The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-28
S2,532,OS5'Sl

lIOaDS redeemed by city
Treasurer ......,............... Sl95 O94'72
Loans cancelled by Com
missioners OF Sinking
Fund........................" IOO9, 1870
- I,2O4 25S.42
Actual increase of the funded debt
during the year.........,,...,,,.. 81 .827 S27'80
Total funded debt of the city. Jan.
], 1867 Qncludng cash balance on
hand January l. l65 62l'35
The entire receipts of the city trea-
sury during the past year were... 942O SO2'S4
The total expenditures of the city
ior The same period were...."........ 92,37902
The receipts for taxes amounted to $4, $40, ISL.
The creation of the Sinking Fund and its pre-
sent condition is treated of at length. The
figures show remarkable proportion of taxa
ton, requiring for the annual appropriation to
the Sinking Fund 26 3O-1OO per cent. on the
value of the property assessed, or $431, ,445; to
which add 37-l00 per cent. for the annual
interest on the loans, or 81, $50, 600, and the
total is l 63-lO00 per cent, or 81, 68l, ,445 for
1867. His Honor well remarks:-''A sufficient
burden of the kind to satisfy every one that only
laproUidence could hare aIIo,ced its accumulation,
and that nothing but very extraordinary causes
aciH justify its increase"
Viewing the heavy annual demands on our
city treasury, the Mayor proceeds to discuss
that most rotten of all our systems-that of
assessment. He calls attention to the gross
| Irregularities, and contrasts Philadelphia with
| New York and Boston,
"ln Philadelphia, in 1856 the assessed value
of real estate was Sl320000O0; 1865, $685. 900;
"In Boston, in 1885, the assessed value of real
estate was Sl36,26O,OOO; 1865, S2Ol,6OO,OCO 1867,
"in New York, in 1855, the assessed value of
real estate was S357 100000; 1865, 1927 100000 1867,
| S479OOOOO0.
1.-The assessment of real estate has increased
IN New York in twelve years sl42,OO0 ,OOl; in
! During this period the growth OF Philadel phia
! has been very great, anu the whole increase in
the twelve years, as represented by the assess
prosperous year taken out of the twelve"
Yet notwithstanding its ineficiency, our
system is the most expensive Of any that can
be devised. We heartily join with his Honor
in urging that a new department be created,
which will have charge of the whole subject,
and be independent of mere local prejudices.
Such a reformation is essential to our city's
credit. We are glad to see the city executive
speaking plainly against the mistaken action of
Councils in making insufficient appropriations,
and letting the deficiency be met by loan,
rather than lose political prestige by fixing
the needed rate. The Message well SAYS
unfortunately. however, from causes which
are easily understood, low rates have been
often levied, with "a consciousness of their IN
sufhciency; and thus deficiencies from year TO
year have occurred, to be covered by loans
The representatives Of an intelligent commu-
nlty should be governed by fixed principles,
constituents that the provisions by taxation,
with the revenue from other sources, should pc
always equal to the expenditure for the year.
The tax per capita in New York is $22; in
Boston $34 and in Philadelphia Sll; which
proves that there is no good cause for such
wilful deficiency. The people have to pay
heavier in the end, and it is sound economy
to pay debts at once and save the interest.
The second subject for examination is the
Police force. There are engaged in the de-
partment S43 men, of which number 6SS are
patrolmen. 1t is obvious that such force is
insufficient. New York has 1900 patrolmen,
and while increase of expense may at present
be opposed by some, yet we think it is more
economical for property owners to pay slight
increase of tax, and have their real estate and
persons made secure. But we have so often
favored such step that we will not argue II
here. The number of arrests made amount
to 43, 226, of which 26,O79 were for intoxica-
tion and 20 were for murder. His Honor
states his convictions in regard to the useful
ness of the detective force. In his deductions,
however, we cannot enthusiastically join. he
? promises to continue to prevent corner loung
ing, and, yet further, abolish that nuisance
We agree with the Mayor that the present
. police condition of our city is decided i'm
provement over what we have been accus
I toned to.
The extension of the water supply, 81
yitally interesting to every inhabitant, is dis
e cussed at length
Q "Itis admitted on all hands that in the pre-
o sent condition of the Schuylktll The works a
, and adjacent to Fairmount cannot much longe
g be made available for the supply OF even tina
n portion of the city which Is now dependent oI
5. them. Supposing their capacity TO be sufficient
u which we know IL is not the steadily increasin
, impurities thrown into the stream AFFORD rea
o sonable ground for apprehension that tn
water may become permanently unWholesome
)f as II is now frequently unpalatable."
70 Yet, at the same time, his Honor doubts tn