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