Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-15
One Year of Test


easy task to place the finger directly
upon the point of responsibility. The
conduct of the city's affairs just drift
ed along in a way that impeded its
development, fettered it's government,
and bred protest among its citizens.
The crux of TIE trouble however SEEM
ed very plain to many who gave seri-
Gus thought and study to the sub.
iect. 1t resided in wide diffusion OF
governmental power, and the COM
plexities and delays, born of the con-
dition. Hence came on the move
ment which had for its slogan: "a
business administration of the busl-
ness affairs of Lynchburg," and which
had for its objective the simplifica-
ton of administration along lines
that would so distribute the powers
of government as to clearly define and
affix the consequent responsibility.
Success crowned the efforts of those
striving for the organic change. so
that the administration of municipal
business was committed to a govern
ment which in it's constitution may
we'll be likened to an executive and
small board of directors. A city
manager and council of five came
into power. Here was contemplated
so radical departure from old and
accepted conditions that even many
who urged and voted for the change,
watched with some degree of trepida-
ton the launching of the momentous
experiment.
A year has passed since the city
manager form of government begun
it's life-a year doubtless fraught with
many anxious moments for those UNI
der whose charge the new order was
instituted-a year in which Lynch
burg's people have watched with un-
usual interest the test which actual
trial provides--a year in which public
Judgment was withheld pending de-
monstration of failure or success.
This with the result that the entire
community is now furnished cause for
grateful reflection. The things pre-
dicted have become the things realized
the claims made in behalf of simpli-
fled administration have been vindi-
Gated. This statement rests not upon
what one would wish was so, but upon
the basis of established fact. The re-
port of City Manager Beck has just
been offered in evidence. We con-
hdently venture the opinion that its
revelations prove that the first year
of the new government is the best
governmental year that Lynchburg
has ever known. It shows twelve
month period packed with large
achievements, and giving convincing
promise for even more fruitful accom-
plishments in the future.
In Mayor Harper's resume of Mr..
Beck's detailed and volumlnous re-
port, it is pointed out for example
that there has been as much street
paving completed during the last
twelve months as was done during
the preceding six years; that the sew
er construction during the past
twelve months exceeded that done
during the preceding four years., that
the length of sidewalk construction
during the past twelve months exceed
ed that during the preceding five
years, and that these improvements
have had general distribution over
the city which has given betterments
to practically every section. In
other matters of civic concern such as
schools, city parks, play grounds, Mr..
Beck's report mirrors measure of
accomplishment along lines of NUM-
cipal progress and development which
may well justify the public's earnest
approval for things already done, and
its confidence for the future. Not
only have these advances been realiz-
ed, but they have been brought about
as result of close and careful atten-
ton to details and costs-economy has
figured conspicuously in the record,
and savings in lar e sums, as result OF
careful supervision and management,
together with the institution of i'm
proved systems of accounting and pur,
chasing; and of the segregation of the
water department upon the theory o.
making it take care of itself and OF
bonded Indebtedness contracted for its
development All of which has en-
abled the city to go ahead upon its
plans of permanent Improvement
without raising taxes, save 20 meet