o F 832 .5 05 035 BANCROFT LIBRARY <> THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OGDEN CITY OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BONDS. MAYOR'S MESSAGE FOR 1898 OGDEN, UTAH, JANUARY 181)0. OGDEtf, UTAH. PKINTED BY THF OGDEN PRE OODEN CITY. OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND BONDS. MAYOR'S MESSAGE FOR 1898. OGDEN, UTAH, JANUARY 1809. OQDEJVT CITY, UTHtj. ELECTIVE OFFICERS 1898-S9. JOHN. A. BOYLE Mayor HARRIET S. EMERSON City And tor EDWARD H. ANDERSON City Recorder EDWARD M. ALLISON, JR.,.,..., -. City Attorney ROBERT A. MOTES .".' City Treasurer EDMUND T. HULANISKI City Justice of the Peace COUNCILMEN. THOMAS E. BROWNING President of the City Council First Ward Job Pingree, John Jenkins Second Ward J. E. Williams, Martin Cullen Third Ward Myrtillo Shaw, M. L. Jones Fourth Ward A. L. Brewer, E. T. WooKey Fifth Ward S. P. Ash, T. E. Browning APPOINTIVE OFFICERS. Chief of Police J. E. Davenport Chief of Fire Department Orson R ser City Engineer A. F. Parker Sanitary Inspector William Moyes Sexton W. L. Porter Coal Oil Inspector H. M. Bond Night Jailer W. F. Critchlow Day Jailer and Police Court Clerk Ben Ternes Pound Keeper A. Peterson STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES 1898-99. On Laws Brewer, Browning, Woolley On License Williams, Pingree, Cullen On Claims Woolley, Ash, Jenkins On Finance Ash, Woolley, Pingree On Streets Pingree, Williams, Jones On Sanitary Jenkins, Williams. Cullen On Sewerage Cullen, Shaw, Jenkins On Public Buildings and Grounds ... Jones, Brewer, Sha w On Water Supply Shaw, Williams, Ash On Engrossing B owning, Jores, Brewer On Fire v Jones, Brewer, Browning On Police Ash, Woolley, Browning SPECIAL COMMITTEES. On Taxes Ash, Woolley, Williams Water Supply Commission. . .Browning, Pingree, Jones, Brewer, Woolley 7'/7ffr $32. MAYORS OF OGDEN CITY SINCE TIME OF INCORPORATION. Lorin Farr February, 1851, to November 14, 1870 Lester J. Herrick February 13, 1871, to December 29, 1876 Lorin Farr February 11, 1877, to February 9, 1879 Lester J. Berrick ..February 12, 1879, to February 11, 1883 David H. Peery February 1 12, 18S3, to February 18, 1887 David Eccles February 18, 1887, to February 14, 1889 Fred J. Kiesel February 14. 1S83, to February 14, 1831 William II. Turner February 14, 1891, to December 31, 1892 Robert C. Lundy January 1, 1893, to December 31, 1893 Charles M. Brough January 1, 1894. to December 31, 1895 Hiram H. Spencer January 1, 1896, to January 3, 1898 John A. Boyle January 3, 1898, to January 1, 1900 RECORDERS OF OGDEN CITY SINCE TIME OF INCORPORATION. David Moore 1851, to March 17, 1855 William Critchlow March 17, 1855, to December 31, 1868 Thomas G. Odell January 1, 1839, to June 14, 1873 James Taylor June 21, 1873, to February 11, 1883 Thomas J. Stevens February 12, 1883, to February 14, 1889 John W. McNutt ..February 14, 1889, to February 14, 1891 T. P. Pi yan February 14, 1891, to December 31, 1892 Charles S. Rapp January 1, 1893, to December 31, 1893 PJdward H. Anderson January 1, 1894, to January 1, 1900 BONDS AND IMPROVEMENTS. Ogden, the capital city of Weber County, Utah, was incorporated February 6, 1851. As per official census of 1895, it had a population of 15,828, which is now estimated at 20,000. There is a bonded indebtedness of $504,000, as follows: Date Issued. Due. Per Ct. Kind. Amount. March 1, 1890 .....1910 5 Sewer $ OCO June 1, 1891 1911 6 Gen'l Improvm't 100,000 Feb. 1, 1892 1902 6 Sewer 4,000 Feb. 1, 1392 1912 6 Gen' April 1, 1892 1912 5 Gen' Dec. 1, 1S92 1912 5 Gen' May 1, 1893 1913 5 Gen' Imp ovm't 0,000 Improvm't 50,000 Improvm't 50,OCO Improvm't 100.0CO Aug. 15, 1898 1918 4% Gen' Improvm't 100,000 Total $504,000 YTi/UlUIJ ') ^ The city has 52 miles of streets, of which 36 miles are graded and graveled. There are many miles of asphalt and stone sidewalks, and about 3-7 of a mile of paved streets. It has 13 1-10 miles of sewers, and about 30 miles of distributive water system within the limits, the pipe ranging in size from 2 inches to 20 inches in diame- ter. It has a magnificent city hall, three fire stations, a substantial jail and police station, and a modern hospital. There are also two ten-acre parks, beautifully improved. Year. Mayor. Valuation. Levy, Mills. Tax. 1887 David Eccles $2,487,138 5 $ 1?,435 69 1888 David Eccles 2,932,30 5 14,664.65 1889 F. J. Kiesel 8,460,690 5 42,303.45 1890 P. J. Kiesel 11,440,020 4 45,760.08 1891 W. H. Turner 14,001,920 3% 49,006.72 1892 W. H. Turner 13,785,345 4 51,141.38 1893 R. C. Lundy 13,394,447 6% 87,063. 1894 C. M. Brough 10,736,548 10 107,335.43 1895 C. M. Brough 9,787,335 10 97,873.35 1896 H. H. Spencer 10,171,557 10 101,715.57 1897 H. H. Spencer 8,864,533 9 79,780.79 1898 John A. Boyle 7,915,219 9 71,233.93 1899 John A. Boyle . RECORDER'S STATEMENT. OF THE RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH, FOR THE YEAR 1897. RECEIPTS. City Taxes, Alma D. Chambers, 189-7 $ 64,581.31 City Taxes, F. B. Hurlbut, 1896 10,293.88 City Taxes, D. Hamer, 1893-94 3,011.27 Delinquent City Taxes, 1893 21.41 Delinquent City Taxes, 1894 183. 55 Delinquent City Taxes, 1895 4,155.98 Delinquent City Taxes, 1896 3,?OS.76 Delinquent Special Taxes, 1896 1 9.78 Sewer District No. 2 600.67 Sewer District No 3 1,604.19 Sewer District No. 4 299.76 Sewer District No. 5 771.06 Sewer District No. 6 1,148.99 Sewer District No. 7 1,533.33 Liquor Licenses 21,045.00 Business Licenses 2,360.85 Police Court Fines 3,570.00 Interest i..:. ...,.;.. 1,069.93 Cemetery Pees and Sale of Lots 1,005.00 Poll Taxes 255.00 Dog Taxes 519.00 Streets, sale of lumber, etc 109.02 Tax Sale Costs 91. CO General Pee Account 54 . 25 Private Sidewalks .. 343.22 Rent, Public Grounds and Buildings 213.50 L. G. Wilkerson, 25th Street repairs 1,234.77 Public Lands ....'....., 5.00 Fire Department 41. CO Legal .50 Weber County, repairs of Ogden Bridge 112.26 Total :;...$125,144.22 DISBURSEMENTS. Interest on Bonds and Warrants $ 33,497.42 Street Department 14,449.44 Fire Department 15,910.52 Police Department 15,234.40 Public Buildings 1,555.39 Cemetery 1,160.62 Engineering 3,227 . 75 Health Commission 3,112.90 Charity, including 1897 tax remissions 3,481.36 Legal Department 5,226.03 Light for Streets 7,825.20 Dog Tax 1,885.90 Expense 1,575.72 Salaries ...,..,... 8,205.46' Water Supply, street sprinkling 4,488.85 Election Expense 1,073.40 Private Sidewalks 1,085.83 Public Grounds 2,036.29 L. G Wilkerson, Paving Repairs 1,234.77 Londs Redeemed 2,000.00 Taxes, collecting, etc 890.98 Waterworks System 558 . 15 Poll Tax, collection, etc 623.59 Liquor License Rebates 372.50 Hospital 171.30 Pound Keeper 196.00 Business License Rebates 100.10 Fire and Police Commission Expense 396.40 Weber County, repairs Ogden Bridge 112.26 Sewerage 94.60 Delinquent Special Taxes 45.70 Delinquent City Taxes 70.60 Total $131,904.43 RECAPITULATION. Receipts from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 1897 $125,144.22 Overdrafts on Treasurer, Dec. 31, 1897 40,363.69 Cash, Sinking Fund No. 1, Jan. 1, 1897 25,000.00 Cash, Sinking Fund, No. 2, Jan. 1, 1897 5,000.00 Cash, Tax Sale Costs Fund, Jan. 1, 1897 3,110.67 Disbursements from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 1897 Overdrafts on Treasurer Jan. 1, 1897 Cash, Sinking Fund No. 1, Dec. 31, 1897 Cash, Sinking Fund No. 2, Dec. 31, 1897 $131,904.43 36,099.52 25,614.63 5,000.00 Total $198,618.58 $198,618.58 I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct report of the receipts and disbursements of Ogden City, Utah, for the year 1897. EDW. H. ANDERSON, City Recorder. I have audited the above report and find the same correct, as appears from vouchers on file in this office. ED. T. MORTON, City Auditor. OGDEN, UTAH, January 3, 1898. STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSE- MENTS OF OGDEN CITY, UTAH, FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1898, COMPILED FROM THE QUARTERLY REPORTS OF CITY AUDITOR H. S. EMERSON. RECEIPTS. Alma D. Chambers, Tax Collector, 1898 $ 51,624.07 Delinquent City Taxes, 1893 138.72 Delinquent City Taxes, 1894 551.18 Weber County Delinquent Taxes, 1895 1,219 40 Weber County Delinquent Taxes, 1896 , 1,276.41 Alma D. Chambers. Tax Colector, 1897 6,631.23 Delinquent Sewer Tax of 1895 10.65 Delinquent Sewer Tax of 1896 83.49 Delinquent Sewer Tax of 1897 139.56 Weber County Delinquent Taxes, 1897 505.14 Delinquent Sewer Taxes of 1893 339.99 Delinquent Sidewalk Taxes of 1897 12.00 Sewer District No. 2 785.51 Sewer District No 3 .....' 1,843.67 eSwer District No. 4 563.15 Sewer District No. 5- 862.79 Sewer District No. 6 1,061.39 Sewer District No. 7 1,711.27 Liquor Licenses 21,550.00 Business Licenses 5,530.97 Police Department 3,947.35 Interest 392.99 Cemetery fees and sale of lots 1,208.50 Poll Taxes 355.03 Dog Taxes 385.00 Street Department 62.25 General Fee Account 326. 50 Private Sidewalks 34.45 Rent, Public Grounds and Buildings 188.00 Fire Department 45.84 Legal Department .60 Estray Pound 84 . 50 Engineering 18.35 .$103,489.87 8 DISBURSEMENTS. Interest on Bonds and Warrants $ 32,262 . 05 Fire Department 12,172.71 Police Department 11,959.19 Street Department 9,648.44 Public Buildings 1,381.11 Cemetery 651.61 Engineering .. 1190.62 Health Commission , v. 2,384.61 Charity 1,425.55 Legal Department 5,849.80 Light 6,198.83 Dog Taxes 294.55 Expense 1,647.78 Salaries 5,603.91 Water Supply, Street Sprinkling 3,498.80 Public Grounds 1,654.66 Bonds Redeemed . 2,000. CO Taxes, and amount paid for collecting 863.40 Waterworks System 218. CO Poll Tax, collections, etc 47065 Liquor Licenses 729.16 Business Licenses 699 . 84 Hospital 1,069.64 Estray Pound SOi 2 j Election expense 617.20 Weber County, Repairs on Ogden Bridge 130. CO Sewerage 187.10 Fire and Police Commission 14.85 Paving District No. 2, Tax Rebate 5,768.83 General Fee Account, Returned Franchise Fee 150.00 L. G. Wilkerson, account of paving repairs. 1,151.39 Total $112,219.09 RECAPITULATION. Receipts from Jan. 1, 1898, to Dec. 31, 1898 $103,489.87 Overdraft on Treasurer Dec. 31, 1898 49,883.99 Cash in Sinking Fund No. 1, Jan, .1, 1898 25,614.63 Cash in Sinking Fund No. 2, Jan. 1, 1898 5.000.00 Disbursements from Jan. 1, to Dec. 31, 1898 $112,219.09 Overdraft on Treasurer, Jan. 1, 1898 40,363.69 Cash in Sinking Fund No. 1, Dec. 31, 1898 26,408.71 Cash in Sinking Fund No.. 2, Dec. 31, 1898 5,000.03 Total $183,991.49. $183,991.49 9 MAYOR'S MESSAGE. To tlie Git y Goqqcil of Ogder| City, Utql\, 1898. TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Gentlemen: At the close of what has proven a very prosperous year for the City of Ogden, the first year of your administration, I take pleasure in submitting to your honorable body my annual report for 1898, for your consideration and for the information of the public. In this connection allow me first to wish you a happy New Year; also that during the present year you may find pleasure in your municipal duties. I have received reports from most of the departments of the City Corporation, from which have been gleaned the items of information which follow. In each case where I have deemed it necessary, commendations have been made and recommendations are suggested for your consideration. I believe that a united effort on the part of the officers and employees of the city will tend to still further protect the work in the various departments of the city which is now very admirably performed by the faithful servants of the public. CITY FINANCES. For a number of years Ogden City has been in close financial quarters and it has taxed the ingenuity of the officers to find means to carry on the expenses of the city and at the same time to keep good the city's credit on its 10 bonded indebtedness. It is for this reason that public improvements to a certain extent, and in many instances where it was actually necessary, have been neglected. The present total bonded indebtedness of the city, which will be reduced f 2,000 on the 1st of February, is $506,000. The report of City Auditor Emerson compiled from her quarterly reports of the year shows the total receipts of the city for the year 1898 to have been f 103,489.87, while the disbursements for the same period have been $112,- 219.09. On the face of this statement it would appear that we have expended more than we have received; but it must be remembered that the receipts include only $51,624.07 obtained from taxes of 1898, while the sworn statement of the County Auditor shows that we are en- titled to $71,236.99 on a total assessed valuation of $7,915,219, leaving a balance due us of $19,612.92. Weber County is also owing Ogden City for deliquent taxes from and including 1893 to and including 1897, $12,381.21, due us on redemptions, so that any apparent lack of receipts for 1898 may be amply accounted for in these amounts. The further statement may be safely made that the ac- tual expenditures of the city have not exceeded the in- come when it is remembered that the total receipts for the year were $21,634.25 less than the income of 1897; also that our disbursements were $19,685.34 less than the disbursements of 1897. In view of this it will be seen that the administration has conducted the affairs of the city in a most economical manner and has saved to the taxpayers in round numbers about $20,000. It should be added that out of the expenses of 1898, $5,768.89 were paid as a paving tax refund and should not properly be considered a legitimate expense for 1898. We have also 11 Lad exceptionally large judgments to pay, which have swelled the legal department expenditures to $5,849.80, one judgment alone amounting to $2,500, obtained for an accident that occurred in the summer of 1897. The Auditor's report shows further that there is an overdraft on the Treasurer of $49,886.99, but there was cash on hand w r ith the Treasurer at the close of the year in the sum of $20,011.58, so that the actual outstanding warrants on that date was $70,498.57. A call to pay out- standing warrants has since been made. It must be borne in mind that there has been set aside for, an UOAV remains in, the two sinking funds, $31,408.71, an ample amount to pay our interest for the year 1899 and also suificient to redeem the two $1,000 sewer bonds which fall due February 1, 1899. A most excellent financial move which must be credited to the administration was the refunding of 100,000 improvement bonds of 1888, which were sold on August 15th, and funded at 4 1-2 per cent, with practi- cally no expense to the city. We had been paying 5 per cent on these bonds, so that this transaction represents a saving to the taxpayers of the city, during the life of the bonds, of $10,000. I recommend that during the year 1899 the Finance Committee be instructed to so rearrange the financial af- fairs of the city that on the first day of January, 1900, the city shall pay every warrant that has been issued in 1899; and, further, that a sinking fund be established, to be re- plenished by a special levy beginning with the present year, for the payment of all such warrants as have been issued prior to January 1, 1899, a,s fast as it is possible to pay them. Also, that the interest on such warrants 12 issued prior to January, 1899, remain at 8 per cent, that the interest upon warrants issued for 1899 be reduced to 5, or not to exceed 6 per cent, and that the rate of inter- est, when fixed, be endorsed on the face of such warrants. I see no other way of placing the city upon a firm and cer- tain cash basis. CITY RECORDER'S OFFICE. During the year 1898 the City Council held thirty- eight regular meetings, nine adjourned meetings and -two special meetings, a total of forty-nine; the Advis- ory Committee held one meeting. Thirteen ordi- nances were passed, making a record of seventy- four pages; 380 pages of minute record were re- corded and indexed; 850 papers were filed and indexed. The Recorder countersigned 3,288 warrants which aggre- gated $107,834.43; as against 4,318 warrants in 1897 which aggregated $128,148.83. Licenses were issued as follows: 1827. No. Amount. Business licenses collected by the Recorder outside of the regular municipal business license ordinance 150 $ 2,360.85 Liquor licenses collected by the Recorder, including re- tail, wholesale and brewers 310 21,045.00 Dog license collected during 1897 206 643. CO Total 463 $24,048.85 1898. No. Amount. Business licenses collected by ths Recorder outside of the regular municipal business license ordinance 114 $ 2,541.00 Liquor licenses collected by the Recorder, including re- tail, wholesale and brewers ill 21,550. CO Municipal or regular merchants' licenses, collected by J. Vluth for the six months ending Dec. 31', 1898 433 ' 2,98 J. 95 13 Uog license co'.lected by Collectors Jchn Mel vain and John A. Lampert during 1898 157 481.00 Total 815 $27,561.95 Received through the Recorder's office from other sources, including fees, rent and miscellaneous 1,113.61 Total amount collected in Recorder's office $28,705.59 In the Cemetery records which were kept by the Re- corder there were recorded 180 burials, besides a number of transfers of lots. The reports of the Sexton show thirty cemetery lots sold at $15 each, and twenty-five half lots sold at $7.50 each, all of which have also been re- corded. I recommend that the ordinance defining the duties of the City Sexton, and the regulations of the Cemetery bo thoroughly revised to conform to the practices now obtaining, and particularly making it the duty of the City Recorder to keep the Cemetery records; and the duty of the Sexton to report monthly to the City Recorder upon blanks furnished by the city for that purpose. The city has been to a great expense in procuring a splendid record which is now being kept by the Recorder, al- though there is no ordinance making it the duty of that officer to keep such a record. In this connection I also recommend that the ordi- nance defining the duty of the City Recorder be so amend- ed as to require that officer to properly index the minute records and papers of the Council proceedings in the same manner that this work is now being done. The sys- tem which has been adopted and is now used by the Re- corder, I think, is among the best in the State, and steps should be taken to insure its perpetuation in case of a change of officers. 14 LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I have not received the official report of the City At- torney, but have the assurance from him that a full re- port of the condition of his office will be placed before your honorable body in the near future. Some very im- portant cases have been tried during the past year. An action to recover $45,000 was brought by Nellie Tackett. This case was tried and a verdict rendered against the city for $2,500 and costs, which judgment has been paid. The most important of all the cases pending in the courts is the case of Ogden City vs. the Bear Lake and River Waterworks and Irrigation Company. The city obtained a judgment in the Third. District Court in April last in which the Judge ordered an accounting to be made to Ogden City for the value of the water system that was in operation in this city prior to the building of the system now in use, which water system was de- stroyed, according to the evidence, by the waterworks company during the time of building the present system and also after its completion. In this case a motion for a new trial, made by the defendant, is now pending. I am assured that the hearing will soon be had, an earlier hearing having been prevented by, the ill-health of Hon- C. C. Richards, who is retained in the case and who is now greatly improved. Every effort should be made to have this important case settled. I am confident it is the wish of a great majority of the taxpayers that Ogden City shall own its own water works. Personally, I am satisfied that we can operate a waterworks system as economically as it is operated un- der the present management, thus saving .to the taxpay- 15 ers of Ogden City, either in direct revenue or by cheaper rates, from f 12,000 to |15,000 per annum. A few years of such saving would soon settle the difficulty of raising revenue for our floating indebtedness. I recommend that every effort be made to attain the object for which the City has set out in this case, namely, the complete own- ership of the water works system. Dr. M. N. Graves obtained a judgment against the city for $299 and f 13.45 costs, claimed on account of med- ical services rendered the inmates of the city jail. At the time this service was performed the ordinances of the city did not require the physician of the city to perform such services as part of his official duties, so the lower court decided. Since then the ordinance has been amend- ed so as to include such service in the duties of the City Physician. Notice of intention to move for a new trial has been made by the city. The following cases are now pending in court: Henry T. Snyder vs. H. S. Emerson. W. D. Silvey vs. John A. Boyle, Mayor, et al. Fred Meissner vs. John A. Boyle, Mayor, et al. I). (). Sullivan vs. John A. Boyle, Mayor, et al. These suits are pending for salaries, the plaintiffs claiming that Ogden City had no right to discharge them. Another case is that of E. T. Hulaniski vs. Ogden City, which is also a suit for salary, the Judge claiming that the Council had no right to reduce his salary from $83.33 per month to $60. This case is still pending. In the case of Ogden City vs. G. F. Boreman, suit was brought to compel the defendant to pay a license for the privilege of practicing the profession of law. In the Justice's Court a judgment was obtained against the de- fendant, who appealed to the District Court, where it will be heard in February of this year. Other minor cases are also pending. POLICE DEPARTMENT. The Police Department has made an excellent show- ing considering the small number of patrolmen on the force, and it is deserving of special praise for its services. The force at present consists of one chief, one detective, three patrolmen and three specials, besides two jailors. There have been collected in fines and forfeitures, |4,514.75. in cash, $3,757.30 of which has been paid to the treasury, leaving a balance of $757.45 as yet unaccounted for; also 2,717 days' work, representing that many dol- lars, making a total receipt of $7,231.75. The total ex- penditures of running the department has been $11,- 959.19, as per the Auditor's report, leaving a net cost for the year of only $4,728.44, a most excellent showing, as the net cost for 1897 was $6,000, a showing far below any year since 1892. There were 930 arrests, 363 of which were convicted and 188 suspended; there were nine par- dons granted during the year sixteen children lost and found. Being of great importance to the city, I trust that the Police Department, as in the past, will receive your full and hearty support, thus insuring good service and protection to the citizens from obnoxious characters who may stray in this direction. FIRE DEPARTMENT. The Fire Department has made a splendid record during the past year, one of which the citizens may well be proud. According to Chief Orson Riser's report there 17 have been seventy-four alarms, all of which were prompt- ly responded to. This is twenty-three more than w r ere given in 1897, and more miles were traveled in reaching these fires than in any one previous year since the present fire department system was organized. Notwithstanding the large number of fires the value of property destroyed was only fll,503.65. Out of this amount $8,402.96 was paid in insurance and the amount of losses uninsured was |3,100.69, a very remarkable showing when it is con- sidered that the total amount of insurance involved was $236,332. With such facilities for fighting fire, our rates of insurance should be as low as those of any city in the United States, and if we can maintain this record during the present year, the rates in Ogden should be reduced. The department force consists of one chief, assistant chief, captain, electrician and seven men, making a total of eleven, besides two substitutes and one watch boy. The cost of maintaining the department in 1898, including all repairs and permanent improvements, feed for horses, etc., w r as $12,172.71, out of which amount $678 was car- ried over from last year, .so that our net expenses were only $11,494.71. In 1897 the expenses were $12,838.52, to which should be added $678, making the total expense for 1897 $13,516.52, showing a saving of $2,021.81 for 1898 as above 1897. Chief Eiser makes some recommenda- tions, to the Council which I consider very important and which should receive your careful consideration. As far as I know there is perfect harmony in tlje department, the men are very enthusiastic and determined, if possible, to make a better record this year than in the one just past. 18 CITY ENGINEER'S DEPARTMENT. The Auditor's report shows a total expense in the department for the year of $1,190.62, as against $3,227.75 in 1897. The most important work in this department has been the laying of 1,150 feet of 8-inch sewer conecting the City Hospital with the sewer on Twenty-seventh street, at a total cost of $734.19; also the repairing of the Twenty-fifth street paving at a cost to Wilkerson Hob- son, the contractors, of $1,341.82; sixty permits for build- ing, plumbing and sewers have been issued. The cost of maintaining sewers for the year has been $167.10. The city now owns 15.12 miles of sewers of all kinds, there being in the system 122 manholes, thirty-three of which are dead ends. The records in the engineer's office are in very bad shape. I think steps should be taken to have this office put in order, the notes of survey, permits and other docu- ments to be properly recorded and indexed so as to be readily found and thus be of use to officials and citizens who may desire information. The shape in which the records are now found renders them practically useless. I call especial attention to one showing made by the en- gineer, regarding the cost of 8-inch sewer. It appears from the records that the cost of laying such sewers un- der the original contracts in Ogden City was on an aver- age of $1.90 per foot, while the cost of the 8-inch sewer connecting with the City Hospital and laid by the city was a fractiofa less than 74 cents per foot. This would serve as an indication that the city, under its own offi- cers, can perform its public works far cheaper than by 19 contracts, and speaks highly in praise of the work of our present engineer. STREET DEPARTMENT. Considering the financial condition of the city and the necessity for strict economy, the work upon the streets for the year has been as extended as it was possi- ble to make it. Undoubtedly there are many improve- ment that should be made that cannot be made owing to the limited means in our hands and our desire not to burden the taxpayers. In one thing the city has been fortunate; no serious law suits have been begun for dam- ages, showing that the officers of the city, under the watch care of the Council, have carefully guarded the dangerous places where accidents might occur. This same vigilance should be extended in the future and every means taken to guard against accidents that may result in damage suits to the city. A large quantity of broken limestone is now on hand in the stockade which would make excellent roads in case the Council might see its way clear to use this mate- rial on some street of the city. I think an expenditure in this direction would receive the hearty support of the taxpayers, and I recommend that the rock be placed upon some street at the very first opportunity at the opening of spring. The city has fifty-two miles of streets, of which thirty-six miles are improved. During the past year two miles of streets in various parts of the city w r ere graded and graveled. This w r ork, with the regular outlay of the department, involved an expenditure of $9,648.44, as per 20 Auditor's report. In 1897 the expenses of the department were $14,449.44, showing a reduction of $4,801. Of the amount expended $516 was divided as follows: For rock crusher, $250; wagon and plow, $76; expense of stockade, $190. In addition to the above expenditures the follow- ing amounts were collected in poll taxes, and the labor tax expended on the streets: 118 taxes collected in cash, at $3.00 $ 354.00 1433 taxes collected in labor, 'at $3.00 4,293.00 Total $4,653.00 Fifteen miles of streets was the daily average sprink- led during the season of 1898. This sprinkling was dis- tributed in various parts of the city, the cost being $3,498.80, as against $4,488.85 in 1897. Owing to many obstacles, the streets did not receive the desired amount of sprinkling during the year. 1 believe that efficient street sprinkling is conducive to good health, and I rec- ommend that immediate steps be taken to place all our service in good shape before the sprinkling season ar- rives, so that we will be prepared to do better work dur- ing the season of 1899. The interests of the city demand it. It requires a great quantity of water to keep the streets in proper condition during the summer, and last year, owing to litigation with the water company we were not permitted to erect additional standpipes, which would have been a great benefit to us, since in certain dis- tricts the distance between standpipes is so great that much time is consumed in traveling with empty wagons, I trust this difficulty may be overcome in the near future so that the service may be improved without additional cost to the city. 21 CITY PHYSICIAN. Owing to the absence of Dr. A. S. Condon, who en- listed to serve the country when war was declared with Spain, we have a report of his oiffice from Dr. Dickson only since June 1, 1898. The doctor says that there have been fewer cases of typhoid fever during the past year than for many years previous, and no cases at all of diphtheria. There has been no epidemic of scarlet fever and what few cases did appear were carefully quaran- tined and fortunately did not get beyond the home and in some cases attacked only one in the family. To the careful inspection of all suspicious places by the sanitary inspector is due the excellent sanitary condition of the city during the past year. The doctor has treated fifty- six patients from June to December 31st and has made 131 calls, and has always been prompt in responding to cases which needed his care and attention. SANITAKY. During the year there were in all 213 deaths, 115 males, 98 females and 350 births 184 males, 166 females. There were 32 cases of scarlet fever reported, out of which number six died; 78 cases of measles, out of which two died; and three deaths of typhoid. In addition to the above, the report of the sanitary inspector shows in de- tail the amount of matter consumed at the crematory for the year; also that there have been twenty-two sewer connections during the year, which has improved the 22 sanitary conditions very much, they being made in dis- tricts noted for their lack of proper sanitation. I do not Avish to be unduly harsh, but I believe in all cases where houses are located in the sewer districts, sewer connections should be compelled as a safeguard to the health of the city. I agree with the city physician that we are indebted in no small degree for the good health enjoyed by the community to the untiring efforts of our sanitary inspector, who is strict in his orders, compelling quarantine in cases of contagion, and complete and thor- ough in cleansing of infected premises, enforcing the strict letter and spirit of the law, all of which is in har- mony with my idea of a sanitary inspector. We may con- gratulate ourselves upon the fact that Ogden is among the healthiest cities of the United States. PUBLIC LIBRARY. Our public library, which has now more than 2,000 volumes on its shelves, has been well patronized during the past year, and the number both of books and patrons is increasing each year. Great as is the benefit of this institution to the public, its usefulness is materially cur- tailed for two reasons: First, the la,ck of necessary means; secondly, the inability of the city to lend efficient aid while the institution remains but a semi-public affair. In reality being a private enterprise. If it were entirely a public institution, I Imve no doubt that your honorable body could devise means by which its full use- fulness could be made apparent, At present the reading room is open only a part of the day and it is .necessary to 23 charge a membership fee, by which many are deprived of ks use. It should be entirely free, open at all reasona- ble hours to rich and poor alike who may be studiously inclined. Thus the library may become a great factor in the education of our people. ELECTRIC LIGHTS. During the year 1897 the city paid for its street lighting $7,825.20. A new contract with lower rates has been secured, so that last year this amount was reduced to $6,198.83, a saving to the city of $1,626.37. Also, through the labors of the officers of the city a 25 per cent reduction of rates to private consumers of light was se- cured in June of last year, by which, since that time, an average saving of a thousand dollars per month has been obtained for such private consumers. This means an ag- gregate of $12,000 per year less than was charged consum- ers in 1897, and should be taken into account by the tax- payers in reviewing the conduct of affairs in the city by its public officers. In addition to this, we now have our public parks and all public buildings lighted free of chare. CONCLUSION. I herewith submit to your honorable body the various reports made by the heads of departments, from which I 'have culled the information herein contained, excepting the report of the City Attorney, which has not yet been filed, and the reports of the chiefs of police and fire departments, which have already been submitted to your honorable body. In conclusion I wish to thank you all for your pa- tience and courtesy and take pleasure in assuring you that I am at your command in rendering any assistance or giving any information in my possession which might aid you in your labors. Very respectfully, JOHN A. BOYLE, Mayor of Ogden City. Ogden, Utah, January 9, 1899.