Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-20
CITY AFFAIRS.
CITY COUNCIL,


ing under consideration,
Resolued, That the Commissioners ofStreets recon-
mend the City Council to order the works specified in
the foregoing report to be executed and that the sum
of S35 ,795 be appropriated to pay the cost thereof
Mr.; Robinson offered the following a substitute
therefor:
The Commissioners OF Streets, by report adopted
at a meeting held by them the 18th Of May, 1850,
and presented to the Council the 18th of the month";
recommend to the Council to order the execution Of
certain wGrks wheh W cost @ to- aa
Ward SO sol; for those in Madison Ward So 1861 and
for those in Monroe Ward $lS,031-making grand
total Of $35,795; and they recommend that that sum
be appropriated to pay the cost of those works
1t has pleased members OF the body from which this
report comes, to oppose motion lay it the table,
and notwithstanding the rules OF the Council declare
that resolution appoprlatng money shall be passed
on the day on which is introduced has been attempts
ed, in opposition to the wish OF portion OF the Coun-
Gill; effect, by of suspension OF the rules, the
passage through the Council the very evening OF its
introduction, OF the resolution appropratng this large
sum OF money. But the motion for such suspension,
though voted for by majority of this body was not
sustained by wothirds OF the members present; and
three days have since elapsed
The Council has now to determine whether it will
grant the money the appropriation OF which is recon-
mended by the Commissioners Before granting 1t,
reasonable to inquire whether the money can be
had, during the present year, from the income OF the
city.
In making this enquiry some attention must be given
to the permanent debt OF the city. This debt dncluding
Vi
amounted, according to the Chamberlan's statement,
the LIST Of March, 1885, to 1926 7s4 g. 1t appears
that while during the past year $le6O4 OF permanent
debt paid off, temporary bank debt
ted in lieu thereof; that the temporary bank debt
amounted, the lst day of March, $780, to $4,000;
and that according to the Chamberlains estimate, at
ter applying the income to meet the disbursements Tor
the year commencing on that day, there will be pro-
bable deficiency at the end OF the year OF a.
which exceeds the permanent debt paid off, by &c.,
eS7 a. There will be such deficiency without anything
lit, thor
present year, to diminish tho permanent debt This
of things exists although the tax on real property
has been from time to time raised on every hundred dol
lars value, to wit in 1880, to 40 cents in 1887, to IS
cents in 1888, to so cents and in ls42, to IS cents
1t exists although the receipts for the present year are
estimated at $47O50, and, adding thereto $7735 06,
the cash hand, when the year commenced, the
which it is in the power of the city to dsburse
for the year without borrowing money! IS $l54,7S5
06 cents
This is large income Built exhausted without in
any wise diminishing the debt 1t sexhausted in paying
ISL 900 for the years interest on the debt and meeting
other charges.
has been suggested that after paying the interest and
the current annual expenses other than tor improve
ments there yearly surplus, which, it not applied to
diminish the debt, be applied to pay for improve
ments That is true, with, however this qualification,
that the whole Of that surplus for the year commencing
the first day OF March, 1850 will, according to the
Chamberans estimate, be required to pay tor improve.
ments already ordered Thus appears that there will
have to be paid during the present year
even IL uO WOIh
be done beyond what the Council has already
ordered. ..................:S2s3l 7
For the Water Works, for new pumps, water
To complete improvement of the Poor House. 1900
For enlargement of the Burying Ground on
Shockoe Hill superintendent andrepairs. 3lO0
For repairs to Seabrooks Warehouse. 1000
And for Cuverts. Observation-Disclosures. 800
s57577
1t is by paying out of the years income this sum in
addition $5l 900 for interest, and in addition to other
sums for current annual expenses that there to be at
the end OF the year the deficiency before mentioned
And in the yearn which there is this deficiency that
the Commissioners of Streets recommend approprla
ton Of 1885, the effect of which must be to make the
deficiency the end Of the year that much more, at
least much OF it as may be required.
Seeing that part OF the income OF the city for the
present year be applied towards the payment Of the
asked to be appropriated the question then is, shall
the appropriation be made notwithstanding.
When we look back at the reports OF the committee
Of Finance for 10 years past there enough in them to
admonish to caution on this subject Is there within
that time any dminution ofthe city debt? None what
ever 1t is increased by what has been paid on account
of the subscription of 100000 to the Richmond and
works; and independently of those causes, there is
dminution. For if from 9S26,7S4 81 the amount of
the certificates for permanent debt the ls of March,
1885, there be deducted 060 for certificates issued
account of the gas works. and 500 900 for certificates
issued account OF the Richmond and Danville rail-
road company, there would still remain tor other per
manent debt, the first OF March, 1880 1921 74 81
and if has been suggested the $lS604 of permanent
debt which was paid off last year by temporary bank
debt be renstated discharge the bank debt the
amount would then be $74032S g.; whereas on the
to $737 CTS SO. On the LIST of March, in each Of the
six succeeding years there had been regular reduc-
ton to wit: in 1912, to 1871 IFS 49, in le43, to S726,
S75 So in 1885, to $699 SIS 50 and in ls47 $685.,
SIS SO. Yet while this reduction OF the permanent
debt was going on the temporary debt increased and in
providing for that and the increased amount oimprove
ments the permanent debt again increased TWAS,
on the first of March, lS49 $7357S4 67; the LIST of
March, 1s4e, exclusive OF payment on stock in the
Richmond and Danville company $734,32S 81;
and on the first of March, 1850, the before men
toned.
While the debt has been in this state it is but just
say that the value of the corporate property has been
increased by extending the water works. by the purchase
of lot on 9th street, and building it Lafayette Hail.
by the enlargement of the city Poor House, and per-
haps in other ways. In the same time much also has
been expended upon cuverts and In improving the
streets.
Itmay be desirable to have such Improvements. Yet
no reasonable man, we suppose, will conrovert that as
general rule the permanent debt OF the city should
not be increased for the purpose OF improving the
Streets And when we look at the nature OF the i'm
provemens which the commissioners recommend, there
are few fany which are entitled to be made exceptions
to this rule. 1t would never do, Tor example, to create
debt for the purpose OF gravellng street,
improvement which must in after years, have to be
repeated from time to time Under such system, the
creQt OF Inc CITY WOulu Soou tdt Clcut WHICH
should be the prde the interest of every citizens,
to have stand as high as possible.
II is however, superfuous to dilae upon the perni
cious consequences which would flow from creating a
permanent debt to effect the improvements which the
Commissioners of Streets recommend. Ii an order
now for the execution OF these improvements can be
justified at all can only be the ground that they
NAV be paid for OF the income of the city for the
next year or the year after.
Such we may concede would probably be the case it
they should be left to be effected by the city hands
ludpnp of the tuturn nv the
the oyerseer and hands cannot during the present year.
do greater amount of work than has been already
dered nor are they likely, without material increase
of The hands to go on faster than the income of the city
will justify.
of the Commissioners OF Streets be adopted it is their
purpose in respect to the work proposed by them.
not to wait until the overseer and hands shalhave done
that already ordered but to make contracts forthwith
for its execution And this is proposed year in which,
owing to the number Of public works going on the price
of labour is high year. too in which for work to 10
done on the streets that is already ordered the of
S09 ar s now appropriated about four times as