Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-12

all, or nearly all, improvements made IN the
streets are paid for by special taxation on prop
erty binding on such improvements, and that
most Of the other necessary expenses are borne
or paid for by special taxes. Let us see how
these statements square with the facts:
Special taxes are levied only to pay the cost
OF paving carriageways, constructing sewers,
laying sidewalks, and paving alleys; and then
private property is only assessed for the cost of
that portion binding on the work. The city pays
for the intersections of all the Streets for ali the
lateral sewers, manhOles, traps, and drops; for
all flag fOOtways across streets; and for all the
CUTTERS and bridges, amounting to at least one
ments named. Besides this, the city, this year,
will pay about $500 900 for the support of schools
and the erection Of school houses, SO 900 for
lighting the streets, 500 900 for the support of
the Police Department, $50, 600 for the Fire De-
partment, $4,000 for the Aims House, about
$4,000 for opening, grading, and gravelling
streets, 500 900 for cleaning streets, alleys, and
cutters, and casual repairs, in addition to its
payment of the interest on the city debt, the ex
penses Of the Councils, salaries OF officers, con
tingent expenses Of the several offices, and q
thousand and one other items, auctiOneers
say, "tOO tedious to MENTION Every reasona-
bic mind will therefore readily understand that
the 81 900, the estimated revenue for the
current year from all sources, will be thus pref
ty much absorbed, leaving nothing to be squan-
dered by the officers Of the Corporation, or to be
used for corrupt or improper purposes. This
statement, therefore, i submit as complete
answer to the charge that the revenues raised
by taxation and otherwise have not BEEN and
are not, applied to legitimate purposes, and that
the city has not had the benefit of every dollar so
raised during my administration.
Some OF our property holders also complain
that our taxes are too high-higher than Is neces-
sary for such improvements as requisite to
the prosperity of the city. These 1rumblers are
really too selfish to reason inteIligently upon
any subject affecting the interests OF the city 1t
Is these very gramblers who are ever willing and
even clamorous for all improvements which,
while beneftting their own property, are paid
for out Of the city treasury; but who, when i'm
provements are contemplated which will take
some money out of their own purses. hasten to
enter against them their most earnest protest.
they rush to the Councils, and all their infiu-
ence to defeat the laws authorizing such i'm
proyements, or to stay their execution. Wholly
blind to their own interests, and indifferent to
the public veal, these men cannot or win not
understand that q street paved, a sewer con-
structed or q fOOtway laid. will enhance the
value of property binding upon the Improvement
-four fold its cost And II the policy of such men
Is to prevail; if our city and its avenues and
streets to continue to present to Congress-
men and strangers q ragged and forbidding APP
pearance, can We reasonably hope that the
clamor for the removal Of the seat of govern
ment win ever cease, or that capitalists beca use
OF that clamor, will not continue to seek resi-
dences and make improvements elsewhere?
The gIowth of the city should be source of
qualification and pride to every citizen. Our
population has. increased from 20 400 to 100 600
souls IN ten years, and the valuation OF proper