The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-24
SHOWS PROGRESS
MADE IN KENOSHA
Citizens League Bulletin
of Kansas City Comments
on KenOsha.
PRAISE FOR OSBORN

Seeing ourselves as others see us"
was made possible for Kenosha today
when a copy of recent bulletin of the
Citizens League of Kansas City was
received here. This organization has
a movement on foot for the better
ment of civic conditions in Kansas
City and in the furtherance of this has
invited City Manager c. NJ. Osborn of
Kenosha to address the annual meeting
of the league on Tuesday evening, Jan.
2S, on the city manager form OF gov
eminent. Mr. Osborn has accepted the
| invitation to address the Kansas City
gathering
In announcing Mr.. 0sborn's address
the "Cjtizers' League Bulletin" gives
the following account of the career
of MIR. Osborn and of the progress
made in Kenosha under the city man
ager form of government, all Of which
/ is most interesting to Kenosha.
Was Competent Engineer.
C. NJ. Osborn was born on farm
in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 40 years
ago. He was educated in country
school, in Oberlin Academy, and re-
ceived degree in the Civil Engineer
ing Course at Case School of Applied
Science, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr.. Osborn worked on private en-
gineering enterprises for seven years,
building an electric railway, planning
dock and shipyard work and general
building and engineering construction.
He was appointed city engineer OF
Lorain, Ohio, a city of 10000 people
in 1908. He served the City of Loraln
until Jan. 1, 1918. AS City Engineer
of Lorain, Ohio, he had charge of all
engineering on public works, paving,
sewer, and harbor and dock work.
| Mr.. Osborn was appointed first City
| Manager Of East Cleveland, Ohio, Jan
! 1, 1918, and served East Cleveland as
| CITY Manager until Oct. 1, 1929. AS
City Manager and Chief Executive of
the City of East Cleveland he had dI-
rect charge of all city departments eX-
| cept the Finance Department, and was
directly responsible to the City Com
! mission of five members for the con-
! duct of the affairs of the City. Dur
! ing the five years as City Manager OF
! East Cleveland the city activities were
/ put on a business basis SO that it took
smaller portion of the tax dollar each
year to operate the city activities. \
I Mr.. Osborn actively participated in
! the campaign by which Cleveland SCI
! cured the manager plan which went IN
! to operation Jan. /, 1924. 1t is SAID
/ that next to the influence of DR.. A.
r. Hatton that Mr.. Osborn's work was
most effective in securing the adoption
! Of the manager plan for Cleveland.
/ He was appointed the first City
Manager Of Kenosha, Wis, a city of
45, 900 people, Oct, 1922, and has been
serving Kenosha in that capacity since
that time.
/ The City Manager Charter OF Keno
sha provides for the election of five
: Councilmen. These Councilmen are
elected at large and not from wards or
districts These five Councilmen APP
point City Manager who is charged
with all the executive and administra-
I tive duties of the city. All depart
ments are under his control Rpd the
City Manager hires and discharges all
city employees.
Some Accomplishments Here.
/ A few things that have been accom-
plished in Kenosha are!
| /. The organization of the admins
trative department into eight different
departments with a head of each de-
partment having a fixed and definite
responsibility.
2. The installation If a modern sy-
stem of accounting.
| 3. Adoption of business methods in
the conduct of city business.
4. Adoption of city plan land zone
ordinance.
5. Adoption of large improvement
program whereby in two years time
the city has paved Is miles of streets
and at a saving in cost O. over $780,
900 when compared with the costs un-
der former administration.
6. The creation of public sentiment
that city business is being conducted
honestly and for the interest of the
citizens.