002_March 1851

MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CORPORATION OF NACOGDOCHES.

Gentlemen:

The good citizens of Nacogdoches hav been pleased to elect you Aldermen and Conservators, of its Corporation for the ensuing year and altho its popula-
tion is small and orderly, yet it is necessary, that good and wholesome munici-
pal regulations be enacted for the proper administration of its affairs and the well being of its society. Such enactments should be few and simple
and adapted to its condition and being wisely framed, should be firmly enforced----
To which end I would recommend a revision of all past Ordinances of this Cor-
poration and the adoption of such only as are really required and all will tend to
its good government and that the same will be printed in pamphlet form for the use
and information of its Citizens.

I would also recomned the adoption of a Code of by-laws, for the govern-
ment of the present board, whereby the punctual attendance of its members will
be secured.

The financial affaitrs of the Corporation will claim your immediate atten-
tion. It would be well to have and Exhibit of its Availibilities and Liabilities
prepared and placed before you. Its financial matters should be conducted with
prudence and strict and rigid accountability maintained in relation thereto
and a yearly statement of its fiscal affairs submitted tot he pbulic. It is due to our fellow citizens, to relate them acquainted, with how, or in what manner
the Taxes collected from them, are applied or expanded.

Nacogdoches, one of the oldest towns in Texas is, I regret to state, far
behind many other towns of more recent creation, in population, improvement and
enterprise. Originally built up in the Spanish fashion, its streets, are irre-
gularly laid out and its whole plain is unseemly, and inconvinient, and which has contributed in a great degree to retard its progress.

It should be our duty to correct its irregularities whenever opportunity
offers by abating obstacles to improvement, widening the streets, making strait
our paths, and wresting from a condition of vandalism one of most fovored
sites ever formed by Nature for an inland town by Americanizing it!

The streets of out town, the principal avenues leading thereto from the
surrounding country, the condition of our Bridges, and the drainage of swamp
land, within its limits requires, and will I trust call promp action.

I would call your attention to to the propriety of appointing a Corporation
Survery or, to whom it should be intrusted, the surverying of all Lots, or Blocks
of land within the limits of the Corporation, and the surverying of all disputed
or conflicting claims within said limits and all other matters, pertaining to
the duties of that office.

Sometime, during the past year, the Corporation of Nacogdoches, moved
by wise considerations abated, and set apart, a tract of land on the North side
of the town, and within its limits for educational purposes and a public square