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About The Sumpter miner. (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1901)
THE SUMPTER MINER VOL II. SUMPTER, OREGON, JANUARY 9. 1901. NO. 18 NEWMA YOR'S MESSAGE HIGHLY COMPLIMENTS RETIRING OFFICIALS. Polnti Out the Excellent Financial Con dition in Which the Town Now Is Favor Progress, Coupled With Wise Conservatism Will Have Other Re commendations to Make When New Charter Is Secured. The recently elected town officers were Inaugurated last evening, except Alder man Bellinger, who was out of town on Important business. No other business of Importance was transacted. Mayor Robblns read his Inaugural address, as follews: TO THE ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF SUMPTER. GENTLEMEN: At 'he beginning of a new year, and of the new century, we have assembled, in obedience to the will of the voters of the town of Sumpter, to assume our respective duties In the man agement of the town affairs. It is customary, I believe, upon such oc casions, for the Incoming mayor to outline to some extent the needs of the city, and to recommend such new or changed legls lation, or methods, as In his judgment may be deemed best for the public good. Owing, however, to the fact that the pow ers granted by our present charter are both limited and uncertain, covering the greater part of which I would say, I have deemed it best to anticipate the granting, by our state legislature, of our new char ter, and defer several recommendations until they can be made applicable thereto. The recorder's report, covering the transactions of the city for the past year, discloses a condition of affairs both un usual and remarkable, when considered In the light of all that lias transpired within that time. And In justice to the retiring mayor and alderman and other officers who have contributed towards these re sults, and to the end that the example may not be lost to our own minds, I refer you to the fact that during the past two years we have grown from a little hamlet of 350 souls to a thriving, bustling little city of 2500 or more people, and during which time we have passed through a boom, the fury of which, for a time, fairly took one's breath away, and the like of which in most places has left behind a trail of disaster, with commercial failures, business men ruined, homes lost and hopes blighted, and too frequently with a municipal Indebtedness of such a magni tude as to practically amount to confisca tion of property and homes of those re maining. Instead, gentleman, our honorable pre decessors deliver into our keeping Sump ter of today, with its 2500 or more inhab itants, Its miles of sidewalks, crosswalks and street Improvements, its schools, churches and secret socities, its well equipped fire department, its excellent water plant and electric light plant, Its blocks of houses, modern brick buildings and pretty homes, without the cloud of a single commercial failure within the past year. With city property valued at and costing over $$000, aside from crosswalks, street and other public Improvements, and with a bonded and warrant indebtedness, all told, of less than f 1600, and all this without having ever levied one cent of property tax. Such results are not ob tained by mere chance. Gentlemen, it will be left to others to review and report the result of oir acts. The books are open, the entries must be made by ourselves; future report will he but a recapitulation of what we enter therein. Shall the balance be In red ink or black? For us it must remain as we make it. Still we should be progressive and ever watchful and ready to promote and advance the best interests of our cltv. Our conservatism and failure to a:ccept responsibility is no less to be condemned than an unjust performance of duty at tended by failure. During the present year, perhaps more than ever before, will tin advancement and future prosperity of our cltv depend, not alone upon the foresight and wisdom of its enterprising citizens, but upon the Intelligent and legitimate encouragement of those in charge of the city's affairs as well. In the delivery at our depot of 2000 car loads of freight during the past year, 270 carloads of which was machinery for nd jacent mines, and in the Immense pav rolls of the mines, we get but a hint of the wonderful development now taking place around us. While it might be said that such matters are not directly related to affairs of city government, yet they are o( the most vital importance to the future of our city, and whether we may Im- able to aid in th- way of encouraging an In crease in such business, and toward cheap enlng its cost and facilitating Its transpnr tatlon, will In a like degree add to the growth and prosperity of Its Inhabitants. The matter of rail transportation to our adjacent mines has already been much discussed. The matter of street railway and other such franchises may be matters for your consideration In the very near future. I would recommend just and fair encouragement to all such when properly and legitimately proposed, In good faith, by responsible parties. I would advlsr, however, great care In avoiding the grant ing of such privileges for speculative pur poses without compensating advantages to the city, remembering always that ex cessive expenditures or appropriations can only be liquidated through burdensome taxation. In looking over the Items of expense for the preceding year, aside from salaries, I find the greatest to have been for the purchase of fire aparatus and the equip ping of our fire department. Upon more than one occasion during the year the wisdom of this investment has had practical illustration. The subject of proper fire protection Is one of grave importance to every property owner within the city, and the fact that the Individual members of our fire com panies devote their time generously with out pay or reward, should appeal strongly to our own generosity In providing neces sary aparatus and such firemen's clothing as may be necessary for their proper pro tection and comfort while on duty. I would further recommend that a reason able compensation be allowed all firemen while on actual duty, sufficient at least to in some measure compensate them for the damage sustained to their clothing while on duty at fires. Another Item of considerable Import ance has been the health department and pest house expenses. Yet considering the unwholesome sanitary conditions of town and the almost universal prevalence of smallpox last season, as compared to our present total freedom from this muhc dreaded disease, together with the pre vailing healthfulness of our city, we can but count It money well spent. And aside from money well spent much of the de sirable results ohtalnrned is no doubt due In the painstaking care of our efficient health officer. In such positions It not Infrequently happens that an efficient officer so f.ir sue ceeds as to render :i continuance of Ills em ployment unnecessary. It would serin, thrrefore, that due regard for economy might make it advisable to readjust the duties of liralih officer, leaving the street cleaning and scavenger work to be per formed under direction of the city marsh il and a nominal salary allowed the city physician for performing the remaining duties of health offuer. Yet, whether it would be prudent to dis pense with the services of our present efficient officer at a time when contagious diseases are prevalent In so many adjoin ing towns, will hen matter for your con slderatlon and discussion. In justice to (he ofVulals themselves, as well as to the taxpayers, I would advise your honorable body to give careful con slderatlon to the matter of formulating a more perfect system for keeping of the accounts between the various officers and of the various funds. A proper system should be provided and every officer who in any way handles public money should be required to so keep his accounts that the same may be readily and accurately checked up by another officer or by the finance committee. Numbered receipts, with proper stubs, should he furnished every officer author ized to receive money, and a proper sys tem of reports should be required at least once each month. The same degree of accuracy and per fection should be demanded of Its em ployes in the conduct of city affairs as would he exacted by a successful business man ol those handling his money and his business. To the health and police committee, I would enjoin the utmost care and watch fulness. 1 he good health of our city Is a mutter of deep concern to all. See to It that contagious diseases do not again get a foot hold in our midst. Should they occur, see that each and every case is promptly and properly quarantined, and when cured that the buildings are properly fumigated and dislnfectrd. See to it also that the proper officers exercise due care In removing and pre venting all nuisances that might cause or encourage disease or sickness. Exercise due watchfulness over the po lice department and exact efficient service from all those under your control. The fire and water committee will have under their direct supervision all matters pertaining to the fire department, lire pro tection and water supply. Our present high rate of Insurance Is a matter of vital concern to every business man and every householder. The effici ency of our fire protection may at any moment benntihl. Its failure not only means Immediate loss of property, hut an increase ol Insurance rates, or their can cellation. I Invite your careful co-operation with the officers of the lire department to the end that they may be properly equipped for their work and ever ready for an emergency. To the committee on streets and public property, I would urge a careful observ ance of the condition of our streets and public thoroughfares. I woulk especially call your attention to the very unsatisfac tory condition of lower Mill street, and those principal streets leading east and connecting with the county road. Like wise to Center street and Auburn street in the vicinity of the depot. There is perhaps one thing that more than. any other reflects the degree of thrift and enterprise of a city than the condition of its streets. Due consideration should It given also to the needs and comfort of those residing In the residence districts. It will become the duty of the committee on tinarce to report upon all bills presented to the council, to audit the accounts of all officers and otherwise to have general supervision over all financial matters per taining to the ill y. The adoption and main- talnauce of a proper system of accounts and the careful observance of every detail pertaining to the financial transactions of our city Involves much care and much labor, but has its reward in a duty well performed. The judiciary committee by reason of the proposed revision of our charter and the revision of ordinances that must of necessity lollo , will have many respon sible duties to perfurm,whlch will demand both painstaking care and wisdom. Again to the various committees, I wish to urge your close attention to all matters pertaining to your several departments, to the end that the council may have th benefit of your Investigations and recom mendations upon all matters requiring Its action. The greater part of the city's business must needs pass through the hands of the various committees and a prompt discharge of their respective duties will greatly lessen and facilitate our labors. J. II. ItOHhlNS. Sumpter, Or., Jan. 8, toot. Saturday evening the old council held its last meeting. A communication from the town of Milton, asking for co opera lion in changing the laws so that a towa or city can levy and collect taxes was read. John Arthur was Informed that he would. Iiave to secure a dance hall license, which he agreed to do. Reports of offi cials were filed. Mil: MlNUK was award ed the c"lty printing tor the ensuing year, at the same rate as in the past, live cents .1 line. I here being a dlscrepeucy be tween the reports of the marshal and re corder, 'the report of the later was not accepted. Much Machinery Moved on the Snow. The huge temporary platform at the Sumpter Valley railway tracks at the depot, where many hundreds ol tons of mining machinery have rested for many weeks, has now been cleared. The last piece of this material, wliU.li was the main ratchet wheel ol the Med Hoy hoist, weigh ing over 15,000 pounds, was loaded on the Sumpter Transportation company' heavy sleds I'riJay and started lor its final destination. The good load made by the recent heavy fall of snow was taken advantage of quickly by the Trans portation company, and, being so well equipped for the work, it was not long In dealing the cars, platlorinsaud yards that was loaded and strewn with valuable freight. The 'transportation company should In the minds of those nut lamil iar with Its business affairs pay some handsome dividends when a "clean up" Iron these hauls Is made. Married People's Sleighing Party. A parly of muriied people went out to Halliard's half-way house last evening In sleighs and had u dance and a supper and a time. They evidently took an oath of secrecy, for nothing pertaining to the de tails ol the expedition can be learned, ex cept thu "le supper was an excellent one and that ihey "maintained their dignity." I hose implicated in the affair were Dr. and Mrs. Tape, Dr. and Mrs. Hrock, Mr. and Mr. Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Stcffen, Mr. and Mrs. Yeager, Mr. and Mrs. Hob son, Mr. and Mrs. liills, Mr. and Mrs. Crouse, Mr. and Mrs. Tedrowe, Mr. and Mrs. Morrell, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen. gJ