The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-05


the ferry boats are laid up for repairs, and residents
In the suburbs are subj cted to vexatous delays in
making their transits.
The Mayors Annual Messagc-Condition Of
the City.
The regular annual message Of the Mayor,
giving statement of the present condition of
the city government, was received last even
ing in the Common Council The document
which will be found on another page of this
mornings HERALD-is, we believe, longer than
any other official paper Of the kind yet pub
lished, and presents q greater variety OF sub.
jects for the consideration of both branches Of
our municipal government In the message OF
the It'll of January, which was intended as in
troductory to this, and which attracted so
much attention on account Of it's somewhat
novel character, the Mayor confined himself to
two questions and the form of 60
vernment-and particularly to the urgent ne
ceesity that existed for change in the latter,
in view Of the enormously increased expendi-
lures for its support. That message was as
remarkable for dealing with theory and
general principles, as the one now before us is
for the important facts and statements which
it contains, and the practical suggestions il
presents After giving = review of the condi
ton of our city finances, it enters at conside.
rable length into consideration of the fol-
lowing subjects:-The military defences of
New York; the construction Of stone docks
and piers; the Introduction Of foreign paupers
and convicts; the sanitary condition Of the
city; improvements on our island; the police
department; the expenses of street opening;
the abolition Of the present market system,
and the sale Of the property required for mar
ket purposes; the defective manner in which
the collection of taxes is performed; the ne
cessity of more stringent regulations to pre-
vent the constantly increasing waste of Croton
water; the public expenses of private litiga-
ton; the Central Park; the new City Hall and
Brick Church property.
The Importance Of all these subjects will
we trust, receive that attentive aud careful
consideration from the Common Council to
which they are justly entitled. The Mayor
may issue message after message upon the
most vital questions connected with our city
that body to carry them into practical opera
ton. In his former communications as he re-
marks, he pointed out numerous abuses and
subjects that required legislation, but they
were all not only passed by without discussion
and action, but without the slightest notice or
consideration. Among the most important of
these subjects, and one to which he again calls
their attention, is the aspect of the public
finances, which are now in q worse condition
than they ever were although we have re-
former at the head of the department. The
same haste, as the Mayor says, to get rid of
every dollar appropriated, and, if possible, TO
increase the expenses, has been apparent in
every bureau, with but two or three creditable
exceptions. This reckless expenditure, he in
fosns1s, he has not the power to prevent; and
upon making the shameful and illegal waste OF
money in one of the departments subject Of
complaint, he was abused for his interference
with its business and sovereign prerogative-.
During the last ten years the expenses Of our
city government have increased from two mil
lions of dollars to over six millions and half;
and in the year 1855 alone, the increase under
the reformers amounted to one million. For
educational purposes in this city alone, the
expense is estimated at s1023, 1884, in addition
to which we have to pay s27l 900 as our por-
ton of the school tax of the whole State, which
amounts to $500, 900. But this is not all, for
by the act of the last session of the Legisla-
ture, requiring an assessment of mill and
he o1r 90 10
for the present year, we will have to pay $685.
TAT, making total of Sss0,3S7 which the
people OF New York have to pay for the bene-
fit Of the citizens Of other counties. Then the
Governors Of the Almshouse have applied for
largely increased appropriations, and nearly
all the other departments have made similar
demand. This is a pleasant prospect for tax
payers!
The total amount of the permanent city debt
on the 1st of January, 1856, was $4,000, $50,
towards the payment Of which our credit &C
count shows an aggregate of 1854, 6s4, in the
form of corporation stock, revenue aud assess
ment bonds, &C., as will be seen from the fol-
lowing statement
Corporation stock held by the Commissioners
Of the Sinking fund, on account of redemp-
ton Of city cebt. 80, III, 3oi
Revenue and assessment bonds. ........... TAP BOO
Additional assets (bonds and mortgages) 9l3 $50
Ia Ance In bark Jan. l. 1885,. 2H, BAT
Total. 81, ssa es4
The funded debt, which is nearly ell re-
deemable from taxation in annual instalments
OF $4,000 amounted at the beginning Of the
year to sl,2o4,Ooo, showing an increase Of
$4,000 over the debt of 1854.
The remarks and suggestions on the state of
our military defences will be read with par
ticular interest at this time, when the question
of war with England forms the subject of dis
cussion in the highest legislative body in the
country. By some the consideration of the
subject may be regarded as outside the limits