The New York herald., 1864-01-05

sc% ns =. .ssss. 20 !, -
Il Ne sishiss FusA, Dsesnbss 81, 1ssa -. 5sossel
sals.ss: .Siaasa''i
Deeennes Ga l2eS, wae..... ............ t9eS4eee
DeceAbes u. ...................... 'Aa3l -
Deins assssase aursx sAs ysas 1883 os.. Se7 600
H Sora.y ciy eesN payable from TAXATION
1::s:: D:s:sss g. g. 's:s ':: 's:: s's s's
Dsias sn iacase during tho year 1868 Of. 40 900
ass,os ~ .osal actual debt Of Inc city 90 Do
me a!Acust q bonds payable nom Trust
s secured q tie cs ana WIN BE- collected from
sne lsoperty bepeed by the improvements account
q yAich the bonds were issued.
he ssinlng iund for shs paynsas Il interest," which
devoted the coon water rents, rents Of wharves and
city cour &e The rapid ncrssss q the principal source
o ShD fuld tho Coton water rents, caused large sur
3 20 The sinking @ he
uu.e surplus funds beyond what required ior the
mont interest passed to the general fund, thus d.
ninishing the amount 20 be raised BY taxation. The
chief ordinary Of the fund for the redemption Of
stocks and bonds and mortgages IN the hands Of the
Commissioners, license fees market rents and fees
Ssopsas % 70 % he Is. sa,s operation Of
CSsn .1soe e iunds = very s1d ne capital
the adoption Of the ordinances, BY which they
spectvey created in 1872 and 1884, No public stocks
have more solid basis than those o the city OF New
for congaulaon rne vaue Of the real estate hed BY
the city and pledged for the payment Of its debit ncud
Ing the parks school houses markets. station houses and
the aqueduct and reservoirs may be ESTIMATED at over
forty millions Of dollars. $50
In consequence Of the inadequate derived from
r III " actu
value, has been suggested TO sell the markets. ferries
and wharves, piers and slips, and thus diminish the
OF interest and the to be raised by taxation
by paying off large share Of the city debt; 10 this
cannot accede, For il these valuable privileges were
under the control OF private individuals companies
they would, undoubtedly through such MEANS levy an
indirect tax the community At large greatly exceeding
would fall most oppressvey the poor. II commerce
be encouraged by cheap wharfage, Or the cost Of living
il CO for nss s
commodati0n iD the public markets, may be reasonably
concluded that the interests the citizens do not require
the proposed change That the income derived from this
portion Of the city property Is dsproporonstey small,
shows defects in the present mode OF management
into private hands the ownership control over this
valuable though perhaps much msmaDaged public pro.
During the last TWO years the debt payable from tax
alton has been increased both TO the city and county,
by the issue Of stock to raise money the equipment Of
substitutes, and TO provide aid for their families. Such
sums as were advanced, or are properly chargeabe TO
pended under the direction Of the "Union Defence Com
mttoe, should be reimbursed the city, and another
would recommend that suitable memorials sheud be pre-
sonted TO Congress- as well as TO the State legislature
amount q ares1s ss or nsrsen. now
stands the books Of the city and means should
be adopted TO collect these debts. 1t may be found
ceesary to call for legislative action 10 empower the
Counsel 70 the Corporation some other city officer
proceed against these deinquen. debtors, BY causing
them 10 appear and answer to their pecunary Means
as IN proceedings supplemental, 70 execution or in some
other mode to procure nual disposition of those claims
which, ~ tho END Of 1862 amounted 10 81 90l $50 33
The practice Of raising means for deraying the ex
pcnss Of the current by the issue Of bonds
n advance Of the collection OF the annual taxes not only
involves loss Of interest," but also has tendency 10 de-
preciae The credit Of the city and its securities. The
assessment OF property should be made as carly as the
TO this expedent which has In years cost the city
over two hundred thousand doare n the shape Of nte
rest
In connection with matters Of finance deem il proper
10 call the attention Of the Common Council the fact
obtained from licenses under the Excise law This be-
cvo 70 be owing 10 great degree to the law or the State
properly amended IL would add 70 the revenue Of the city
more than one hundred thousand dollars annually, while
u would regulate 10 more effective manner trade which
Inc law and constitution recognize subject to
BILE tax recommend that suitable law be drawn up and
presented to the Legislature which will such
amendments TO the present act as will meet proper
the demand Of the trade, while il will insure TO
the city large income and secure conformity the
the supervision branches involving large
The Mayor be held responsible the sighesl de-
gree for the extent Of ,hese although is to him gene
rally that the people look. All that he Is merely
enumerae the gross expended and reerate the
hope so often expressed for dminuton.
Inc bureau OF Lamps snd Gas having Snarse o. ign.
outlay for It's support OF about half million Of dol
lars.
Tagging the sidewalks belong 10 another bureau in this
department These are mostly local improvements and
sessmens therefor collected through another bureau
under the control OF the Collector VI Assessments
Il will be that with reference to the streets the
boundary between the ur rsdictons Of the two municipal
departments having charge OF the same, the line be-
tween the pavements and gutter stones. The Croton
Aqueduct Department being entrusted with the super
vision OF the arteries for distributing the supply Of water
well as the sewerage OF the city, the charter Of 1857
vested 10 II the charge OF the pavemens which covers
them. is obvious that II the municipal organization
were IN process OF formation economy would dictate
o consolidation In case Of obstructions frequently
blame IL laid upon one department when another
js answerable for the fault, and the Jurisdiction
ndef 10 cc.a.;snces may belong TO the Street Comms
sioner the Croton Aqueduct Boaro.
The wharves piers and slips under the control OF
bureau Of the Street Department except 90 Car 90 the
mssoners The condition character OF these struc
lures are not In Keeping to say the least with the COM
mercia rank aud destiny OF the city The present plan
out the slips that rapidly died BY the material
washed in from The streets sewers while the decay
CONSTANT ss sss ,s5.s g s a Es Sssi;s ss.
possess pers extensive basins constructed In the
most solid manner that engineering skill can devise, while
New York second TO none ia importance, retains the
old timber frames filed 10 with rubbish aud loose
constant or expense, deteroratng the harbor
and aordng lurking places for countless rats that nfest
the shipping and niure the cargoes would recommend
the adoption or policy gradually 70 replace the present
by s,oue piers. Solid stone walls laid In hydraulic CO.
ment might be built encasng the timber frames incrcas
ing somewhat the breadth Of the piers, and allowing .
platform be built outside and above the level OF the
roadway for CARTS Thus IN the OF few years
complete renovation might be elected, greatly the ad.
vantage o. the city In appearance and In the posi-
tive dement's OF sanitary improvement the accompoda.
ou Of commerce and the saving OF repairs The honor
Of the city demands that this reconstruction OF the piers
should not be deferred, and am convinced that the
expense will be rs cheerfully borne as that for any
other OF the prominent improvements heretofore
Insured. Whatever concerns the interests or com.
merce essential 70 the prosperity and growth OF New
York The receipts a. present from the wharves barely
covers the cost Of repairs and dredging whereas the In