Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-12
MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR.

To THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL: 1t Is made
the duty Of the Mayor to call your attention to
any subject he may deem worthy the Sonslgera-
ton OF the two houses composing the Sity Coun-
ell. and to impart such information as ne may see
proper, to the end that your legislative action
may be for the bestinterests Of our
deem it a duty at this particular time, TO re-
CAPT tulate our labors for the past six months. We
came into Office in October last. soon after vast
ing and destructive war, and while the city was
the headquarters of a very considerable portion
of the United States Army with police partly
military and partly civil-with our public schools
closed. and streets in dllapidated condition. II
Il proper. therefore, to take retrospective view
of our work. the better 10 comprehend what Is
necessary for the future.
The large amount of work now going forward
on various streets, with a school system IN tull and
successful operation WITH however, inadequate
means OF support, save by the use Of portion OF
the funds of the City Treasury. makes II appa-
rent that some extraordinary means will be re-
CURED TO raise the necessary amount oil money
TO complete the work.
The vast amount oflabor now being expended on
the streets is an effort to make good and durable
thOroughfares IN portions of the city where they
are most needed.
Owing to the constant and heavy hauling done
by immense numbers of army wagons during the
war, and the passing to and fro Of heavy artillery,
ambulances and other appliances pertaining TO
the army, our principal streets were necessarily
worn oHt to considerable extent, and were IN
such a condition as to render q large amount Of
labor absolutely necessary.
1t therefore became an object of importance,
Immediately after our induction into othce, either
10 undertake so make good and durable streets,
or to continue patching on a large scale. and yet
have nothing satisfactorily accomplished.
1our Street Committee by order OF the City
Council, determined to at least attempt to make
ut once good and permanent streets as the cheap
esr mode, IN the end, for the good OF all
CONTRACTS were accordingly let out to the amount
OF one hundred thousand dollars, while your
honorable Council has ordered enough more to
cost the sum of about forty thousand dollars.
brief reference to the jobs already done or
now in progress will satisfy you and the public of
the necessity of the work ordered
The Lebanon Pike. in the Southern part of the
city, was, when the present Mayor and City
Council came into office, in n very bad condition;
while Cherry street. south Of the cemetery, was
impossible.
Both streets have been newly McAdamized and
now in good order. South Union street, be-
tween High and Spruce has been thoroughly put
in passable condition, while the same may be
said of South and North Market, Spring street,
Watkins Avenue and other thoroughtares.
Wooden sidewalks have been put down on South
Market, Cherry and Summer, across the Wilson
spring branch. bridge on North High street,
across Lick branch, similar to the one ON Summer,
has been ordered.
On Cherry street. between Spring (or Church,
and Cedar, an experiment IS going on TO test the
value and use of the Nicholson pavement. This
is portion of the city very much Travelled, and If
this species of pavement answers the eXpecta-
lions of its friends, similar ones be put
are not fulfilled, the system can be at once
abandoned. The length of this pavement is 1910
feet and will cost the sum of $4,000 for the entire
job.
A considerable portion of Union street has been
McAdamized and grayeled. College street, from
Broad TO the Public Square, is being newly met
aled and will soon be in an excellent condition.
A large sewer is in process of construction on
High street, running from Spring street sOuth-an
improvement long needed, and one that will be of
great service in a sanitary point of view;
A new and more substantial bridge Is now in
process of construction on North Market street,
which is an Improvement greatly needed and long
since demanded.
In addition to this and other work not mention
ed, new and superior stone tagging has been
placed upon most of the streets named, and the
pavements relaid, conformatory to regular
grade at the expense Of the property holders i'm
mediately concerned. The ordinary tax levy
will not produce sufficient funds to complete the
public improvements now in progress; and this
makes it necessary for the City Council to adopt
some other mode of raising revenue. l can my
self only suggest the plan of issuing bonds to
certain amount, with coupons attached, for the
payment of interest semi-annually, and to be
payable twenty years after date-placing the same
in market with the understanding that they shall
not be sold for less than minimum price which
may be fixed from time to time by the City COun
ell.
The amount of these bonds is an item of great
Importance,
Not a dollar more than is absolutely necessary
should be issued to accomplish the purpose, as
large public debt is not at all desirable.
Hence, this measure, suggested by the Finance
Committee, (whOse labors and services have been
worthy of all praise) has already engrOssed your
closest attention, and you have already decided
upon issuing Corporation bonds to the amount of
$l50000, the least possible amount required
This Will not be very large addition to our
comparatively small funded debt, and need not
be increased unless circumstances Of the most i'm
perceive character shall in future demand it. At
present no necessity of the kind can be fOreseen.
Proper legislative action on the part of the Cen
eral Assembly of Tennessee is now only necessary
TO put the required amount of bonds on the mar
ket, when can offer capitalists a safe, sure and
profitable investment of their means. The rate
of taxation for the present year, which you will
have to fix by law at early day, Is matter
worthy of your serious attention. Our people. as
n general thing. are not in a condition to comply
with any unreasonable demands in this respect,
and the burthen should be made as light as posi-
ble in view of all the surrounding circumstances.
The rate Of taxes last year fraction over
two per cent, which is more than our tax payers
can afford to pay this year. burthened, rs they
and State Governments. and by the county Of
Davidson.
| therefore respectfully recommend that the
rate of taxation for the year 1866 shall not
coed thirteen mills (l3) in the dollar for corpora
ton and school purposes cOmbin ed-say ten and Il
half mills (.l012) for corporation purposes, and
two and half mills (0212) for school purposes.
Ny estimate is made up after careful cUnsid
GRAFTON of the subject in all its bearings. in view
of our present condition, and after consultation
with gentlemen presumed to be well informed on
this question. In order to see how this amount
of $500 taxation on each 81 900 90 worth of pro-
p9rty will work practically, and to show its rea-
tive standing with rates for previous years. it will
be proper to examine former rates, and here
with annex the rates for the proceeding six years
The rate Of taxes for 1860 was l0l4 mills.