ago. On May l, 1919,
the City paid 100000 refunding
bonds.
! STREETS
! On account of the extensive use
Of tha road drag and gravel, CON-
slider our streets in good shape.
There is considerable grading that
must be done this spring and would
recomn end that no money be spared
consistent with our financial condi-
tion, to improve and keep the
streets and roads leading into the
city in as good condition as they
have been maintained in the past.
SIDEWALKS
The City has spent. about $500. 90
in building and repairing crossings
during the past year. and it will be
necessary to spend double this
amount for the coming year. The
higher priced crossings have proved
to be the cheapest in the long run.
WATERWORKS
The filtration plant has been in use
a little over year and the results
Of the operation of the same have
proved entirely satisfactory. We
were not able to give the plant
fair trial last winter on account of
the great shortage of water in this
community. and i: is my opinion
.ha. were i. not for the operation
of the filter plant, the water in the
City mains during the past winter
would have been muddy and not
clean enough to be used even for
bathing purposes.
The main source OF supply of our
city water, the North Creek, that
runs into the Railroad Pond, was
entirely dry for more than four
m cnths late last summer and early
in the fall, being the first time this
condition has existed in more than
25 years.
The increased rates for city water
seem to be entirely satisfactory and
bring the city sufficient revenue,
as the am cunt collected for this
purpose for the year ending May /,
1918 was $2.30O.00, while for the
past year ending May /. 1919. the
receipts are about 81. 100000. The
} water tower was painted and re-
paired last fall. The city should
have new contract with the Rail-
road Co. for pumping our city
water at lower rate than we are
now paying, and this adjustment
J ought to come in due time when
! conditions are again normal.
SEWERS
Tho npononf cou,ovr cs.c<ov,n - rps,,