History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

306

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

taken for public improvement out of the general fund, or to assess the
property benefited by such public improvement. The city has experienced no great trouble in collecting special assessments. When private
property is taken for public improvement the city acquires the property
by agreement and purchase; the amount has to be paid from the general
fund and the city in such case has no power to assess the property
benefited. It was recommended that the city in such cases have the
power to constitute an assessment district and assess and collect the
whole amount or any portion thereof, on and from the property benefited.
(Sixth) Boards-The city has a board of water commissioners,
hereinbefore referred to; also a board of control of cemeteries, comprising three members with annual terms of office. Its members are
appointed by the common council and serve without compensation.
(Seventh) Fiscal year-The fiscal year begins on the second Wednesday after the first Monday in April.
The eighth section of the report was devoted to recommendations
to the following effect: That the city marshal be elected annually;
that the limit of taxation be fixed at one per cent outside of the amount
to be raised for bridge purposes; that if property owners fail to build
sidewalks the city do the work and assess an additional ten per cent
to the cost thereof; and that the city have the right to issue bonds to
commence the establishment of a sewerage system and create a board
of sewer commissioners for the purpose.
The report was adopted at the council meeting held September Io,
1894, after it had been amended so as to fix the mayor's salary at $200
and that of the aldermen at $ioo per year.
FIRST THREE YEARS OF WATER SERVICE
In March, 1894, Superintendent Monroe reported the following gallons of water pumped and pounds of coal consumed during the three
years the works had been in operation:
Year Gals. Pumped Lbs. Coal Consumed
I891........................107,591,190 940,661
1892........................124,471,380 I,180,464
I893....................... 157,362,070 1,285,948
LIGHTING AND TELEPHONE SERVICE AGAIN
The city, through its common council, made an agreement with the
Pontiac Standard Lighting Company, October 8, I894, for electric lighting for a term of five years from October 25th of that year. The contract called for not less than ninety arc lights for the streets at a rate
of $60 per light per annum.
The Home Telephone Company (by its secretary, J. E. Sawyer)
gave the council notice March I, 1895, that it had commenced the erection of the exchange, and awaited instructions from the city as to the
placing of the telephone poles.
Messrs, Alf. Webb, G. Jacobs and D. J. Hammond, of the board