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R, C, P.
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<br />February 27, 1917.
<br />
<br />%f one yea~v; this firm w~s next to the lowest 9idder. They have c~der~d entirely new equipment
<br />and the same will ow delivered a~d out into service on or about Naroh let.
<br />
<br /> ~FIRE DEP~RTNENT ADNIN~.~TRATION:
<br />
<br /> "One member of the Fire Department was reported to me by the Chief for leaving, the City
<br /> without leave, and also over staying his time; after a hearing'I suspended him for fivedays
<br /> without pay.
<br /> "The automobile for the~Chief h~sbeen delivered'a~d put into service; the flying
<br /> squadron h~s been organized s~ud ~has done ~ood work so far and has answered all alarms.
<br /> "I h~ve inspect-ed the Engine houses mgain and find that the sanitary conditions aud
<br />gener*~l cleanliness have been improved. There is, however, room for further improvement a&ong
<br />these lines.
<br /> "The car of the flying sgu~iron w~s dams.ged ~o t~e. extent of ~h~ving a ~heel broken
<br />on th~ mottling of Feb. 21st. I conducted an tnve.st~g~ti$n ~n~o the acciaent and found that
<br />there were extenuating circumstances. I dismissed the charge of reckless driving against the
<br />dr&vet, but ~v$1 him instructions and a warning.
<br />
<br /> "~OLIC~ DEPARTMENT. ADNINISTRATION:
<br />
<br /> "One member of the Department has tmndered hie resignation, ~hich I h~ve-accepted. I
<br />have appointed one .addi'tional sub-patrolman.
<br />
<br /> "Three members of this Department were reported to me for dereliction of duty during
<br /> the month~ ~here were extenuating circumstances in one case/~hich was dismissed. In the other
<br /> two oases, extra duty was assigned as punishment in one case a~d suspension in the other.
<br /> ~I have in mind a change in the personel of the orgauization at police Headquarters
<br />as follows: Appoint one of the Justices of the Peace for duty as clerk of the Court to the
<br />~ivil and Police Justice for such time as he may.be meeded every mornlng;d~uring the re~t of
<br />the d~y he will act as secretary ~to the Chief of Police ~nd do such work in the w~y of keeping
<br />records, correspondence, etc., as may be assigned to him by the Chief. This Ju=t~ce~ ' of the
<br />.Peace to receive a straight monthly salary from the City and to turn over to the Police Dep~rt-
<br />men~ account all fees, etc., which he might collect for the ~is~nce of warrants, bail bonds,
<br />commissions Of Lunacy, etc~ in this way, -the office will be self~supporting and will re,ease
<br />the officers now doing clerical du~y for street or other police duty, where they are much need-
<br />ed. I have the acceptance in writing from one of the Justices of the Peace who is willing to
<br />act in the .c~pacity and along the lines out-lined above. I am fully aware that the act creat-
<br />ing ~roffioe gives me full power to make the change, but since it is in a w~y creating a new
<br />office, I prefer ~o act by and with the Council and their consent in this matter; and would
<br />ask that it be given immediate attention so thmt I might put LTinto operation on ~ar. let.
<br /> "A new Police Patrol wagon has been ordered arid will I hope, be delivered for service
<br />within a few days.
<br />
<br /> "STREET D~EPARTME~T ~DM~NISTBATION:
<br />
<br /> "The method of doing the collection and street cleaning h~s been somewhat modified and,
<br />~t the present, time, we are doing the same amount of work with fewer ca.rte than formerly. I
<br />am in hopes that we will be able to continue the present system as by so doing, we will be mble
<br />to perform the same service for the s~me or a smaller ~.otal cost than last year, notwithsts~ud-
<br />i~g the higher daily cost of the carts.
<br /> ~ ,Th~ present force engmged in street repair work is not mt all satisfactory to
<br />meg I have ln~structed the City Enginee~ to inform the men thai more work is expected of them,
<br />and I wish to give them an opportunity to improve and hold their positions. ~e have had dif-
<br />ficulty, in getting able bodied men to fill out the work g~ngs, so that before long ~ may be
<br />compelled to adopt a different policy from thmt followed.in the past.
<br /> "The practice ~ dumping ashes, street sweep~ngs, trash, etc., on private property
<br />without compensatio~ is had from an economic point of view and should be discontinued. I have
<br />issued instructions ~that all such material shall be used in street work and reclaiming public
<br />property, and would suggest that mfter the City's needs are supplied, this m~terial be dumped
<br />on private property, provided the owner files a petition for the m~terial ~ pays a reasonable
<br />charge for it, all money so collected to be deposited in the street repair account.
<br /> "I woul~ suEgest a change in the present ordinance covering the m~tter of street
<br />cuts; I have discuss~ed the m~tter with the chairman of the Dept. of P~olio Service and Dept.
<br />of Law; recommendations will be m~le by these Gentlemen. I would further suggest that all
<br />fees collected for s~reet openings be placed in the Street Repair Account and not in the gener-
<br />al fund of the City.
<br /> "I have given a great deal of thought ~ud study to the question of the condition
<br />of the improved dirt streets and would make the following recommendations to the, Council: That
<br />the City acquire a road machine a~d a steam roller; that the-dirt streets be scraped, shaped
<br />and well rolled$ that they be given two or three treatments of suitable road oil or binder.
<br />This method of treatment will, in my opinion, give very good service for nine or ten months
<br />of the year, but it will not stand up through the severe winter months; the streets will not,
<br />however, be as bS~l after treatment, even during the winter as they are now. I have estimated
<br />that this treatment will cost from .08 to .lO cent per squar~ yard of surf~etreated, smd I
<br />would sugges~ an ordinance authorizing the circulation of petitions asking that street be so
<br />treated~ with the Understanding that the signers el' the petition subjec~ themselves to an annual
<br />tax of .O8 or .IO cent per mquare ~ard for the portion of the street upon ~hioh their property
<br />abuts. These petitions to be circulated by:.iblocks, streets, districts or other desirable units
<br />and~ if signed by at least seventy-five per cent of the property owners~f£ected, to be bind-
<br />ing upon the remaining twenty~five per cent, as similar tax, vmriously n~med, is collected in
<br />many of th~ Gities of the country.
<br /> ~I-am going to try the experiment of patching the asphalt streets by using the
<br />newly acquired repairing plant and ironing the patches instead of rolling them. Thi~ ~ethod
<br />is in use in ~ig~emt many places, but is not as sati~factory as the rollin~method.
<br /> have obtained prices on both tandem and rossi rollers~ both new and rebuilt,
<br />but re,et to ~ave to report that owing to existing conditions, the prices now asked are very
<br />high aud mo~e than I feel justified in asking for. I have taken up the question of buying
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