The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-17
Mnrnr Rnker,s tfeaaage.
uANSt u
} fLe.ncs. Of fde Common EonRcfL

he trust delegated to US respectively, By
our fellow-citizens, avail myself Of the
thus presented, Of submitting
briefly q statement of the condition of the
and of suggesting for your
such a course Of policy as
will in my opinion be advisable and neces-
sarY in the management of the affairs of
the city for the corporate year upon which
we are about 70 enter.
At the commencement ofthe present fiscal
wear the comMe.cia', manufacturing, and
all other interests of the city were greatly
by the unhoiy war inso which
the country had been forced by its enemies.
Every department of enterprise and industry
was temporarily stricken down, and gloom
and dependency were almost universally
prevalent. am glad TO be able to say
that recent events warrant the belief that
the terrible evils referred TO are temporary. |
The strong arm of oar Government is be- |
ginning to be felt and feared, and the |
friends of constitutional liberty and repub- |
lican institutions are permitted to hope |
that the day il not far distant when treason |
will be suppressed and traitors punished,
and when the industry and enterprise Of
our community and the entire country will
be permitted to occupy their accustomed
channels.
Although the ordeal through which We
are passing may result in pecuniary loss to
us as individuals, and as a municipal corpo-
ration, the end which we confidently ex-
pect-R Government restored to its former
gplendor, q indicated constitution, with
the salutary lesson which rebels and traitors
win have learned from their wickedness
and folly, will more than compensate for
all the evils that may be entailed upon the
present generation.
Ny only excuse for abiding to these
| matters of national concern is, because of
| their influence upon our municipal affairs.
| The amount of taxes necessary to be as
Eessed in a new and growing city, is always
burdensome; but when the labor and enter
prise of the citizens is deprived of its usual
and proper reward, as has been the case
| during the past year, their means of paying
| Is diminished, and the burden increased in
an equal ratio. For these reasons, your
predecessors, in providing revenue for the
| year 1851 determined upon a diminished
| levy-the rate for general purposes being
but sixty cents upon one hundred dollars OF
| value, against seVenty-6Ye cents for the
| previous year, and the aggregate amount OF
| the annual taxes being only forty-foHr
thousand dollars against sixty-six thousand
| for the year 1860.
IF the aggregate of the taxes assessed for
the year 1851 had been equal TO that of
1860, the revenue would have discharged
all the current expenses, as well as the de-
6cit Of the previous years, and all debts
contracted previously and maturing within
the year. But consequence of the dimin-
ished levy Of 1861, there is deficit Of six
teen Thousand thirty-two dollars and sixty
eight cents.
I present with this communication q
statement of the receipts of the Treasurer
from all sources during the year, amoant-
ing to the sum OF $6l,11o 10, and state
ment Of the amount of orders issued during
the same time, amounting to the sum of
SEC, 9ss So, l present also the annual re-
port of Soren Sorenson, Esq, Treasurer, for
the year ending April 8, 1862, and refer
you to my several reports of the 22nd Of
March, 1862, showing the condition of the
special or sinking fund raised for the pay
4 ment OF the interest and principal as it ma
lures Of the bonds of the city, issued &c the
Evansville and Illinois Railroad Company,
the present condition of the zCitv-aWharf
At the proper time l will prepare and
submit estimates of the probable amount
necessary to be raised during the present
year, as well as es timates of the probable
revenue of the city, from ordinary sources.
! Without waiting for these estimates,
however, it is safe to say that the call upon
the Treasury during the present year will
be greatly in excess of those of any former
year, and that the necessity for economy is
urgent in the extreme. IAN
If we expect to administer the affairs of
the city for the ensuing year with profit to
our constituents, or with credit to ourselves
| the utmost care and prudence will be indis-
pensable. It will be impossible to under
take any public Improvement chargeable
upon the general revenue of the city. We
muat content ourselves with such Temporal
| ~ repairs to our streets and bridges as will
I render them safe and passable. Our seWers
have all been carried forward to such points
in the different sections Of the city, as will
justify an entire Suspension OF work upon
them for the present. And with reference
70 such improvements as are paid for by
special assessment, aAd not chargeable upon
the. general revenue of the city, I recon-
mend that none be undertaken, except
such as cannot be dispensed with, or such
haas may be asked for by the owners of ada
cent real estate, chsrgeable with the ex-
psnse of such improvement
am sndeavoring to ascertain tae names
and places Of residence of the holders of
4 49, NkOAo sSNACAStAH W OOuu5 VI Guy
issued to the IT, l. & S. L. Railroad Comps-
ny, with the hope of making an arrange
ment postponing the payment Of a portion
| Of said coupons until next year. After &C.
i4Airing the desired information, l will
again call your attention to TIE subject
The amount of these coupons now due and
unpaid, exceeds the whole amount of the
general tax levy of 1861.
will confer with you from time to time
upon all matters claiming your attention, as
they srise and will cooperate with You
in furthering every proper measure having
IN view the welfare of our constituents. and
shall look to you for aid and assistance in
the discharge OF the Important and difficult
duties of my Office. go
Allow me to place upon record an &C.
acknowledgement of the obligation which 1
owe to the people Of Evansville for again |
confding to me so important trust and |
let me hope that our official intercourse |
may be pleasant, and that we may consider |
the intaraaka 0f the nan0Ia- N hoaa anaDto No |