The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-09-27

OF the proceeds the sales of the ctys interest in th
estate, the commissioners have in hand, in none
and notes, maturing in one, two and three years abou
100000 The whole bequest will be upwards Of 5000 O0O
Five hundred thousand dollars will be held perpetua
endowment for the Institution and the go toward
the erection OF suitable buildings This Institution will
stand upon its own basis and pay its way, withou
tax upon the city.
THE NEW WATER WORKS
1t is evident that with the growing population tn
city of Baltimore, the necessity of provision Iookin
TO an increased supply Of water had become apparent
our whole community. There were many plans in con
temptation of which involved cost entirely beyon
the ability of the city 1t had been bone of contention
for years without even an approach to settlement whe
an ordinance passed looking to the Gunpowder tn
source Of supply This measure failed to receive tn
sanction of Mayor Hollins.
When came into Office found the subject much in
volved and condemnations had been made with view
to the adoption of plan which since found to be
adVisabe' am sure that the ordinance which wa
finally passed by the Council indicated the only feasible
plan for the city The works are now approaching com
peti0n They have been carefully examined by Captain
Meigs, of the most practical and experienced engi
in the service of the Government and
to be satisfactory They have been constructed with the
| strictest eye to economy and durability. The cost
these works will not exceed So 0OO and fairly ant
substantially represent capital very far beyond th
limit. The city of Baltimore be subjected
tax of single dollar when these works shall have
completed in operation is the best and most pro
ductve of all the assets of the city.
The total outlay to this time has been, including
the purchase Of the old water works 81 000 about
$50 900. There is in hand of the last appropria
ton by the Council applicable to the work, about s275,
| 600 in bonds.
and daily increasing
| THE NEW ALMsuoUsE.
On the division of the property held by the city
county conformity in the old Amshouse the city receiv
ed her proportion in bonds and property, what it
thought would justify the immediate erection of another
| building. 1t is evident that no pOsponement would
have been justified in providing shelter the poor
helpless of our city Before proceeding to award the
contracts for the building the Commissioner appointed
supernend the work. adopted, at my instance, the fol-
| lowing resolution
'Resored, That the Comptroller be requested to com
| IN nOft
erty and bonds held by the city the proceeds
the sale and division of the old Almshouse property and
that in any contract which may be entered into by
| Commission for the building of a Almsh shouse the
amount reported to be in the hands of the city be taken
the basis of said contract contracts and under
| cumstaIces shall the same be exceeded
The contract has since been made for much of the
general plan as deemed sufficient for the present
wants of the corporation subject tC such notifications
may keep it within the limits of the assets in the hands
| the city.
In accordance with the request of the Commissioners
property in the hands of the city applicable this
CoMpTRoLLER's OFFICE,
Baltimore, September s, 1860
To the Commissioners for
Building Neu AlmShouSe
GENTLEMEN: In compliance with your request, here
with submit the following statement showing the amour
of assets to the credit of the new Almshousa:
Cash in hand s1574659
Bonds of Baltimore county,. ........... 70 900 90
Lot No 4, assigned to the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore, containing IA acres,2
roods and 50 perches. Valuation of the
Commissioner ..:......... -. 12,575OO
Council of Baltimore, containing 20 acres
Lot S No. 7"qs IS acres locds perc6e: OF 50
Balance to be paid by County Commissioners. 2921sH
Total .....,............. Sl723l0 65 Z
Paid on account of new Almshouse. Ass 30
Due on account of purchase OF farm
IN Donus.'' b,4OO.OO
Total .......... s24,5Ss.4O
Resp ctfully,
SAMUEL MAccUBDIy Comptroller
So that the Amshouse will be likely to involve no ad
ditional tax in its construction.
THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This great improvement will speak its own comment
The saving to taxpayers in the reduction of insur-
already equivalent to double the annual cost of
its maintenance and support The outlay the city in
bringing about this change-ncuding the cost of en-
gnes and equipment, has been about $4,000.
1t is all paid with the exception small balance
which will be found represented in the floating debt
that its effect upon the morals of our youth is
worth all that it has cost the city.
THE CITY PASSENGER RAILWAY AND THE PARKS.
In the endcavor to provide public park it
part of my plan create tax throw any burten
upon the people When the system of passenger rail-
ways about to be introduced proposition was sub
mited by condition of the franchise, that one
fifth of the gross receipts Transportation should 90
towards the purchase and maintenance public park
The prevailing rate of transportation the rail
ways now in operation in all the leading cities of the
board and elsewhere, varies from five to six per
passenger. In New York Boston and Philadelphia, and
it believed in most of the Western cities where these
rates have been established, similar bonus
eXacted compensation for the of the streets and
the returns without discount curtament 60 into the
hands Of the proprieors for their exclusive benefit
Taking then this standard rate of fare established
by experience and existing contracts it thought that
the city of Baltimore would place herself in
able position If she succeeded in securing reservation,
after placing the citizens upon equal f0oting
communities of one fifth of the receipts for the pur
chase and maintenance of public park. If, as is
tended the bonus thus reserved be upon people
who use the roads, it back again into hands of
the people Ihe same argument would apply to other
communities where like tax is borne without resulting
benefit OF any sort, beyond the use of the road
This fifth in fact represents the advantage which
the city of Baltimore has gained her sister cities in
the contract for the occupation of her streets by system
ofpassenger railways.
The attempt to show that the mechanic andI laborng
man are the parties upon whom this tax is most op-
pressive is that the laborinr class
do not habualy ride in the passenger railways-on
the contrary, the tax is borne by the more aluent
whose attention never would be directed to the differ
ence between four and five cent fare, in view the
great improvement and reduced COST the old sys-
TEN Of transportation which these railways have superse
ded. 1t is, therefore, tax, ift be tax at all which
the more opuent of our citizens cheerully and willingly
submit to- for the benefit of those whose
limited, and for the purpose Of building up great i'm,
provement which they expect to enjoy in with
them Besides the view here presented may be argued
that very large contribution is made by persons living
beyond the limits of direct taxation bear no part in
the burdens of our municipal government.
To show how entirely independent this proposed plan is
likely to prove of any aid from direct taxation will
state that the accumulation from the citys oneh in the
first of the operations of these railways mostly an
unfinished state, are as follows:
"a ..'.................. 1864. .O6
ou ...................,....... S,9iO52
4th ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l2S2l4S
lotdl... S33, ,902. .06
1t will be that the increase been steadily on
the rise The presumption is that the roads all
pleted, the city will receive this source
of from 1000 to $4,000 per annum, and
CITY HALL.
For years past it has been in the contemplation
city authorities to construct Hall for the accommodation
OF Its daily increasing business That such improve
ment is greatly needed cannot for moment be doubted
by any one who has made himself acquainted with the
wants of the corporation. square of ground had been
secured years ago, with reference this subject
and au act had passed the Legislature authorizing
to be issued for this purpose it the intention of the
city, at any future time to provide herself with such
improvement, it seems to me that no period could he
have in her treasury upwards Of $500 the McDonogh
fund, which may be used for this purpose without the
issue of additional bonds the part of the city, The
time consumed in the erection of such edce would
not be less than three five years the expiration of
whlcn 1t VIII have become measure Of absolute and
pressing necessity The interest upon this appropriation
will be all that will have to be provided for; and there
are now assets in the handso the city, yielding
al revenue, which will be more than sufficient to cover
this requirement.
ANALYSIS FOREGOING EXHIBIT.
1t will be perceived that every which have
REFERRED with the exception of the Jail and city hall
pays its way without tax upon the treasury and
that the aggregate gain to the city more than
ances the interest upon the last named improvements
The saving to the taxpayers by the paid fire department
alone will illustrate my idea The city would also realize
if she desired to axe them subject of speculation
turn them to account in the payment of her debt without
! increase of existing rates
WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD.
The ordinance passed by the City Council in July last
portion of the mortgage bonds of the
Western Maryland Railroad appears have been misun
derstood in many of its leading features. Although op-
posed to any further connection with railways did not
feel at liberty disregard the action of the Council and
the decided expressions of favor with which
entertained by the business of this community
The whole extent to which the endorsement reaches
/ Ien GlatlI aNnItr
ing fund, is 5000 000 The completion of the entire
road to Hagertown will increase the Endorsement to
S4oOCoO exclusive of the sinking fund large
is withheld by the terms of the oan until the whole line
is in operation and the city in her guaranty moves par
p1SSu with the stockholders the proportion
mile for every mile which they may complete and
put in operation, by advance of the additional amount
required thus aording her the most reliable basis of
curty which be offered With the road complete to
Hagerstown drawing back trade which is already
ing other channels there few who character
OF that productive section of State who would hes
tate duty. continuous railroad from Harers
town to the city of Baltimore besides conciiatng the
friendly sympathies of people who have been long
alienaed from Baltimore by the litigation of the million
forfeiture in the great internal Improvement appopria
tOn of 1885, would in my judgment contribute largely
| to the trade of our city.
1t with reference well to this extended
nation, intermediate points, that felt
its success The road, running to within few miles
of Westminster, is giving earnest of return which
cannot fail to make it self sustaining 1t was however
not without stipulation depositng $500 600 of dividend
bonds of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
security to the Taxpayers against risk from this
dorsement that consented to give it my sanction il
deference to what believed to be the wishes of the
munity.
| Having thus enumerated the leading improvement.
which have been projected during my administration
and their detailed cost, far completed will
look the practical effect upon general Indebtedness
of the city. With this view have called upon the Reg
lister for exhibit Of the floating obligations outstand
ing az the date of this report and herewith present
| resi- SEQ A