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THE ALBANY; DAILY HERALD! TUESDAY, JANUARY S, 1906.
•resenting a Complete History of Mut
nicipal Affairs in All Departments.
Splendid Sho\ying of Year s
Stewardship.
law, punlBh crlnW, and prevent its
commission.
Police Commission.
Taxation.
ThC digest tor 1906 shows the taxa
ble -valuation ot all property, both
It has not been necessary for the p “' ^
I must call yo»r
public's, to the impoi
live, active anil pregrbi
Police Comlmssloners to meet as
often as tbs charier prescribes, but
the members of the commission have
promptly attended every call by the
chairman, and they have transacted
the business of the board fairly and
impartially. The chairman Is very
grateful to these oxcelent gentlemen
for their able co-operation.
Albany Is to be congratulated on
her splendid police force. It Is with
pleasure that I recommend Chief
Westbrook and his entire force to my
successors In office for re-election to
their respective places.
The Retiring Mayor’s Report.
Mr. Mayor Pro. Tem., and Gentlemen
of the Council:
Two years ago tonight, I assumed
ho duties of the office of Mayor of
his progressive city, and how well,
or how poorly, I have discharged the
lutlcs of the office, is now a matter
of record. It I hove been Mayor in
a thing that Albany needs above all
other places of recreation, and I have
every reason to believe that this mat
ter, In a very short time, will bo per
manently settled by this committee.
ho fullnesp of Its meaning, I have
iccompllshed all that I could hope
for. Looking backward, Albany has
every reason to be thankful- looking
forward, she has every reason to be
hopeful. The past year has equalled
out most sanguine expectations. The
coming year promises to exceed them.
No city in Georgia presents a plain
er evidence of healthful growth, of
strong, sturdy development In all the
channels that un'te in making an
ambitious, progressive commonwealth.
The work that has been accomplish
ed during the past year must be grat
ifying to each member of this council,
and It has sufflc'ently merited the
confidence and approval of our fel
low citizens, who elected to re-
urn those of you whose terms of of
fice had expired, without opposition
t the polls. No higher tribute could
[be paid to the servants of the ptibllc
ban 1 has been rendered to this body,
nd I believe thn' you will continue
o labor as a unit for the upbuilding
if our city, securing the best results
’rom the expendl’ure of the money
ho taxpayers entrust to you for dls-
ursement.
As chairman of the Board of Control
of the Public Schools of the city, It
affords tne pleasure to say that our
people are taking wester Interest in
education than they have ever taken,
and In a more effective and substan
tial way. Under thr Joint arrangement
between the county and city, we have
provided funds to l\e amount of
$25,000 for the purpose of erecting,
and to equip, a modern High School
building, which will be completed and
ready for use at the beginning of the
fall term. The curriculum In this
school Is expected to be the best to
be found in any city school system In
the state. The first school term of the
year has Just closed at the Academy,
under the management of Superintend
ent.Harwich and his corps of teachers,
which has been entirely satisfactory.
Health of the City.
The health of our city for the past
twelve months has been exceptionally
good. We have been absolutely free
Irom epidemics or contagious diseases
of any kind; yet, we have kept
yatchfulncss at some considerable
Expense. Our sanitary laws have
Been supreme; everything else has
been subordinate to the health of the
fclly. Proper attention has been giv
en the sanitary Bewers, and they
havo been rcgula-ly flushed. At a
post of $2,770.07, taken from the gen
eral city funds, wc have extendod the
System so as to give every petition
er for the past nine years sewerage,
and the city now has nearly twelve
nllcs of sanitary Bewerage.
Crematory.
One of the important problems to
[>o solved by the next council Is the
stabllshlng of a furnace for the pur
pose of cremating dead carcasses, as
the Federal laws will hot allow them
|umped Into the river, aqd they can
longer be deposited In the Fair
grounds or near the city; these places
bre becoming thickly settled, and the
property valuable. A - suitable crema
tory can be built that will answer the
present nee'dB for less than one thou
pand dollars. Tb& Is a matter that
will demand your early attention In
brder to maintain the present health-
tul condition of the city.
Cemetery.
The. cemetery is In good condition
hnd Is very beautiful; the trees are
nicely trimmed .nM the grounds are
kept, very dean; the only Improve-
nent would be to remove the sand
(from the driveways and replace it
1th day-or good earth; yet the time
[is not far distant when this Council
sill have to take steps looking to se
curing an extension of the grounds, and
[the sooppr an option Is secured, the
Hess the cost will be to the dty. This
[is an unpleasant duty; yet It Is a fact
[that stares you In the face.
Park.
I expected to be able to make a re
ort tonight on some definite plan,
hgreed upon by the Joint committee
bf three citizens and three members
pf the Council, appointed some time
go, for the purpose of formulating
bldhB and to selebt suitable grounds
for a park. The time has come, when
well matured plan of ’ beautifying
ur city ,1s at great importance. There
no place ot pleasure j that is of
pore value to a healthful, progres-
slve dty, than a well regulated park,
Board of Education.
The expense ot maintaining the Fire
Department for t'-e past year, I has
been $5,754.59. In this amount, there
Is 1,100 feet of new hose, which gives
the department 3,1=00 feet of first
class hose. The building, engine,
horses, wagons and all apparatus are
in very good condition, and it affords
me great pleasure 'o once more call at
tention to this splendid department.
All hydrants, plues and cisterns are
In cxcelent working order. Our entire
citizenry recognizes the efficiency of
our worthy chief, and the men under
him.
Library.
Thqe are few things that afford mg
as much personal satisfaction as the
fact that during my administration
the- handsome Carnegie Library has
become a reality,- which will- soon es-
lablish Itself as a factor In the e lo
cation of our people next to our Hub-
lie Schools, which Justifies the liberal
appropriation of our municipal gm-
ernment. Under the management of
the able board appointed, there is no
reason why It will not prove equal to
its mission.
There has been a considerable
amount of permanent Improvement on
the streets during the year, and yet
the expense of this department does
not exceed that ot last year, (1904).
Besides the street paving curbing, we
are laying several thousand feet of
stone coping In tlja business part of
the city, with other permanent work,
such, as extending sanitary and sur
face sewerage, parking the streets,
planting trees, and opening up and
shaping the streets of recently -an
nexed territory, which, with the regu
lar expense, has caused this depart
ment to be charged with $4,823.30.
The cost of doing tills large amount
of substantial wo--k hns been consid
erably reduced by being able to use
the county convicts a portion of the
time. /
Street Paving.
Bookkeeping.
In starting the new year, it is es
sential that the city establish a bet
tor system of bookkeeping; one that
will show the debits and credits, at
any time, of each department. The
affairs of the city are nothing more
or leBS than a business proposition.
Under the provision of your charter,
the clerk of the Council Is required,
after the city assessors have complet.
ed 'their work, to take charge of the
tak books, make the calculations
then they are returned to the clerk
to Issue the fil fas. On this date,
there remains uncollected about 50
per cent of the taxes. With the as
sistance of the marshal, the clerk has
the balance to collect. Also, he col
lets the license tax, street tax, pound
fees, and all other funds payable to
the city. Your charter should be so
amonded us to give this work, (with
the exception, of preparing the tax
books), and its responsibility to the
treasurer, who Is under bond for the
purpose of handling the funds of the
city. Your clerk, relieved of these
duties, would have more time to de
vote to the city’s clerical work, and
as secretary to th«i Mayor. It should
also be the duty of the clerk, besides
keeping a complete record of the po
lice commissioner’s . proceedings, to
pi so keep the police court dock
et, enter all cases, and receive, and
turn over to the treasurer, all fines
paid Into the dty by this court.
Police Court.
Ytour Police Court has paid Into the
city treasury during the last twelve
months, fines Impocsd and collected
$7,623.50. This does not Include the
amount of flneB v-orked out on the
streets and sentences of confinement
'll ihe guard house. This court has
grown to such an “(tent until it is a
business within itself; so much so
that' the city should have a recorder,
and as I do not believe in creating
nen- f offices, I recommend that yliir
cha rter be so amended as to require
the 'city attorney to preside over the
police court.'
The codifying of the old Code, -now
under prdeess, will be a great help to
the executive officers, as it has been
quta difficult to ascertain what the
liw Teally Is in some cases, and there
are many obsolete and unnecessary
laws In the city code; many of our
municipal ordinances are Invalid, and
maifiy of Its provisions have been
amended or repealed, all of which
should be' perfectly clear to the man
that' presides over tho police court,
that It may, enable him to enforce the
Fire Department.
and the corporation tax ot $121,666,
making the total taxable valuation
of .$3,223,264.36. This does not In
clude any newly, erected buildings, or
Improved property of any kind, during
the year 1906, after the 31st of March;
the state’s fixed date for taxation;
neither does It Include the recently
annexed territory, which is estimated,
with the Improvement of property, to
increase the tax returns of 1906 one-
half million dollnro. The Council, In
their wisdom, reduced the tax rate
from seven-eights of one per cent, to
three-fourths of one per cent., or $7.60
per thousand which met with my en
tire approval. This Is the lowest tax
rate of any olty of Importance in tho
state, and should meet wth favor to
home seekers and investors.
Trade, an organization ...... j -» ,
must have that pretends to safeguao^
Your obligations for 1906, besides
your fixed salaried expensos, are ns
follows:
600
250
Streets.
3,120
Bonds, payable Jan. 15 $4,000
Bonds payable July 1 1,000
Interest coupons, payable on
January. 1st
Interost coupons, payable on
January 1st
Interest coupons, paynble on
January 15th
Interest coupons, payable on
January 16th 312
Interest coupons, payablo on
January 15th 540
Interest, coupons, paynble on
May 10th } 025
Interest coupons, payable on
July 1st 600
Interest coupons, pnynble on
July 1st 250
Interest coupons, payable on
July 16th 312
Interest coupons, payable on
November 16th 625
Some of our good citizens have
looked with almor- disfavor on paving
the city's principal streets, but the ob
ject lessons force them to recognize
the benefits that qtwne from good, pav
ed streets. Tills work can be grad
ually done without Incurring any debt
for the municipality, and without
placing any burden o'n the abutting
property, owners. Some councils are
apt, when striking a responsive chord,
to get reckleSB and plunge into ex-
termes, but let Albany pave her
streets when the finances of the city
will warrant It. Do it^ right, and In
moderation, without building a debt
for posterity. A municipality whose
public credit s on:--! so high as *.lhr
V's should keep It. and prevent v iy
effort to add to the. volume of outstand
ing Indebtedness. By doing this work
steadily, Albany will soon take first
rank In street paving, as she has in
the ownership of her utilities, and as
the Ideal residence dty.
Water and Lights.
It affords me pleasure to call at
tention to the complete report made
to this council by the Water and
Light Commission. This branch of the
olty gqwernment has paid In the treas
ury $7,194.64, above all expenses, and
after the city gets her water and
lights for all purposes absolutely with
out cost. With the Improved msclfln-
ery, the increase I" business, the sav
ing in fuel«and labor, by using the
electrical power under the contract
with the Albany Power & Manufac
turing Company, with your present
able management, -ou can safely ex
pect from this commission as much
as $10,009 net revenue for 1906. Your
water supply has been greatly In
creased; the new air lift has a capaci
ty 50 per cent, g-eater than the old
steam pump, and with the new res
ervoir, you have » Water storage ca
pacity o 600,000 gallons, without the
use of the standpipe, so there will be
no scarcity of water for some years
to come. By • comparison, of water
and light rutes charged by other
cities, It Is very gratifying to know
that the consume-s here are paying'
less {or their water and lights than
any city In Georgia. The base flat
rate of 10-candle power light Is 75
cents, and meter -ate 12 1-2 cents per
kllowat (or 1,000 watts.)
ter rate for one room
cents per month; two-room house, 76
cents; three to four room house, 85
cents; five to six rtom house, $1: res
fdence $1.26; hotels, $1.50, and meter
rate 20 cents per .1,000 for the first
30,000. gallons, and 10 cents for each
additional 1,000 gallons.'
I recomemnd the use of meters, as
there Is a large quantity of water tut;
necessarily wasted that the dty does
not get as much as thanks for.
Your t wa-
house Is 50
hor civic and commercial Interests.'
For this board to bo beneficial, our
people must take an Interest In -it In
time of pence, so that It mny bo strong
In time of need. No one or two men
can keep alive such an organisation.
It must havo the hearty moral and
financial support of her enllro citi
zenry.
Litigation.
The olty Is to be congratulated on
being free from litigation, and at peace
with tho world. The enso against the • ~ "”7 Mg,
he can well be promt of, and the clti-
Obligations.
city brought by Cameron & Bnrolay,
for the arteBlan well casing at the
water works, bought by Contractor
Joyce, has been settled by paying
them $576, which was advised by our
able olty attorney Wo have also had
Borne expensive litigation before tho
State Railroad Commission, asking
for better passenger depot facilities,
but the so-called improvements that
we received by the order of the Com
mission, were not In accordance with
the petition of the city, and do not
meet with-the p-esent requirements
ot the city, but after going Into court,
we have to accept the verdldt.
Total $12,035
The interest of $750 due January
1906 has been paid. To meet the
balance of these obligations, you have
due, and collectable on the second
Tuesday in January license tax to
the amount of $15,610.50 (estimated
the same as 1905).
With this difference, and your in
come from your water and lights, po
lice court, street tax, pound fees, and
cash balance in depository of $11,
757.32,' taxes uncollected, fl fas being
Issued, $11,280.13, total caBh balance
$23,037.45, with na bills payable or
outstanding floating Indebtedness. You
have ample funds to pay the clty’i
half of the 12,000 .square yards Of
street paving, and to pay all other
running expenses for 1906, without
borrowing one dollar for even casual
deficiencies, until your ’ advalorem
taxes for the yea* are due and col
lectable. There Vs a balance of
$6,504.91 to the credit of the city’s
bond account In the depository from
the $10,000 Issue to change the power
at tho water and light plant from
steam to electrical power, and for
such other Improvements as may be
deemed necessary by the commission
and council. It Bhould be remembered
that die city has not refunded any
bonds during this administration, but
they have paid promptly at maturity,
with all interest, Including the Inter
est of the refunded bonds of years
ago. The city’s total bonded Indebt
edness Is $133,500 and $12,500 that has
been ratified by the people and vali
dated, but unsold. This issue Is for the
city's part of the high school building,
making the whole bonddU indebted-
nesss $146,000. I call your attention
to the fact that the city of Albany
has been run for the past twelve
months without borrowing one dollar
for any purpose; therefore, our inter
est. accotlnt is only for the Interest on
the city's bonded Indebtedness, and
in addition, the city has paid out of
her general treasury during the past
year for extraordinary expenses a.td
permanent Improvements, the sum of
$17,108.74 that other cities usually Is
sue bonds to liquidate. In order that
our citizens and taxpayers may know
Just what these Improvements and
extra expenses are, I have kept ,an
account from time to time, which your
treasurer’s annual Yeport will verify:
Sanitary sewerage $2,770.67
Public Improvements, includ
ing work at Academy .... 1,128.90
Library 1,000.00
Cameron & Barclay settlement 576.00
Street Paving Contract 7,109.65
New Reservoir and Dynamo, 6,266.64
Total $17,840.76
The Item of street paving, the olty
will get 50 per cent, back from the
abutting property owners, when the
street paving contract is completed,
and final settlement Is made.
I recommend a correct city directo
ry, the streets properly marked, prop
erty lines defined in the business por
tion of the city, and-'the newly an
nexed residence portion of the city,
and all bouses systematically num
[bored.
Board of
Contracts-
It hns been my ambition to close
up all contracts entered into during
this administration and retire from
office without leaving tiny unfinished
business, but It Is a difficult matter
to push contractors, and at the same
time require them to live strictly up
to every provision of the contract.
Therefdre, It hns i-oen Impossible for
mo to do so, but the nffnirs of our
municipality are In such shape that
the different committees will have, 1
trust., but little trouble in winding up
the unfinished business.
Now, gentlemen, tn conclusion, I
desire to thank you collectively,
and separately, for your courteous
treatment (b me as Mayor, and for the
able assistance yon have so willingly
rendered at all tlraes during my ad
ministration, and through you, gen
tlemen, I wish to thank each ‘Official
of our municipal government for the
faithful and efllclen' manner In which
they have discharged* their respective
duties. And, to you, Mayor Rawson,
I extend my congratulations, and good
wishes. May the cares of office rest
lightly upon you,- and my only advice
to you, follow In th« footprints of your
Illustrious grandfather, Col. Nelson
Tift, and when your work is done, you
will have accomplished more tor our
fair city than any* other living man,
I now have the honor, Sir, of giving
Into your keeping tho Mayoralty of the
City of Albany. [
Respectfully submitted,
A. J. LIPPITT, Mayor.
I now declare tho council of 1905 a
matter of history, and adjourned sine
die.
Finance Committez's n port.
Albany, .Da., Jan. l, 1906.
To the Honorable Mayer and Council,
0l , ^ ’ several
but', Vorth
that cn—-1>. . , .
Wo deei/
a grant poi\
financial coni
zonl, care, AlftJi t »
upon the city’s j I ___
Honor, the Mayjffi-W..'W
Is retiring -fromfome Circy-Way well
hnve the satlsfabilon of'knowing, that , -
he leaves behind' Mm a record that
zens can truthfull) siy of him: “Well
done, thou good and faithful servant."
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH EHRLICH,
R. L. JONES,
It. A. TARVER,
Finance Committee’,
Treasurer’s Report,
For Year 1905.
Receipts.
7
Bnlance Jan. 1, 1905., $10,640.71 '
Finos 7,523.60
Cemetery 182.60
Licenses 15,610.60 *
Tbxob, 1904 10,816,86
Pound 63.00
Rent 48.00
Bond Account 61.67 ,
Waterworks and Electric
Lights 7,194,64
Street Tax 1,920.00
Old Plant ...; 10.00
Fire Department 16.23
TaxeB, 1905 14,488.09
15.00
Total- ,
$68,090,19
D'isbur^iments.
Bond ,Account $4,000.00
Bond Account 177.97
Interest 7,526.00
Tax Assessors | 360.00
Office and Stationery 24.42
Telephone 84.00
Fines 106.00
Guard House 207.50
Insurance .... 28.33 ’ .
Printing 867.40
Licenses Refunded 187.60
Salary ..- 3,866.74
Tax Refdnded 358.63
Incidentals 1,486.90
Cemetery 1,126.80
PoWco 6,910.60
Street Sprinkler 862..01
Streets I,...-..4,401.29-
Fire’Department 5,764.50
Public Improvement $.128.90
Charity 218.17
Seworage 2,770.67
Health Department 172.26
Appropriations 200.00
Carnegie Library 1,000.09
Waterworks and Electrle
Ushts 6,250.04
Artesian Well 575.00
Sanitary 9.45
Bnvlng ... 7,109.55
Street Tax .:...... 1.5
Taxes 12:50
City of Albany ,0a., -
Gentlemen:
Your Committee on Finhnce beg
leave to submit this, our report of the
city’s financial transactions during
the year 1905, and thn balance In the
city’s treasury at the close of busi
ness December 30, 1905:
Receipts.
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1905. .$10,640.71
Receipts from all sources.... 57,449.48
Total $08,090.19
^Disbursements.
Amount paid out $56,332.87
Balance In treasury .11,757.32
Total $68,090.19
For the Itemized statement of re
ceipts and disbursements, we beg to
refer you to tho treasurer’s report,
which Is hereto attached and made a
part of this report.
The city has no outstanding or
floating indebtednes: whatever, and
the expenditures : bnve enumerated
include $760 Interest on bonds paid,
which was not due until January 1,
1906.
The entire bonded Indebtedness of
the city, Is $146,000, which includes
$10,000 Issued during the year for
electric light Improvements, and
$12,600 for a school building, which
latter have os yet not been sold.
We call special attention to the fact
that whilst the receipts for 1905 were
nearly $6,000 less than In 1904, and
the expenditures practically the same,
Owing to the. delay in dellvo:
part of the new machinery, w
the balance In tho treasury Is over not y e t receiving .the full
$1,000 more than at the beginning of
the year, and that too with a lower
rate of ad valorem tax for this year.
The cash balance in the treasury and
the usual resources available, cou
pled with an economical administra
tion of the city’s finances, warrant us
in believing that the busjpesa cun
Total disbursements .. . .$66,832.87
Dalnnce on hand 11,767.82
•I -g-iMz-: ~
Total
T. M. TICKNOR, Treas.
Report of Waterworks' slid
Light Commission.
To the Honorable Mayor dnd Council,
City of Albany,
Gentlemen: , : "
It Is with much pleasure that we
refer you to the annual report of our
Secretary and Superintendent. It Is
not necessary for .us, to go Into de
tails of same, as It Is full and com
plete, giving a true record bf 'all our
transactions In the past year, and ex
plaining fully the benefits our city has
received through its ownership of
these two principal' utilities—water
and light.
An addition to oiv present building
has beell made at a cost of about ,
$1,400, giving us ample room to In
stall aiid operate the new-machinery
purchased.
All of the machinery to operate t
plant by electric powbr has not y
been received and Installed, but ti
same has been shipped and wo t
to have It completed shortly.-
Our old reservoir has been ’
ered, a new one with a storage Cap
tty of 275.00Q gallons provided,
of which are !u perfect condition 1
furnishing ample capacity for ]
needs.
operating our plant with the ]
be furnished, by the Albany
Company; when fully complete
commission- will be <
your plant o^ a more 1
sis than heretofore