American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-01-21

the tax; the stockholder living beyond tn,
limits OF taxation, en- Joys the benefit of his d.
'idends without deduction, and pays not a cent
towards the debt for which his property is liable
as ours. The stock OF bank is as much city
property as house or vacant lot, or any Other
taxable, yet surely he would have to paw the
tax assessed OH his house or lot eau, there
fore, perceive no reason why he should escape
because he lives beyond the limits of the city
The Appeal Tax Court report, herewith
shows the assessed value of property in the city
| liable to taxes for city purposes for the veal
lS45 to he $59,377 ,397. After attachments
that may be made during the year, the lew
might he safely put down at S57, $1,000
by reference to the report of the Committee
of Finance 1t will be seen that IA 900 of the
Court House stock has been purchased out Of
the sinking fund applicable to that purpose
Tho Commissioners also recommend that DO.
vision be made to take up the six per cent.
stock, rcdecmable at pleasure.
! By RESOLUTION No. sd, of last session of the
Council the Mayor was authorized to receive
deed from Messrs. Robert Howard John
Boggs, Alex. l.. Boggs and Thomas Humes,
OF piece of ground, laid off by them for a
! public square on the centre of Paramount
The deed has been made and accepted, agree
ably to the resolution. Since then the proper
ty holders have called on the city to grade and
pave her part of said property; and, as | I'M
derStand from the City Commissioners that the
expense would be large, | would particularly
invite the attention of the Council to this sub
ject
am pleased TO find, by the report of the
ileallh Department, that the city has enjoyed
her full proportion of health. For more de-
tailed statement | respectfully refer you to
their report. The present mode of cleaning
the streets by contract think objectionable
Much complaint has been made of the dirty
condition Of the lanes and alleys; whether it
arises from the mode of contracting or contrac-
tors, | cannot determine, as the contractors
| contend that they are only bound to remove
particular kind of dirt. Ii this mode is to be
continued, the contractor should be obliged to
| remove all dirt Of any and every description
that OF building materials excepted.
From the report Of the "1rustees for the
Poor" herewith submitted, you will be pleased
to perceive the furnishing condition Of the IN
stitnton under their direction. Allow me,
however, to call your attention to the too fire.
quent emigration of paupers for the past years
from other counties and cities, to take up their
winter quarters in our Aims House. am sure
money would be saved to the city were an APP
preparation made to send them back to their
last proper place Of settlement This being
known, might prevent their coming.
am gratfed in being able to say, that the
efficiency OF the Fire Department continues as
heretofore, aud here must beg most respectful
ly to recommend the adoption of my predeces-
sor's suggestion, viz: THAT a general central
Alarm Bell be erected, to which all the other
alarm bells shall be subordinate-ths bell to
be attended by watchman day and night"
There is very important matter to which
| would most respectfully and earnestly call
your attention. 1t is the fertilization and de-
fence of our beloved city. While the general
government is spending large amounts in the
construction OF forts for the defence of our
nelghborlng cities, we, from some unaccounta-
BILE cause, have been neglected. | am inclined
to think 1T has proceeded more from want of
attention on our own part to this matter than
any intentional neglect on the part OF the gen.
eral government. Upon reference to the pub
lie documents, you will see that the Chief En-
gneer of the United States Army, in lS43, in
his report upon Military Defences, says, in
speaking OF the works recommended to be erect
ed ON Sellers Point Flats: "With Fort McHen-
ny as the only defensive work between Balt-
more and the Chesapeake bay, that city is
'oholly ,oithout offences against an attack by
land; such, tor instance, as was undertaken by
the English during the last war, and is at the
same time not adequately protected from an
attack by the river. The first step to he taken
IN the creation of better system of defence for
this harbor, is the erection of Il strong case
mated battery on the outer extremity of Sol
lers' Point Flats"
Again, allow me to call your attention to
the report of the Secretary of War, Nov. 10,
1914, made to the present Congress, in which
he says, "Whilst Fort McHenry, "a work off
inferior force) is available to resist particular
kind OF hostile attack upon Baltimore, it forms
the only defence by fertilization to that inpor-
tant city. The true defence and safety of Bal
tlmore will, it is believed, be found in the erec-
ton OF permanent works on Sellers Point
Flats, about ten miles below the city. Let
the proposed fort upon these flats be completed
and the Inhabitants Of that city will no longer
have occasion to apprehend second battle Of
North Pont." You will also find that Col
onel Totten, Chief Engineer of the United
States Army, in his report, says: 81 must again
invoke the aid Of the War Department in pro-
curing the authority for, and the means of
commencing this work, so indispensable to the
security Of The city Of Baltimore" He also urges
that no time should be lost in beginning the
Fort Oh Sellers Point Flats, because it must
necessarily be two or three years before aay aid
can be derived from 1t. | hope the Council
WILL at an early day, take such action as to press
this matter upon the attention of Congress-
The means Of protection of the city should be
looked to before it is wanted.
All of which is most
Respectfully submetted.
JACOB G. DAVIES, Mayor.