Out-going Mayor of Danbury, L.LeGrand Hopkins' message to the Common Council of the City of Danbury regarding its government, expenditures, finances and improvements.
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Board of Aldermen.
The Mayor's Message.
To the Common Council of the City of Danbury:
GENTLEMEN: -- My term of office having nearly expired, in accordance with the City Charter, I submit to your Honorable Body, a general statement of the situation, state and condition of the City in relation to its government, expenditures, finances and improvements.
Permit me to say that the past two years have been more trying than any of the City's future officers will have to face. I honestly believe and sincerely trust that time will prove my words true. They have been years of experiment, and like all experiments we must expect discouragements and failures. Those that are to follow us, will have the opportunity of profiting by our mistakes and adding to our successes.
The change from a Borough to a City form of government is a radical one, involving a change in every department, and while many of our citizens realize this, and are willing to bear with patience, and to aid all they can in making the change a success; there have been and are others, that have all they could to discourage and hinder the success of the work, some where honest in their opinions, but were not willing to wait results. Knowing that all men are liable to err; others have deliberately done all they could to destroy the good that was being done, and to injure us in the estimation of good citizens; such persons are unworthy of notice; they are inspired by personal feelings of hatred and envy or political disappointment; they have not the City's welfare at heart, and time will prove them to have their own selfish aims in view while prating about the City's good. I have endeavored to honestly and fearlessly discharge the duties of the office for the best good of the City, and am satisfied to leave the verdict in the hands of the citizens for their approval or disapproval. Much has been done to improve out street, but there is room for much more. The macadam has not been injured by the frost as feared, there has not been a greak, it makes a good road. I shall say but little about the several departments as the committees have made and will publish reprots, giving full statements regarding the matters entrusted to their care. The total debt of the City is $410,440 which includes the bonded and floating indebtedness. This is a large amout, but there is much to show for it. Our water system alone would sell for enough to wipe out the entire indebtedness and leave a handsome surplus. our people, as a whole, are prosperous. There has been no epidemic of disease. Our firebug has ceased his cowardly work. The fire department has been reorganized and is now in fine working order. The police have proved adequate to maintain the peace and protect the property of our citizens. Miles of water mains have been laid, thus bringing the great blessing of good water to hundreds more of the people. I am opposed to the recommendation of the water department that meters hsould be put in the factories. I have no doubt there is a needless waste of water, and that something should be done to remedy the evil, but do not think we are ready for meters yet. They are expensive and would tend to prevent manufacturers from coming and discourage some that are here. Danbury is blessed with good soft water and owes much of its success in hatting to the same. Our homes and our prosperity to a great extent depend upon the hatting industry and we cannot afford to do anything that will in any manner tend to cripple it. The superintendents of the water are always talking about a water famine, but it has never come, the people believed, and had a right to so believe, when East Lake was completed, holding the immense quantity of water it does, there would be no trouble for years to come[.] Sewers have been built through River, Beaver, Nichols street, and Town Hill avenue, and the contract made for
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the Main or Outfall sewer. When this is completed the ocuncil can cause connection to be made withthe other sewers and thus avoid the pollution of the river within the city limits. The East Ditch sewer has been ordered, and the money appropriated, and the work shoudl be begun and completed as soon as possible, as the present filthy ditch is a constant menace to the health of the inhavitants in its vicinity. River street is in condition to be paved with Belgian blocks. The sewer, gas and water mains have been put in, and there is no good reason why this important thoroughfare should remain almost impassable, as it is during quite a portion of the year. But little has been done toward improving the eastern or western part of our city, the incoming council should cause walks and crosswalks to be laid. Some of the streets at certain seasons of the year are almost impassible, and the futt passanger must wear a rubber shoe or boot for weeks at a time. I also desire to call your attention to the blocking of Still River with piers and other obsturctions. They are liable to make an ice gorge, and cause an immense amount of damage to property owners on Main, White, and other streets adjacent thereto.
In conclusion I desire to thank youfor past kindness, and trust that the experience acquired by those whose terms of office hold over, added to the life and energy of the incoming Board, will do much to aid our beloved city in securing good government and increased prosperity.
Respectfully,
L. LeGrand Hopkins, Mayor.
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