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EV
OF
CITY
ORT
M
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
THE
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
AT THE
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT,
JANUARY 4, 1886,
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 19TH, 1885.
CITY
F NEWBURYPORT
MARIQUI
MDCCCLI
NEWBURYPORT : WILLIAM H. HUSE & COMPANY, PRINTERS, 42 STATE STREET. 1886.
CONTENTS.
CITY GOVERNMENT, 1885,
Page 5
STANDING COMMITTEES, 7
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS,
10
MAYOR DAME'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS, 15
REPORT of Committee on Finance, 33
City Auditor, 34
TABULAR STATEMENT, 37 38
TREASURER'S REPORT of Receipts and Expenditures,
40
STATEMENT of Income and Expenditures,
42
City Debt,
Debt due the City of Newburyport,
Account with the State of Massachusetts, 44
TRIAL BALANCE of the City Treasurer's Books. Dec. 19, 1885, 45 REPORT of the Commissioners of Atkinson Common, 45 SCHEDULE of Public Property, 46 DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENSES of the Poor Department, 48 62
School Department,
Fire Department,
82 92 154
Incidental Department,
129
Public Property Department,
103
Expenses of the Police Department,
120
Salaries of City Officials,
139
Interest paid on Notes and Bonds,
161
Expenses of the Fuel Department, . 146
Expenses for Lighting Streets and Public Buildings,
Expenditures for Bridges and Culverts,
168
Expenditures of the Committee on Bromfield Fund, 166
Expenses of the Public Library, 150
Promissory Notes Paid, . 175
REPORT of the Collector of Taxes,
43 44
Highway Department,
Sidewalks and Edgestones,
142
4
CONTENTS.
Expenditures charged to the State of Massachusetts,
165
Improvements of the Mall, 191
DETAILED STATEMENT OF EXPENSES of Stone Paving,
182
Board of Health,
Printing, .
Sinking Fund Commissioners,
Ashes and Rubbish,
Horton Fund,
Miscellaneous,
STATEMENT in Relation to City, County and State Taxes,
REPORT of the Overseers of the Poor,
City Bonds,
Dexter and Atwood Funds,
Board of Health,
Chief Engineer,
City Solicitor,
City Marshal, .
Inspection of Kerosene,
Inspector of Milk,
Sealer of Weights and Measures,
Committees on Public Property,
Committee on Fire Department,
Treasurer of the Follansbee Fund,
Committee on Lighting Streets,
Committee on Bridges and Culverts,
City Clerk,
259
Board of Assessors,
283
Directors of the Public Library,
-
179 206 211 227 243 249 255 255 256 271 277 281 268 273
188 180 194 183 196 192 196 201
CITY GOVERNMENT .--- 1886.
MAYOR-CHARLES C. DAME.
ALDERMEN.
Ward 1-GEORGE O. NOYES, Ward 4-JOSEPH W. EVANS,
2-HENRY Z. WHITTIER, 5-WILLIAM R. JOHNSON,
3-CHARLES H. GOODWIN, 6-BENJAMIN F. STANLEY.
CLERK OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN-GEORGE H. STEVENS.
COMMON COUNCIL.
MOSES BROWN. President. THOMAS E. CUTTER, Clerk.
Ward 1-JOSEPH TORREY,
Ward 4-CHARLES C. STOCKMAN,
JOHN J. PUTNAM, JOSEPH L. JOHNSON,
ALBERT THURLOW, J. HERMANN CARVER.
Ward 2-DAN'L A. GOODWIN, JR., Ward 5-SIMON E. WILSON, JOHN W. COATES, JOHN D). KING,
WILLIAM A. NELSON, THOMAS W. COGGER.
Ward 3-MOSES BROWN, Ward 6-CHARLES H. CARR,
WILLIAM F. HOUSTON, WILLIAM J. HUNT,
CALVIN E. CURRIER, ISRAEL A. MORSE.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
C. C. DAME, Chairman ex officio. CHAS. L. DAVIS, Vice-Chairman. Ward 1-WILLIAM E. CHASE, CHARLES A. BLISS,
N. N. WITHINGTON, Sec'y. STEPHEN COLLINS, Agent. Ward 4-HENRY B. REED, CHARLES L. DAVIS.
Ward 2-D. I. WITHINGTON, STEPHEN COLLINS, WM. A. EASTMAN,
Ward 5-N. N. WITHINGTON,
Ward 3-ELISHA P DODGE,
Ward 6-JAMES PARTON,
GEORGE W. SNOW, JAMES M. JACKMAN.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. CHAS. NOYES, LEONARD W. SARGENT, JOHN C. STEVENS. Clerk of the Board, WILLIAM H. BAYLEY.
6
CITY GOVERNMENT.
ASSESSORS. CHAS. C. DONNELL, GEO. W. GOODWIN, ANDREW J. HAYNES.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
AMOS GEARY, JOHN L. DODGE. Chairman. I. M. BOLTON, M. D.
Clerk. GEORGE H. STEVENS. Agent, JOSEPH M. TAPPAN.
City Clerk-GEORGE H. STEVENS. Treasurer and Collector-JAMES V. FELKER, Clerk to Treasurer-PHILIP C. KNAPP. City Solicitor-HORACE I. BARTLETT. City Auditor-EDWARD BURRILL. City Physician-I. B. BOLTON. City Messenger-WILLIAM H. JOHNSON: City Marshal-CHARLES H. DEROCHEMONT. Chief Engineer of Fire Department-EBEN S. DOLE. Superintendent of Highways-ANDREW H. PETTINGELL. Librarian of Public Library-HIRAM A. TENNEY. Assistant Librarian-EFFIE A. TENNEY. ' Superintendent of Reading Room-MARTHA P. LUNT. Sealer of Weights and Measures-JOHN HUSE.
Assistant Marshal, SAMUEL W. TUCK,
Captain of Watch,
IRA F. H. BLAKE.
Day Officers,
EDWARD E. TAYLOR; ROBERT C. BRAGG.
Night Patrolmen,
DANIEL RYAN, ALBERT D. HALE, SETH YOUNG,
ROBERT G. ALLEN,
HENRY J. HIDDEN,
JAMES W. MERRITT,
JOSEPH H. POST,
BARTHOLOMEW SHEHAN,
LEMUEL HICKEN,
WILLIAM V. HEWLETT.
Constables,
CHARLES H. DEROCHEMONT, SAMUEL W. TUCK, JOSEPH M. TAPPAN,
EDWARD E. TAYLOR, ROBERT C. BRAGG. WILLIAM H. JOHNSON.
Committees.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
On Police, The MAYOR; Aldermen JOHNSON and STANLEY. On Elections, Aldermen NOYES and EVANS. On Bromfield Fund, Aldermen JOHNSON, WHITTIER and GOODWIN. On Putnam and Atkinson Fund, Aldermen STANLEY, JOHNSON and WHITTIER. On Licenses, Aldermen EVANS, GOODWIN and NOYES. On Enrolled Bills, Aldermen EVANS, NOYES and JOHNSON. On Frothingham Fund, Aldermen WHITTIER, EVANS and STANLEY. On Green Fund, Aldermen GOODWIN, NOYES and WHITTIER.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL.
On Elections and Returns, Councilmen HUNT, COGGER and THURLOW. On Bills of Second Reading, Councilmen NELSON, STOCKMAN and KING. On Enrolled Bills, Councilmen CARR, CARVER and COGGER.
8
CITY GOVERNMENT.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES. .
On Finance, The MAYOR ex-officio; Alderman JOHNSON; Councilmen HOUSTON, GOODWIN, PUTNAM, STOCKMAN and MORSE.
On Accounts, Aldermen JOHNSON and EVANS; Councilmen CARR, HOUSTON and NELSON. On Public Property, Aldermen EVANS and JOHNSON; Councilmen TORREY, HOUSTON, and CARR. On Public Instruction,
The MAYOR ex-officio; Aldermen EVANS, WHITTIER; Councilmen HUNT, PUTNAM, COATES and CARVER.
On Almshouse and Poor, Aldermen GOODWIN and STANLEY ; Councilmen JOHNSON, PUTNAM, WILSON, MORSE and NELSON.
On Fire Department, Aldermen GOODWIN, NOYES and WHITTIER; Councilman HUNT, CAR- VER, KING and COATES.
On Bridges and Culverts, Alderman WHITTIER and GOODWIN; Councilmen JOHNSON, THUR- LOW and COGGER.
On Sawyer Fund, Alderman WHITTIER; Councilmen CURRIER, and KING.
On Brown Fund, Alderman EVANS; Councilmen HUNT, GOODWIN. On Atwood Fund, The MAYOR, President BROWN of the Common Council and City Treas- urer, FELKER.
On Ordinances.
The MAYOR; Councilmen STOCKMAN and KING.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT.
On Claims. Aldermen STANLEY and GOODWIN; Councilmen JOHNSON, NELSON and TORREY.
On Fuel,
Aldermen NOYES and STANLEY. Councilmen TORREY, WILSON and and JOHNSON.
On Lighting Streets. Aldermen STANLEY and NOYES; Councilmen STOCKMAN, CURRIER and NELSON.
On Highways,
The MAYOR and Board of Aldermen ; Councilmen PUTNAM, GOODWIN, CURRIER, STOCKMAN, WILSON and MORSE.
On Printing,
Alderman WHITTIER; Councilmen WILSON and GOODWIN.
On Water Supply.
Aldermen JOHNSON and STANLEY; Councilmen JOHNSON, CARR and COATES
Clerk.
GEORGE H. STEVENS.
10
CITY GOVERNMENT.
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS-1886.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. John Huse.
Paul Titcomb.
MEASURERS OF GRAIN. Moses H. Rolfe,
Charles B. Knight.
INSPECTOR OF MILK, VINEGAR AND COAL OILS. John Huse.
GAUGERS.
Charles W. Hale. William A. Little.
WEIGHERS OF COAL, HAY AND OTHER MERCHANDISE.
Charles C. Stockman,
Henry M. Cross, William A. Little,
William S. Coffin,
George W. Funk, Rudolph Jacoby,
Michael Carey, Patrick H. Collins, John Collins,
Philip H. Creasey,
Leonard W. Coker,
John C. Stanley,
William Conley, John Conley,
James R. Conley,
Harry W. Bayley,
Fred. L. Atkinson, George P. Balch,
Lawrence Whalen,
George W. Warner, George J. Warner,
Edward E. Varina,
Benjamin F. Atkinson,
John L. Noyes,
Fred L. Macintosh, Fred Fanning.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
John T. Fillmore,
George W. Marston, Hervey Kimball,
Joseph W. Evans, John C. Kimball,
Daniel M. Felch, Charles S. Lovejoy, Israel A. Morse,
Warner E. Butler,
William B. Frost, James Kimball,
Charles Perkins,
Edward Perkins, George W. Jackman,
John E. Bailey,
William J. Hunt,
John L. Tobin,
William H. Morse,
Joseph L. Johnson,
Charles H. Goodwin,
MEASURERS. OF WOOD AND BARK.
Philip H. Creasey,
William J. Hunt, Fred L. Atkinson,
Patrick H. Collins,
Hervey Kimball, Benjamin F. Atkinson,
Edward E. Varina,
George P. Balch, John Collins.
MEASURERS OF CHARCOAL.
Hervey Kimball,
George P. Balch, Fred L. Atkinson,
Philip H. Creasey.
William B. Coffin,
11
CITY GOVERNMENT.
WEIGHERS AND MEASURERS OF CITY FUEL. Hervey Kimball, Leonard W. Coker, John Huse.
INSPECTOR OF CHARCOAL BASKETS. John Huse. FENCE VIEWERS. Henry Morse, Greenleaf Dodge,
Hervey Kimball,
Thomas Coffev.
'FIELD DRIVERS. Jeremiah S. Parker, James W. Welch,
Nicholas W. Bartlett, Luther Ordway, Augustus Safford.
POUND KEEPERS.
No. 1, Auburn St.,
Luther Ordway, No. 2, Wesley St.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF THE
HON, CHARLES C. DAME,
MAYOR
3
ADDRESS
OF
HON. CHARLES C. DAME,
MAYOR.
-
Gentlemen of the City Council:
By the suffrages of our fellow citizens we are entrusted with the management of the affairs of our city. The trust is one of honor to those who are selected to receive it, and of responsibility on the part of those accepting it. To discharge the du- ties of this trust, not as partisans, "as those who have friends to reward and enemies to punish," but as mem- bers of one municipal family, is our positive duty. To discharge this responsibility with due regard "to the greatest good of the greatest number" and with the consciousness of personal rectitude, is our individ- ual duty. Let us, therefore, having taken the oath of office, determine upon an economical administration of public affairs, promptness in the discharge of mu-
16
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
nicipal business, punctual attendance upon the meet- ings of the city council, and patient, thorough and unprejudiced examination of every matter of public consideration. To this trust let us bring the same forethought, prudence and application which we eu- deavor to bring to our private business. Then will this trust be faithfully held; this responsibility worth- ily discharged; and if we are spared to the close of this year, we may retire from public office meriting the respect of our fellow citizens. That our adminis- tration may make a proper effort at economy, it is first necessary to examine our obligations and prospects. We can work wisely and reach the best ends only as we comprehend the situation of affairs, and the bur- dens that will rest upon us. I therefore present the following summary of the city finances:
STATEMENT OF THE CITY DEBT.
City bonds due 1887 to 1893 $253,500.00
" loans due 1890 and 1891 122,000.00
Due sundry funds held by the city. 35,500.00
Notes payable 1886 (temporary) 50,762.00
Due sinking fund (borrowed)
21,540.01
Due Horton fund
2,985.86
City bonds due 1886 2,500.00
Due sundry accounts
1,771.11
As per statement of treasurer $490,558.98
To which should be added the following liabilities :
Due on Essex Merrimac Bridge award (estimated). $28,000.00
Amount of execution in the Jollie case. 2,150.81
Bills for Dec. 1885 (estimated). 12,000.00
Total debt of city $532,709.79
17
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Less due the city :
Taxes 1884 and 1885
$46,915.96
Due from the state.
6,791.94
Due from sinking fund
57,140.01
Cash on hand.
8,412.11-$119,260.02
Net liabilities $413,449.77
There are worthless taxes for the years 1881, 1882 and 1883, unabated, amounting to $5,797.23.
Included in the above statement of debt are sundry trust funds, amounting to $35,500, of which the city is practically a perpetual trustee. No pressing con- sideration as to this amount in connection with our public debt will probably be required so long as the city shall faithfully apply a reasonable income there- from to the various purposes originally designated re- garding them.
The special loan of $74,000 in connection with the city railroad is also included in the above statement of debt. It is to be hoped that the interest which the city holds in this railroad will be sufficient when the proper time shall come for disposing of it, to meet all liability on account of this loan.
Every safeguard should be thrown around munici- pal and personal action, that the debt, under no con- ditions, be allowed to exceed its present limit. I would suggest that the city council take into consid- eration a review of the ordinances of the city to learn if some even more stringent regulations for municipal expenditures cannot be properly introduced into them.
18
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Some change is certainly necessary to require a more rigid and wise management and expenditure of public moneys appropriated by the city council.
The obligations of the city which will mature in 1886 and which it will be your duty to provide for, are, according to reports rendered as follows:
Temporary loans, notes. .$50,000.00
Demand notes for money borrowed 21,540.01
Overdrawn in 1885 prior to Dec. 19th 5,508.24
Bonds due 2,500.00
Interest thereon. 150.00
Due sundry accounts
1,771.11
$81,469.36
To which should be added:
Essex Merrimac Bridge award (estimated) $28,000.00
Bills for Dec. 1885 (estimated). 12,000.00
Execution in the Jollie case. 2,150.81
$123,620.17
Less cash on hand Dec. 19th.
8,412.11
Total
$115,208.09
To meet these maturing liabilities will require our most earnest and careful consideration and action.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The police department during the year past has been generally efficient, and the protection of the city has been as complete as during any of the years pre- ceding. In regard, however, to the efficiency of the force as a whole, there are differences of opinion among our citizens, but from the examination which I have been enabled to make, I regard the compara-
19
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
tive good order of our city an evidence of its effi- ciency.
The duties of the police under the direction of the mayor and aldermen, are to see that all laws are en- forced; that good order prevails, and that public se- curity is assured. It is not their duty to enforce any one law to the neglect of others, but all should be justly, promptly and judiciously executed. The spas- modic enforcement of any law is detrimental to the public interests when compared with that just and con- sistent enforcement of laws made obligatory by their continuance upon the statute books. In the truest sense, the duty of the police is one of precaution as well as execution. It is not the duty of a policeman to strive simply to make the greatest possible number of arrests during his term, but oftentimes by watch- fulness and admonition to prevent breaches of the public peace, and thereby violations of the law. He should work as hard to prevent causes for arrest as to make them, and strive by example and counsel, by dignified demeanor and proper language, to procure respect for himself and honor for the laws which he is required to enforce; at the same time causing it to be thoroughly understood that warned, counseled, and wilful violators of the laws need not expect any re- lief from those penalties which they obstinately bring upon themselves. Nor, on the other hand, should the police or any one of them defeat the ends of justice
20
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
and weaken the efficiency of the service by clandes- tinely preventing arrests which ought and are intend- ed to be made. Honor, dignity, courage and wisdom should be the distinguishing badges of a policeman.
LIQUOR LAW.
The prominence given to the traffic in liquor de- mands of me a few words. At the late election, our citizens, by a large majority, expressed their opinion in favor of a license system. It is therefore expected that licenses will be issued. The law provides on what conditions they may be granted. Reputable persons complying with those conditions-receiving a license-act by authority of law and are entitled to its protection. Persons engaging in the traffic without a license, act without the authority of law and are lia- ble to its penalties.
In the enforcement of the liqnor law, so called, it is my mind that those persons and places licensed, ad- hering strictly to the conditions of the license, should be reasonably protected, but those selling in violation of the law must be held answerable for the conse- quences of their own acts.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
The appropriation for the support of the poor in 1885 was $15,000, and the expenditures have been $20,228.79, being an excess of $1,801.53 over the ex-
21
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
penditures of 1884. Of the efficiency and good judg- ment of the overseers of the poor there is no doubt. The clerk of the board renders valuable service to the city by virtue of his experience and knowledge of laws and facts connected with this department.
Over the expenditure of this department the city council has no direct control. It is its duty to make an annual appropriation for the poor, the expenditure of which appears in the annual reports of that depart- ment to the city council. No parsimony on the part of the council can withhold what is necessary for the support of the poor; and no extravagant appropria- tion by the council should increase the expenses of this department.
The duties devolving upon the officers in charge of these expenditures are very important. Theirs it is to care for the unfortunate, feed the hungry, furnish a home for the homeless, and make comfortable as pos- sible the burdened and sad ones of our city. In this humane work the cordial support of the council is de- sired. In no better way can this support be made manifest and practical than in the consideration of the question of a new almshouse. The present one is in- ferior, inconvenient, expensive, and soon, to meet the requirements of the law and the welfare of its occu- pants, will demand a large outlay.
The present amount of the fund, given by the Rev. William Horton, D. D., to be devoted to the building
4
22
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
of a new almshouse, is $24,090.33, which with the es- timated value of the present almshouse, $12,000, makes a total of $36,090.33. This sum would seem to be adequate to furnish the city with sufficient land and suitable buildings for the care of the poor. I most earnestly recommend to your attention the con- sideration of this important subject, to the end that the desire of our benefactor and the greater comfort of our poor may be attained.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The apparatus belonging to the Fire Department is the same in steamers, carriages, engines etc., as one year ago. The expenditures during the year have been $8,089.91, being $110.54 in excess of the expendi- tures of 1884, but a balance of $636.39 from the amount appropriated and income remains unexpended.
This department is to be commended, not only in its management, but for its efficiency, promptness and activity. No part of the city service contributes more to the sense of public safety and welfare. During the year no extensive conflagration has come upon us, be- cause the calls to fire duty have been promptly and efficiently answered. I commend this department to your consideration and fostering care.
With our fire alarm, good apparatus, and active firemen, we have the prerequisites for comparative safety. The firemen should receive due consideration
23
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
at the hands of the city council, and the apparatus should be kept in the best possible condition. To per- fect the latter a new ladder truck is represented to be needful. The one in use has had years of service. It was originally too light for the use required, and is unsuitable to carry the ladders needed and now be- longing to the department.
The fire gong at the Ocean mills is said to be un- satisfactory, and should any change be thought advis- able, the locating a bell in the north part of the city in connection with the fire alarm, has been suggested as possessing great advantages over the steam gong in such a connection. I trust these matters, which bear so directly upon the public safety, may receive that consideration at your hands which they deserve, and the public good may seem to demand, consistent with the most rigid economy.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The schools of our city retain the rank which they have held for years among those of our sister cities. The annual expenditure in behalf of public education exceeds the expenditure of any other department of our city. While there is no desire to lessen the effi- ciency of our schools or curtail (if it were possible) the sum annually necessary for their maintenance, yet the government has a right to ask of the School De-
1
24
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
partment and also of the Poor Department (both of which are beyond our immediate control) the same efforts for prudence and economy which the council can enforce in other departments of the city. A large reduction of the number of pupils attending our schools does not seem to have made a corresponding reduction in expenditures. The seating capacity of our schoolrooms exceeds by hundreds the total enrol- ยท ment of the scholars and exceeds the average daily attendance by another hundred. This fact suggests a possible combination of some of the schools which would reduce the present expenditure.
A contract has been entered into between the School Board in behalf of the city, and the Trustees of the Putnam Free School, by which the Brown High, Female High and Putnam' Free Schools are to be continued as one school for the term of ten years. This agreement is understood to be reasonable, pre- serving fully the just rights of the parties, and we trust it will prove beneficial to all concerned.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
In connection with our public schools, the Public Library is naturally suggested. All admit its useful- ness and power. Faithfully should the private be- quests be husbanded and expended and the city should not be backward in doing its part to sustain so worthy
25
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
a public interest. We recognize as of great value the opening of the reading and library rooms during the evening, that those whose hours of light are hours of toil, can obtain the advantages of the library by even- ing visitations.
LIGHTS.
The system of lighting the city which was in use in 1884 was changed in 1885, with results which seem to meet public approbation. Though the present method is somewhat more expensive, yet there seems to be no desire to return to the former system.
THE HORSE RAILROAD.
The matter of the Newburyport and Amesbury Horse Railroad has been practically adjusted, by the sale to Mr. E. P. Shaw of the city's interest in the stock, for $12,000.00. Two thousand dollars have been paid in cash, and notes at five per cent interest were taken for the balance of $10,000. These notes (with the certificate of shares held as collateral) were transferred to the commissioners of the Sinking Fund. When these notes shall have been paid the unfortu- nate partnership of the city in this corporation will be finally dissolved.
WATER.
This subject of many words, some litigation and much expense, has been practically settled by the ref-
26
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
erees to whom the entire matter was referred; in com- pliance with the award, notes of the city to the amount of $18,562.00 were given in settlement thereof. These notes will become due in March of the present year, and their payment is a matter for your consider- ation. Some minor details of the award are yet to be arranged, and possibly some additional expense to be incurred. It is certainly to be hoped that the whole matter will be amicably and fully adjusted at an early day, and the rights of the different parties under the contract definitely established.
CONTRACTS.
I desire to call your attention to chapter 205, sec- tion 12 of the Public Statutes, which says: "If a member of either branch of a city council, or of any municipal board of a city, is personally interested, either directly or indirectly, in a contract in which the city is a party interested, and which is made by the city council or either branch thereof, or by such board, or by authority derived therefrom, respectively, etc., he shall be fined," etc. A contract may be oral or written. Any committee deriving its authority from the city council is practically a municipal board, and as such comes within the meaning of this statute. A committee engaging with one or more of its own number for personal service or supplies, with or with- out stipulated price, violates the spirit, if not the let- ter of the above section.
27
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
That the law seems to have fallen out of sight, and to have been for some years unrecognized, and that there may be no good ground for complaint against any member of the present city government, are my reasons for calling your attention to its provisions.
HIGHWAYS.
The streets of our city are in a fair condition. Im- provement in some places is both possible and neces- sary. It seems to me that work done to remain, though apparently more expensive, is cheaper than the mere patching with gravel here and there. Good streets are indispensable to the city's growth. State and High streets should, on some plan extending through a series of years, be by degrees, by paving, macadamizing, or other method, put into a permanent and enjoyable condition. What has already been done in our city, of a permanent nature, is an unan- swerable argument in favor of such a plan.
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