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MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA
THE MILLEDGEVILLE NEWS
FRIDAY, JANUARY
4. 1918
Mayor Miller 5. Be A Delivers
Annual Message Before Council
(Continued from First Page.)
Iness section of the City. We h.tve found it necessary to wcrk our main d.rt
roads every 30 to 60 days where auto-trucks and other heavy vehicles are in
constant use.
I am in favor of continuing the sioewalk paving in the residential sec
tion and think that this year we will he ahty; to place cement walks on all the
principal walks of the city, where encroachments do not hinder us.
I alsio recommend that the bill near the residence of Mr. J. N. bailer on.
South Wayne street be cut down, the dummy traca lowered near th.si j/uiir-
and the road bed leading iron, Fishing creek bridge Ve ru.sed. *, .
It is imy op.n.on turn „o >, r.. can be done ... .u ..j " n I. up > /
Hill" on West Hancock street and use the dirt in raising the bottom near ln«
Central Itailroad crossing.
before leaving this uepuitueut permit me to call attention u,. .he .oas
to the City of the services oi our most efficient City Engineer, k'rof.
Cone; advancing age and ill he..mi uiuue-hus pro.upi.ed his iesign.*uo... K ro;.
Cone bus filled tliis important omce s.nce 19u9 and has ue .o.ed j.u..i . 41
time and talent to the wur.., r "Vienng such satisfactory and scien.llic ser..v-a
as must be uppreciai.u oj .. .u ... lor an t.u.e lo co...c I show 43..1.. 1
you will join me in expie -.•• 1 ..w re b re., pe.suna..y and officially, . .
Abe City will be deprived ol ue .er> ices of one of ,ts luosi valuaule olh • r6.
1 wish to express applet avion tor able and intelligent service rendu.e .
by our Superintendentct Stic . cpiain Thoims, throughout the en.ire >u r.
The building should bo built at a sixall cost and arranged in a modern
manner for our fire department. Also, the time is now ripe for the pur
chase of a combination auto wagon equipped with chemical apparatus, lad
ders and hose, and I earnestly urge that this matter receive your attention'
without delay.
i ...nu ctj uas been iv.ieu .
oiauuei. uy our present ..uojm ;, r. .
.... . rihg the summer an ..
ore .. udin-.c... ihe iwa.i.S unu
uii o. ue .lK.11.Uual S-.ua. e uwnei
mei. s.u.iies, which
Cemetery.
icu . . tne past year in a very satisfactory
.i.r .. n. Chandler, und is now in very good
a.1 e never bi ds were planted out and they
li.uveways have been kept Cleaned and
s nave given much tune to cleaning and
UiUL b to the general appearance of the
. ome.ery.
emete.
Lights
Under our contract with .ho Oconee Hiver Mills the City has In service
at present 36 arc lights ana <v .ueandescent lights of 200 candle-power each.
These lights burn all night and the City pays the company at the rate '. fj
$70.00 for each of the arc and $38.00 per annum for each of the 200 candle*
P'wer Mazda incandescent lights. The total amount paid this year fc-r the
street lights including the lights used in the City Hall was $3,634.84. Thd
service rendered by the light company has been highly satisfactory during
1S17. The lights have burned continuously except one* cr twice when they
were out only a few moments for necessury adjustments.
A study of the street lighting problem shows that the model street light
for residential section Is high power incandescent lights. They are more
economical and efficient. Milledgeville was one of he first cities to recognize
this. Several .4 the larger cities are partly ^changing their system and sub
stituting incandescents for arcs in the residential section. j r
Attention is called to the fact that the tcntiact the City had with the^
Electric Light Company expired last night. In view of the good service the
.xpany is giving and also inasmuch as the prices paid for the lights com-
..^•„ u o several vases, ^..uis, Bowers, etc., were stolen from the,
our sexton has been . ned with ponce power and ue has been
_ s.puig out of the cemetery (rich persons as loafers and largely
^ through his efforts the practice ol stiadug lrom the cemetery tea.(.d.
This year provision has been made for enlarging the white department cf
„ur cmieieiy by the purchase 0$ the Tanner property which lies east of the
a ....nc . 1 .« yiiu.b u b u. 1 h.s inopei'ty wail
t„ .... mu...et and smd at .iio tour, house, naviu* oecii bought in b,
-lie Citj lor tbe sum of $1,5U1.0U, The time is not far distant when wt will
a . so.u.e ..e essuy of additional hur.al space and I
...i. th ai.iuiriug 01 turn property by the City was a wise purchase
.. me ; ea.i.r»c .his property I,as been rented to one of our ciuzens and the
.evonue received from it y.etds the City more than 8 per cent net. on it#^
mount mves.ed and I sggest that the renting policy be continued until it
s necessary to convert the purchase into cemetery lots, when the buildings
now on the land can be disposed 01 and thus reduce the cost of the place
considerably. There is now a sufficient amount of land owned by the City
to meet the needs for burial purposes for both white and colored for xnany
years to come. The report of our sexton shows that there were.71 inter
ments in the cemetery this year; that 23 of them were non-residents and 48
were residents of Milledgeville. Of these 39 were whites and 32 weif.
colored.
and Is conducted In a manner which meets the approval of the
1 In every
his office has
lie. The office or Recorder la one of great Importance in every nium ' ^
and the manner in which he discharges the duties of his office ha J' KipB fl t l r
do with the order of the community. Judge Hines has enforced the • U h t0
out regard to friend or foe. ine law witkr
There have been $707.25 imposed and collected In lines and f
growing out of cases that were tried in the Recorder’s Court This' tUr<1,
smallest amount of revenue the City hr- — J *— --
ic a quarter of a century or more and speaks volumes, for the observ'
law and order by our peoplo. aace of
ount of revenue the City has received from the Recorder” r ^
of a century or more and speaks volume* for the observ* C ° UW
er by our peoplo. aac
From Judge Hines’ report there were 183 cases docketed, of tb
have been disposed ,cf, leaving two cases pending. Of the cases d - ^ 1811
104 were determined on ipleas of guillf; 34 judgments of guili, :m 1 1 ° f
cents .if acquittal were rendered after trial, and 37 bonds' were f or *
In the cases where bonds were lorfeited the facts were Inquired '
as none of them were cases of serious breaches of peace the bonj 3 °
collected and no further proceeding was had.
were
Health and Sanitation
Health conditions in Milledgeville have been steadily Improving for sev
eral years past. On the whole the citizens generally have co-operated with
the City Authorities In their efforts to better health conditions. Captain
Roberts, our sanitary officer, has devoted a great deal of time to this import
ant department of the City, and recently ho stated that the sanitary condl-
don of our City are letter even than la-t year. In 1917 our death rate was
only 8 to the thousand population, a record scarcely equaled by any city with
equal population. Under our charter and the public laws of the State the
pare favorably with what, is paid by other cities of like size, I recommem.L lJOWers given municipal authorities are broad and complete and subject to less
a renewal of the contract thut expired last night for a period af two years 01
the same terms and conditions as are embraced in the old contract. I hopo,
however, (hat before many years a way may be found by which the City
can own and oporato its own electric light and power planti I believe th,is
would be decidedly to the advantage of both the City and the public generally.
Water.
Superintendent Jackson, if the water company, reports that the City
vater used lor drinking purposes is treated by approved methods and that a
careful analysis is made each day and that the quality of water at all times is
kept up to a high standard. This year one thousand feet of 6-inch pipe was'
laid on East Railroad street, from V.ayue to Jefferson, connecting the 6-inch
main on Wayne street with the 4-lnch main on Jefferson-street. This ex
tension greatly increases the efficiency of all fire hydrants in the vicinity of
the Georgia railroad depot.
During the year the water company increased the rate charged for water
used by private consumers about 33 1-3 per cent. The company claimed the
right to advance the rato under the original franchise, which was granted
by the City over 26 years ago. After the franchise was given the wjitefi
.company by the city they lowered their rates, they claim, In order to induco
the consumers lo use their water. It is now their contention that they were
•compelled to advance the rate this year because they were losing money.
The City took the matter up with tho attorney for the Railroad Com-,
mission cf Georgia and were advised that the Railroad Commission Is without
jurisdiction over the water company. So the private consumers are wlthodt
recourse and it seams must submit to the advance In rates by the company or
suffer the inconvenience of having the water cut off. In the first annual re
port I made as Mayor I strongly advocated municipal ownership of /watery
My judgment in tho matter has uudergone n.r change during the yeara |h*it,
have passed and I am today entirely satisfied that through municipal ownsr-
s-ff p alone canlthe beat r.nd most satisfactory results ba obtained for oar
citizens and the greatest economy in administration reached for the City from
a financial standpoint. When 1 first assumed the responsibility or office tha
bonded Indebtedness .cf our City was $49,500.00 and the ad valorem taxes of
the City amounted to only $1,537,153.50. The City Hall had to he erected, which
cost the City $13,031.35, and these tacts operated as a liar to our lssu|nl)
bonds in un amount sufficient to construct and equip a water plant necessary
to meet the needs of cur citizens, therefore we wisely delayed the work. Since
then and up to 1914 this matter has been constantly kept in inind. Our bond
ed indebtedness has been decreased to $37,500.00. The City Hall was coitu-,
plcted and paid for. There has been a gradual Increase In the ad valorem
taxes until they now amount to $2,268,772.00 and the financial affairs of the
City had just about readied the point where it might have been expedient to
undertake to put municipal ownership into operation. But we were then met
vrtth vastly altered conditions on account of the great world-wido war and as a
btislnoss proposition were compelled to delay our plans. ~Whil9 the war at
this time wus invading Europe, yet, America at once became the banker and
the supply market for the whole world, and a condition was created lhat
rendered a bond issue impracticable at this time and now our own countrj|
has been drawn int:. the .war and it seems to me that this necessarily prea
eludes action until conditions materially change.
Our contract with the water company does not expire until November 20,
1921. Nearly four years hence. Recently I had a conference with the firm of
engineers who wore engaged by the City a few years ago to make survey and
furnish plans for constructing a .municipally owned plant. At this conference
we all agreed that it was unwise to undertake to build a plant at this time on
account of the advance in cost of labor and material. It ia the opinion of our
engineers that a plant can he constructed in about 10 months time, and IV
seems wise for us to take Into consideration general conditions that exist on
account of tho great war and not launch any local Improvement that Involves
the outlay of many thousands of dollars of the people's money at a time when
prices are so very much above normal. We have a year or two more to wait
before It is absolutely necessary to act and It seems wise to our plane
U> own the water plant, with the hope that before very Ions bostuees eondl-
Msas will become normal and the price of material greatly reduced.
restrictions than in almost any other line cf public administration and this
because the necessities are more urgent and the needs-more imperative
Wo have a local Board of Health with general supervision of this department
under tho Board, and we have maintained thoughout the year a sanitary in-
cpc’.cr acting with ti e Eoard and have required constant inspection ’ll i ! r,
dividual peinises and also of general conditions.
We have distributed free td£,Qur citizens large amounts of disinfectants
that have been particularly helpful in those sections of the city where sani
tary sewerage does not exist.
It is a very great pleasure to report the healthful condition cf our city
und It is especially gratifying that we have not suffered from any serious'
epidemic of diseases.
As a health measure we were compelled to deny certain citizens tt.f
privilege of keeping hogs within the city limits. There was no arbitrary pur
pose of depriving any citizen of any benefit or right that they might have felt
they were entitled to. The keeping of hogs in close quartcra Is tftiiversally
recognized by health experts as being a great menace to the public halth.
Let us hope that the officials will continue to have the earnest co-opera-
tion of all of our people in theix^ontinued watchfulness of this department of
our city and let us leave nothing undone that will protect and conserve the
health of our citizens for upon this ultimately depends the wellbeing and
prosperity of the city.
Legal Department.
Hon. Livingston Kenan, our faithful and efficient City Attorney, has pei^
formed a.i of his duties promptly and ably, rendering the City valuable sevice
throughout the year. He has drawn several contracts, prepared a number of
Ordinances, has given many opinions on legal matters, has investigated the
title to property purchased by the City, has looked after the City’s Interest/
in defending tho law-suits that were pending against the City.
Col. Konal has attended practically all regular and called meetings of
the City Council and has also attended numerous committee meetings.
Our City Attorney states in his report that no new litigation has ariseiy
during tho year, and that in his oplnicn there has been a more generi l
obedience to law and compliance with the ordinances of the City than *vt
any previous time since his official connection with the City. He attFbutei
this satisfactory situation in a measure to the State Prohibition law, which
is now in effect. There are but two cases pending against the City.
First. Mr. Julian S. Brown, damage claim for $2,500.00. Reference to
this case was made in my report last year. This case was called for tfial
at the January term of Superior Court and was dismissed upon a general
demurrer and was appealed to the Supreme Court and the judgment of th<\
Superior Court reversed, and the case reinstated tn the docket for trial,
This case will probably be tried at the next term of Superior Court.
Second. Mr. C. H. Bonner, damage claim for $5,000.00. The facts in
this case were given in full In my report last year and it is thereff rej nc*
necessary for me to restate them. At the last term of court ovr City A f
torney succeeded in securing a dismissal of this case on a general domurrer.
However, the case has been taken on an appeal to the Supreme Court. At'
gu’cent has already been had in this case and the exceptions are now pending
in the Appelate Court. If the dismissal is sustained then this case is at an
end, so far as the City is concerned.
The petition of Mrs. Annie Louise McComb to quiet title has been wlthJ
drawn and the court cost has been paid by Mrs. McComb, the City having
purchased the property of Mrs. McComb for the purpose of erecting t ire
Headquarters.
The Attorney again calls attention to the advisability and the urgent ne
cessity for a codification or the laws and ordinances of the City. I hope
tur finances will allow this important work to be done in the near future.
Standing Committees.
The valuable service which each member of the Board of Aldermen can
render Die Ciy upon the resITeetive .1 ttocs of Council will be appreciated
■j . i.ur .uaj'v.r and your earnest and hearty^ co-opcration is asked.
Yours is a patriotic service and 1 am sure that every interest of the Cit
,vill receive thoughtful and just consideration at your hands and you nm
;li(dly enter heartily upon the work that is beiore us.
The standing committees are appointed as follows:
FINANCE—Aldermen Kidd, Chairman; Wall, Joseph.
STREETS—Aldermen Wall, Chairman;'Baisden, Schell.
WATER—Aldermen Schell, Chain an; Stanley, Baisden.
FIRE—Aldermen Baisden, Chairman; Kidd, Wall.
LICENSE—Aldermen Joseph, Chairaan; Schell, Kidd.
LAND—Aldermen Stanley, Chairman; Wall, Schell.
POLICE—Aldermen Wall, Chairman; Schell, Stanley.
LIGHTS—Aldermen Schell, Chairman; Baisden, Joseph.
CEMETERX—Aldermen Kidd, Chairman; Stanley, Joseph.
ORDINANCES—Aldermen Joseph, Chairman; Kidd, Schell.
SEWERS and SANITATION—Aldermen Stanley,Chairman; Kidd, Bausien
ENCROACHMENTS—Aldermen Baisden, Chairman, Stanley, Wall
Conclusion.
In conclusion I wish to express to each member $f this Board my sincere
thanks for the unselfish and effective services rendered the City during t,.«
year and I wish to express appreciation of the very cordial relations which
have always existed between us. I am very grateful for tho co-operation ami
assistance which I have received in tho discharge of my office duties,
I desire also t.o thank the head of each of the departments n .s yell t
their subordinates for their courtesy and kindness and to commend them fi
their devotion to duty.
Our Clerk and Treasurer, Mr. John L. Harper, has unade a splendid recorl
in h!s office the past year. He has been very diligent in ',h<f matter of to!
ecting ujl monies due the City. He has been continuously at his post bf duty
.nd has performed In a satisfactory and conscientious way all the duties that
have been assigned to him. While our association has been pleasant as of
flcials and while much good has been accomplished for the City in the yea
just closed and while every effort was made toward improvement and' ivhj|<
we have every reason to believe that our work has met with tbe Approval
of our citizens, yet we should by no means abate our interest »>ns jot or tittlo
in the welfare and advancement of our City; but stand ready at all >;ies.
agd under all circumstances to work for and to promote its every yuertfst.
There Is abundant reason to anticipate that our City will show great develop
ment during the coming year.
With the earnest wish that the present prosperity of our City and her
people may continue, I submit this report to you.
Respectfully.
MILLER S. BELL, Mayor 1 .
Annual Statement for 1917.
RECEIPTS.
January 1, 1917, cash balance
on band $ 3,151.52
Taxes Collected, 1916 5,543.37
Taxes Collected, 1917 27,145.72
Street Tax 1,151.00
Insurance Tax 1,205.09
Dog Tax 119.00
Business Licenses 7,821.25
Land Leased 27.00
Cemetery Lots Sold 434.00
Fines in Recorder’s Court 707.25
Rebate from Water Co 625.00
Fire Damage City Hall 222.33
All Other Sources 128.97
Bills Payable .$17,350.00
Fire.
Chief Andrew* report* that there were 10 Ire* in the City la 111$. thl*
the seme number a* In ltlf end a!*o In 1013.
▲II the Eras tor. the past peer were ama^L except le ts*,
fbree ot theap the looses, wpa* **fl*a*le« at only tea dolls** wife pa
Hh*<e* were $20, $23, $130 end $>00. On August 1$ oeeened the Ore
*4 the residence of Mr. Samuel Keene, the lose hen* sett mate* «*4LMfr
qpttettr covered,hr>loa»»R»c* 1 i Jt •. t i »
The iMgeet Ste during the peer aaeewed hugest Mfc mm IM
$S)m* end the Mertett and McComh Balldlace were bureed.
^ y^y.*** ,»y* Tyrt
KP hiutehtr mount to mere umn |>.oo«.$n. TMeh*.i$ntiw •*>
SNettr Uke Milledgeville. Chief Andrews end tha hreme*
tkie-gp>» showing, eflch la gleaalgc elite
Tertuga*eir. es B$*rto**$g MgtedLUy Ofr ham
gteemef land ltenedis»sly dpeet * the Cl*
Klee tte Cl*r MoU fmiumfnm * irsmdid eandltteL ted dis k
dpnnd en tte rear end «« «htal IftmCHr ton tenatitet mgoltiM» MUfc* M
Police.
The report of Chief Burke shows a decided decrease in crime for TP17
ea compered with previous years.
There, were only 18$ cases in the Recorder's Court during the entire
year end that the City has received as fines end forfeitures the '.turn. j$f
$70/.S3. The City continues «o experience the good effects of the prohibition 1
lew end our City has been quiet end orderly. ^
The entire force has rendered eswlcwot ft high standard end on the whole
. tte Polios Dqnartnient le la n batten condition the* It hen boon tor yeans
•The aglgtt of tte mu* ten been constantly improving and Tha Madam fhffim
'crim* Mtott tte City tee enjoyed Jhe past yeer speeke welt .ton the effiob
onof-ead loyalty of tho members oft tte department.
Chlnf Burke ten shown himself to.bst.* vary oepobte. egytesse and do*
CegL Robert* ten rendered the City “
tag »sp*s$eMy *c«iv» In tte cottestiowur
total *65,631.50
DISBURSEMENTS.
.100.0
800.01
l,:
2,076.01
1,501
3,900.#
6,000.#
Officers Salaries I 7,033.4!
Water Rental 3,325.1
Lights 3,634.8
Fire Department
Georgia Military College
Eddy High School
Bonds Redeemed—
Interest Paid cn Bonds
Purchase Addition Cemetery
Purchase McComb Lot
Borrowed Money Bill. 1916..
Borrowed Money on 1917 I3,8o0.(#
Interest on Borrowed Money "8b
Purchase Mules and Wagons Lit
Street Expenses, Convicts.
Feed, Labor, Pipe, and oth
er Materials Used W 1 * 1 *'
Fire Insurance on City Hall-
Property Map of City
Cemetery
Extra Police —
Paid Postage, Printing, Sta
tionery and Books.. « -
183.5
2fO.
Contingent —
O. M. Cone, City Engineer --
Disinfectants for Free Distri
bution
W. T. Conn, Alley Rent—
Janitor for City Hall
Tnx Assessors’ Salaries
Telephones, rent and tele
grams --
City Rest Room
Cash Bal. on Hand..
332.
_ 1.1IIJ
TOTAL.
.163,631.
RESOURCES.
Cash on Hand ..$ f,127.0$
Taxes Duo 1917 3,482.70
Fire Equipment.... 3,090.00
City Hall and Let.......... 18,300.00
City Hall- Furniture 730.00
Stable and Lot............. goO.OO
Tanner House and Let t'OOi.OO
Unsold Csmetery oLte. 1,000.00
r.Mofco
■tatter tete. u.ft».og
■teat# Water m.gg>
tateOm (ttty Otemste^.... iMutf -
■WWbt Street Department KM** [
rdfieemnn Ivey tag
rear of efftotet eervmu^b*
ted teutons efts' UMr.«M*ery
_ ii# _ "tafFta faithfully at ye test thragte* the year.
Tte prevailing high prices of fee# stiff end the lasmse* seer of actual
——I 11 ?*. 0 * Uf * * tatete»v*tte* tteftatep of the Phikw be in-,
H-L- 1 yu T** *** w tetu the
rffcOrH.
LIABILITIES
Due 4th Qr. Water Rent—-I
Interest on Outstandlnl
Bonds
Unpaid Accounts, about—
Due Borrowed Moan
I!U
id
$ioJ
•
Resources Over LidblllD^-^'^
Recorder.
Tte’ Recorder’s Court le presided oVer by g competent gad able official
Tffgtat Banded Indebtedness......