The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-05-13
The Late CITY Governmen Z.

We give in another column the final report
of the late Board of Trustees showing the re-
ceipts into the Treasury, and the expenses ofthe
city government, for the year that they had
charge of its affairs. Although the city charter
does not require any report at this time. they
deemed it proper that one should be made and
placed upon the records for future reference.
II will be seen that the total receipts into the
Treasury for the year has been 1894 38, while
the expenditures during the same period have
been Sl2.243 26. being an excess over the re-
ceipts of $3.24S SO. exclusive of the Treasurer's
commission. which has not been included in the
report, as the Treasurer elect has been absent
and not yet qualified. The Treasurer's COM
mission will amount to about $3.50. leaving
about three thousand five hundred dollars as
the total amount of city scrip now outstanding.
This debt can be iquidated in the course Of
the next fiscal year without resorting to oppres-
sve taxation. There is still something due up
on the property tax, and the amount which will
be collected from licenses and fines will rather
exceed than fall short Of the amount collected
last year.
The late Board of Trustees have had many
difficulties to contend with in administering the
affairs Of the city In entering upon the dis
charge Of the duties of their Office it was their
firm determination that the expenses of the city
should bc pa in cash. and that no bit should
BIZ left for their SUCCESSORS. But in consequence
of the several calamities which befel the city,
this determination could not be carried out
without seriously endangering the future pros
pccts of the place. The bridge at the foot of
Main street and the one over Little Deer creek
were destroyed by the fire Of last July, and the
Broad and Pine street bridges were 80 much
damaged as to render it dangerous for teams to
pass over them. II was necessary for the pros
perity Of the town that these bridges should he
repaired and rebuilt Attempts were at first
made by the property holders more immediate
ly interested to do the work by subscription,
but this plan was found impracticable and con-
tracts were therefore let out by the Board Of
Trustees. who were compelled to issue scrip in
payment. Three Of these bridges were again
swept of last winter by the breaking Of Laird's
reservoir, and the other considerably damaged
and for few days after this accident there was
no means by which teams could got in or out of
town. In going or coming from below. As coon
as practicable this damage was repaired The
amount expended on bridges alone by the cor
poratlon has somewhat exceeded five thousand
dollars; and If we add TO this the sum expend-
cd in grading the streets and building the city
prison, it will be seen that one.half of the ex-
penditures for the past year have been of an
extraordinary character, the necessity for which
1t is to be hoped will not again occur
Besides the amount expended by the city for
the rebuilding of bridges, II is proper TO add
that the county Supervisors have appropriated
twelve hundred dollars out of the county road
fund TO assist In their construction. The mon
ey was given in charge to the Board of Trustees.
and by them strictly applied to the objects for
which 1t was appropriated.
A small. but efficient, police force has been
kept mp during the year, with the view princi
pally of guarding the city against accidents by
fire in the night, and the attempts Of ncendia-
ries. For o few months four men were under
pay in this department, when the number was
reduced to three. Particular care has been Ia
ken to select proper men for policemen, and as
general thing it is believed they have faith
fully discharged their duties.
There are those who have been disposed to
cavil and find fault with the members of the late
Board, and their motives have to some extent
been impugned by political opponents A tenn
porary excitement was raised last winter, and
an attempt made to get the charter repealed.
For the purpose of getting signatures to a petit
ton for this purpose, a ridiculous rumor was
put in circulation, that the Trustees were voting
themselves money and drawing pay for their
services and many actually believed this re-
port to be true. In letting out contracts for
work. the Trustees may possibly in some cases
have given more than they could have got the
work done for; but their acts on the whole will
bear the closest scrutiny, and we believe every
unprejnd ced person will now FAY that they
have managed the affairs of the city with as
much prudence and economy as a man would
ordinarily use in the management of his own
private affairs. More than this could not be ex.
pected.
The COMET. which Is to knock our little plan
ct into nonentity on the 18th proximo, has be-