Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-13

statement, will be furnished at the next
meeting, as a final report upon the street
department from October 1st, 1865. to date.
When the Committee on Streets, with
its present head entered on duty, the streets
of the city were wrecked. The great
thoroughfares were rutted into the condi-
| lion Of country wagon roads, while the
avenues and alleys not in constant travel,
had been wholly neglected for nearly five
years. A city administration had been in
| service for three years, whose chief func-
ton was to administer a police system,
maintain a fire and water department,
and act Professionally. They wisely did
not, and could not, indeed under the cir
cumstances, 60 farther in municipal man
agement, than attempt TO preserve, as,far as
possible, until civil jurisdiction of affairs
under the charter of incorporation, was re-
| sumed
This city was great military depot, one
of the largest, if not the largest in the
Southwest. The travel, to and fro, of
immense armies, and the transportation
| of supplies, night and day, for four years,
! left the streets of the city in condi
ton demanding immediate and tho
rough repair. In obedience to the general
voice of the municipal constituency, and
after consultation as to the then existing
and prospective financial condition, gene
raj system of repairs and permanent i'm
| provements was resolved upon. Such
course was regarded as moi only immedi-
ately demanded, but as wisely economical.
| Under these counsels, and with this view,
the Street Committee entered upon their
| work. They intended TO make itof a style
| aIar hot oh Iacf nd ,fa nd
| the test of time. 1t was projected on a
liberal scale, intended to be general and
impartial, discriminating only in favor Of
those which seemed to be the most pressing,
! yet, in its ramiications, extending wherever
| needed.
In regard to the street work done, the
| committee have only to say that it speaks
| for itself; but they do not arrogate in the
| least, when they say that the streets, avenues,
| alleys, cutters and sewers of the city are
| to-day in a condition superior TO that of
any former time; that they have been sub
stantially and honestly constructed; and
| if judiciously kept in repair, the outlay
which has been necessary to make
them so, will be pronounced by every
candid citizen and taxpayer, not only
in the central portions of the
city, but in the remote and newly added
wards, eminently judicious. 1t is the
opinion of property holders in the ninth
ward, that the improvements now under
contract and in progress in that portion of
the city, will add $4,000 TO thetaxa-
bic value of its property. To degree,
the same may be said of the sixth, seventh
eighth and tenth wards, and indeed of the
more central wards The general excel
| lent condition of the streets has increased
the value of realty in the city, and by
| iudicious assessment it can, without doubt,
| be made to yield an increased revenue to
the city treasury.
During the past spring and summer,
there has existed general financial depres
sion, which has been nowhere more severely
| felt than in this city. This aspect of affairs
| when this system of public improvements
| was undertaken was not anticipated. Taxes
even for ordinary and necessary purposes
have been felt as onerous. This has led to
severe criticisms upon the expenditure that
your committee has made in the past two
years, and enterprises which were generally
pronounced laudable when commenced,
| have since been denounced as extravaganza
| if not prohigate. Unheeding these cavils
| and clamors, your committee has deemed
it their duty to pursue a definite and de-
cided line Of action, and have been con-
tent as they now are, at the expected close
Of their services, to present their statement
and abide the popular Judgment, assured
that as it is sobered by time, their course
| will be vindicated.
| From a Memorandum from the City Au.
ditor, however, it is proper to say that the
finances of the city are not in a desperate
| condition:
| The total funded debt of the city, with
$4,000 ofbonds issued still unsold)is S7Il,000
Reduced By bonds unsold....-...----....-. $1,000
Total funded 100000
Outstanding 10000
Total.-.........-...... .....-. ......... $4,000
Total valuation Of Public Property. S12OO,g0O
Taxes due and uncollected--.-..----...., $3.50
Funded and immediate dot. 872,OOO
Remaining assets ...................... S6l6,352
These figures do not Justify the high
rate of discount on city checks now pre-
vaiIing; and serve to vindicate the system
of public improvements, which your
committee think has been too freely, and
| without sufficient consideration, charged
with the depressed condition of city fnan-
ces.
1t is proper to add in conclusion, that if
a claim against the Federal government,
| for the use and wear of streets, such as has
| been allowed in Louisville and Cincinnati,
had been properly presented and urged, or
| if it should be now, the city treasury, ac-
cording TO the amount allowed those cities,
| would be due, at least one hundred thous-
/ and dollars, which would really relieve the
| endorsements of the corporation and if
applied TO the street debt, would reduce the
expenditure in that department to an ex-
tent which, when compared with the
amount and excellence of the work, would
silence criticism and completely justify Its
administration.
At the last regular meeting two weeks
hence, complete detailed statements will be
annexed and asked to go upon the archives
as part of this report.
Respectfully, Gro. S. KINNEY,
Chairman Of Street Committee.
The appointment ofjudges and clerks Of
elections was confirmed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The bill for the opening of new street,
to be fifty feet wide, running from Front to
Market street, between Church and Broad,
| passed on its third reading.
Mr. Leliyett gave notice that he would
| at the next meeting of the board move
| reconsideration of the vote, believing the
| street should be opened at the expense of
property holders interested.
The bill regulating the salaries of city
officers was informally passed over
The bill providing that owners of build
ings fronting on the upper wharf, between
the old salt shed and Broadway, shall put
up drain pipes for the discharge of water
| froom roofs into the sewers, and providing
for fine of IS for violationt of the law
after December lst, passed on its third read
ing.
| Mr.. Wilson here made an explanation
in regard to the general belief that he was
the author of the law providing that no
person should be allowed to put other than
a fire proof roof on his or her building. He
said that Mr.. Thompson was the origin
ator of the above law in the Board OF Al
der1nen, and Mr.. Lellyett in the Council,
and that the law went into effect some
months previous to his election as Coun-
| "A. l., ri ,ofbtro v-bofpver