The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-26
THE CITI' .FIN.fNCES.
REVIEW OF THE CONDITION AND OPERATIONS
OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT THIS YEAR, AS COM
PARED WITH LAST YEAR.

OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT THIS fEAE, AS CoA-
PARED WITH LAST YEAR.
We publish this morning the annual state
ment of the City Treasurer for the fiscal year
ending 31st August, 1868, which shows an i'm
proyement in the condition Of our municipal
affairs which must, under the circumstances,
be both matter Of surprise and of hearty con-
graduation.
The total in ,omc of the year from all sources
is 81, ,0O3, ,0Sl, and the total expenditure $685.
551. From licenses and taxes the receipts are
about the same as in 1867, but the city bas now
| far larger balance in the treasury. On Au-
gust 81, 1867, the balance in the treasury was
s37, ,9S7, all in city bills of The new issue, OF
which about $4,000 were still in circulation
and to be redeemed. On the 3lst August. 1868,
there were no city bills in circulation, and the
balance in the treasury. So1 713 was made up
of the whole OF the new ISSUE of city bills,
$50 900, aud So, COO in grccnbacks. But it is
in liauidating its bills payable that the city has
made 50 great an ad*ance. In 1867, the city
owed upon notes payable sG5,2O2. This was re-
duced by August 81 last to s2S, 1902, about s37,
600 being paid.
In the matter of interest on the city debt we
have also made handsome progress. 1t Will
be remembered that all quarterly interest on
city stock, under $40 in amount, is paid cash
when due, all interest over $40 being funded;
also that where the city owes interest on stock
to the bona tide holder who owes the city
money for taxes, the orc amount is allowed TO
be set off rs far as is necessary against the
other. The whole in'crc:t paid by the CITY
during the year il t..G s.r por cent. stock was
s256 6sSs, for sI1S,5l0 Of which amount new
stock was issued, leaving s13S 469 as the
amount paid by tic city III the two ways al
ready mentioned, viz il Ssh for interest less
than s9O and in interest received in payment
| for taxes.
The expenses during the year are shown IN
detail in the statement Of the treasurer; but
ve call attention to some Of the most striking
points:
Aims House.-Under this head there is ali
increased outlay of $500. This is caused by
the fact that the city now supports tho col red
paupcrs MS we'll as the white paupers, whic
during the previous year the colorcd paupers
were supported by the Freedmcn's Bureau.
About seventeen hundrel rations are now Is
sued daily by the city to the destitT te poor.
Ftre,,aasters. Under this head there is de-
crease in outlay Of about $4,000, notwithstand-
ing the fact that 10000 has been spent this
year in building and fitting ur new engine
houses.
Police or GuarI.-The police for the year
ending August 31st last cost S119,245, against
s14S, ,912 in 1867, or decrease in cost OF nearly
$50, 900. This was made up by the reduction
of numbers and ray made in accordance with
the report of the Rctreuchment Committee,
and which did not go into effect until about
January 1st last. For the year ending August
31st next, the cost should be still less.
Slreets.-in 1867 tho cost of work on streets
was s11O 29S, while for the year just ended it
was but s54, ,993, to which must be added the
payements made through the City Engineers
department s2S, ,557, making together s32 $50 ;
reduction in total cost Of SGT ,409. The mo-
ney this year has been well srent. Asrhaltum
pavemcnts have beeh laid in many parts OF the
city, the roads havo been kept as far as pos
siblo in order, and, although much remains
to DO done, no more could have been done with
the same amount of money. The cost OF the
shell road, SIS, ,473, is not included in the gene
raj outlay on streets.
In conclusion, We desire to call attention to
the Great change which has taken place IN tho
standing and credit of the city. During 1867
the city was unable to pay its current accounts
except in city bills. These were frequently re-
fused, and Deprecated so rapidly that at one
time they could not be sold for more than sixty
five cents on the dollar. This kept the city in
continual hot-water. Tho police, many oil
them, declined to accept this deprecated
money, and tho city was with the greatest diff
Guilty able to purchase the supplies needed for
the Orphan House and other city institutions.
Now there are no city bills in circulation to any
extent, and these are worth from ninety-elght
cents topaz. There is large greenback balance
in the treasury, and oil bills due during the
year have been promptly paid. These facts
show what has been accomplished in one year.
They will convince any man that wise and
economical city COVE. nm 3nt can raise Charles
1
ton above all its difficulties, and sustain lis
credit and provid for its debt without break
ing down the people with taxation. But at
this time an Ignorant irresponsible and extra
VACANT administration would be nothing less
] than bankruptcy and ruin.
REaIsTnAT1oN.-The registration Of Satur
day caused no unrsual excitement III our quiet
city. Several additional precincts had been
formed, and though large number OF persons
ayailed themselves of this opportunity to add
their names to the lists, yet there was no COLI
fusion or disorder, and no arrests were made.
The change in the precincts neccsstatcd re-
registration in some cases, but many OF the
names were those that had not be II enrolled
previously. In some of the precincts the man
ayers appeared to bc doubtful what course TO
pursue, and asked the applicants several use