Mayor R. S. Copeland's Farewell Message

MAYOR R. S. COPELAND'S FAREWELL MESSAGE

   Mayor Copeland read his farewell message to the council April 9. It will be seen that it fully sustains the Argus contentions that the present tax-rate was wiping out the overdrafts without any bonds. The mayor stands by his guns on grade separation and the people are with him on that. His remarks on the parks will be read with interest and contain some valuable information. The message was read to the council last Thursday night and is as follows:

   Mayor's Office, April 9, 1903. To the Honorable the Common Council:

   Gentlemen:  We are about to dissolve those political bonds which for two years have held us in such close and such pleasant relation. With the exception of four places in your honorable body the elective city offices are filled exactly as they were two years ago. During that time we have been called upon but once to mourn the death of a colleague. In the translation of Alderman Burg we lost a true friend and a wise counsellor. Many have been the viccissitudes of these years, but always the memory of the friendships formed will be as sweet incense.

    It is fitting that in a brief review we call to mind some of your achievements during this period. The community can not yet judge how well you have builded. I am here to say, however, that future generations will know that this Council existed and will point with pride to the monuments erected by your order. The City of Ann Arbor will be fortunate indeed if your successors do as well.

FINANCIAL. The present administration came into power on the eighth of April, 1901. On that date the city's account at the bank, with the March bills paid, was overdrawn $31,601.36. Today, were every bill paid, our overdraft, $13,392.11, would be $18,209.25 less than on the same date two years ago. This great reduction has been made in spite of the flood which wiped out so much city property and put us to an undreamed of expense of twelve or fourteen thousand dollars. Had that flood not occurred and the same economy been exercised we would not now owe a dollar.

   It is hardly fair, however, to leave that statement unqualified. As a matter of fact, had the flood not occurred, the energies of the street commissioner would have been directed toward remedying the wretched streets of our city. Of necessity the municipal money and labor were expended in repairing flood damages at the expense of the residence streets. Probably half of the money spent along Allen's Creek would have been spent elsewhere, so we cannot fairly and honestly say we would owe nothing today had the flood not occurred. I feel safe in saying, however, that our overdraft would have been reduced nearly or quite twenty-five thousand dollars had the flood not occurred and in spite of it the reduction is over eighteen thousand.

   Permit me to say that not so great economy has been shown by any other council for twenty years.

THE WATER RATES.

One of the hardest problems presented to the Common Council was the question of water rates. With this the special committee and the aldermen struggled for months. Finally there was passed and the Water Company forced to accept an ordinance regulating the rates to be charged.

   Unfortunately, the owners of twenty-five or thirty large houses were obliged to pay more for water under a strict interpretation of this ordinance than under the original franchise, but, I am glad to say, one thousand live hundred and twenty seven families in Ann Arbor were directly benefitted by a material reduction in the water tax. More than this, the principle was established that the Common Council has the power to regulate the rates to be charged.

LABOR UPON THE STREETS.

   This Common Council has been the friend of the laboring man. It was my pleasure in my first message to recommend the union schedule and it was the pleasure of your honorable body to adopt it. The city officials have no occasion to regret this action and the laboring class and our citizens generally have indicated their approval.

SIDEWALKS.

The visitor to our beautiful city who comes after a long absence is at once impressed by the marked improvement in our sidewalks and crosswalks. During the past two years there have been laid over ten miles of cement and tar walks.

PAVEMENTS.

Ann street and State street, both veritable mud-holes, have been transformed into substantial and elegant avenues, made so by modern paving. Liberty street will soon assume the same metropolitan air.

THE NEW PARKS.

Through the generosity of the University, the Michigan Central railroad and an unnamed donor, our city will soon take pride in two beautiful parks. The Riverside park will serve a double purpose. By removing the unsightly and ill-smelling dump heap of tin cans and dead cats, the traveling public will form a better opinion of our city. More than this, the Fifth ward, with Street car service and a more attractive entrance, will become, as its natural beauty deserves, one of our attractive residence districts. With a foot-bridge across the tracks at the foot of State street, a walk through a park, well kept without municipal expense, our Lower Town citizens will find their neighbors multiplying.

The "Cat-Hole," under the kindly ministration of Supt. Reeve, will become a beauty spot instead of a blemish. I am told that extensive and expensive plans have already been made to adorn this public common and make it one of the most attractive botanical gardens in the world. A ten thousand dollar palm house is one of the contemplated additions.

  It is hoped that speedy action of the court will permit the beginning of these improvements at a very early date.

GRADE SEPARATION.

  To my mind the greatest achievement of your honorable body is the consummation of the grade separation project. To save the public money is desirable, improvements for the public comfort are commendable, breathing spaces for the masses are luxurious, but here is an all enduring monument to your good sense and far-seeing wisdom. Everything else sinks into insignificance when human life can be saved. Every mother and every father whose children cross those tracks and every individual having business beyond them will for all time praise you for this act. I congratulate you upon the passage of the ordinance and beg you to persevere in the good work. Our citizens are with you and commend the stand you have taken.

CONCLUSION.

  These are the important of many measures enacted during the past two years. I wish there were time to detail the work of the police department, the fire department and the board of health. Excellent service has been rendered. I desire to thank them for the help they have given me. To every city official I feel under great obligation. Especially to Mr. Sawyer, who reluctantly sacrificed time from his busy career out of personal friendship, do I owe a debt of gratitude.  When the dean of our bar, with the paltry sum paid for the service, gives his time and energy to the duties of the city attorneyship every citizen should applaud and respect him. His every act has been disinterested and, during an administration of unusual trials, he has faithfully, conscientiously and nobly served the city.    For myself, I unwillingly took up the duties of my office and now most gladly surrender them to one who will honor the position. On Monday I shall return to the undisturbed practice of a profession which I frankly say I love more than politics and, having served my term of public service, I shall never abandon or neglect it for any civic honor.

Respectfully,

ROYAL S. COPELAND, Mayor