The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-21

THE Mayor here takes up each department OF
s aso city Ssn ng e aTesdy % Sean ne Sb ygsbr
lished, we omit them, except so far as they are
necessary to explain his accompanying sugges-
t0ns.l
The expenses OF the Department OF the City
Treasurer for the year 1869 were s23 26G 66, being
the exact amount appropriated.
City Controller.
The appropriation to the Department OF the City
Controller was s2l,5OO, the expenditures being
s21,45lI6.
In this connection I would saw that upon making
inquiry OF the City Controller the valuation OF
the real estate, ground-rents and mortgages owned
by the city, with a statement as to what incum-
brances were upon the various properties of the
city, was informed that he was unable to furnish
any DATA there being no records Of that character
kept i'm his onice.
by the third section Of the ordlnanc,, entitled
"An Ordinance prescribing the powers and duties
of the City Controller" passed November 9th, 1862
IL is made the duty the Controller t. keep regu-
lar set OF books in which shall be opened and kept
as many accounts under appropriate titles as may
be necessary TO show distinctly and separately all
the estate and property whatsoever, real and per-
sona vested in the city, all trusts In the care OF the
saIne all debts due to and owing by the city, etc,
etc.
The Controller, in his communication, says that
this ordinance has not hitherto been complied with
that the necessity for the existence Of some such
record reveals itself daily, and that no depart
ment of city government has IL, each department
having knowledge only OF the property that comes
under its immediate supervision and control This
evil should at once be remeded, and Councils ought
compliance with the directions OF an ordinance so
manifestly useful and which have been too long ne
elected.
The Department of Law, under charge Of the City
Solicitor has collected during the year 1868 the
OF e56,4l6S6, arising from municipal claims, lnte-
rest ana COSTS assessments for benefits to neighbOr-
ing properties on opening widening Streets taxes
on dividends OF city passenger railway companies,
licenses on cars OF the Market Street Passenger
Railroad Company and miscellaneous sources
From the report of the City Solicitor, which &C.
COmnanpS this will bp at ON nj
his assistants have been heavily burdened. Besides
the regular current business OF the department.
which is always heavy, there have been G75 suits
brought against the city during the year, OF which
81 were tried and finally disposed OF. Quite consd
erabe number OF the actions Instituted for the
recovery Of damages alleged TO have been caused by
the city or her officials; among Others the Schuyl-
XII Nayigation OF &C Sompany mn Is plaintiff laying its
rating the line or its canals who have also brought
suit In the branch OF the SOlicitorship for the
Paramount Park Commission there were, from the
second OF March to the end OF the year, one hum
dred and ninety-sx titles to land investigated and
passed upon, and 80 3.16I,00024 distributed In pay
ment OF land damages and liens upon premises
taken for the park, and In the branch OF the Solicit
torship for the Guardians OF the Poor there have
been 264 retHrns from the aldermen of the city, OF
which 1856 were tried and finally disposed OF, 1876
were amicably settled, many OF which, through the
Hstrumentaty of the Solicitor, leaving only 10 still
pending. The report is full of interesting and i'm
portant information, and the suggestions therein
contained are worthy OF attention.
Surveys.
The appropriation to the Department OF Surveys,
to enable il to prosecute its duties for the year.
amounted to s36,797, IT'S expenditures s35,O6O2i,
Its receipts were 81, 7401S, which paid into the
City Treasury. The new surveys Of this year were
confined to three OF the rural wards, namely: the
First, Twenty-second, and Twenty-third, covering
an area of 2739 acres. The total length OF branch
sewers constructed during the year 1859 was s,5gs
feet, or nearly 4-10 miles, mourning an expense
was; paid by the city ana si16,Sa7 81
by the owners OF the properties fronting the sewers
In view Of the reasons given by the Chief Engineer
and Surveyor, / recommend the enactment of an
ordinance prohibiting the construction Of any
sewers in the public Streets excepting under con-
at as h e aaa snae5 m s 20 Of ,S the city
nance 'To Promote Cleanliness and HEALTH" passed
July 10, 1867. The passage OF this supplement-
seems to have worked injuriousy in the matter OF
because Of injury done to the sewers by careless
incompetent workmen, as also for want of proper
Public schools. ."
The number OF public schools embrace $50 classi-
fled schools, in which there so male and 1435
female teachers; in all, 1915 The number OF male
pupils, 4,069, and females, 214 making total of
S1,2S3 OF our young people availing themselves Of
our 81 p16 nah,t IN order
life, and come up to the measure OF good citizen
ship and although this has involved an expenditure
OF the apparently large sum OF 81 III, ,292 there is
no item Of taxation to which the citizen more cheer
fully submits, he properly apprecatng the fact that
by the nCulcati0n OF good education and correct
habits thegOod ordersandipurity OF society are pro-
noted, and his own comfort and security thereby
more thoroughly assured.
1t may be confidently hoped that the increase OF
expenditures for the public schools will sooner or
later be fully compensated by a dimnution OF the
amounts required for the Afmshouse and prisons,
believing, as l firmly do, that education prevents
and eradicates vice, and generally promotes habits
of industry and economy.
Markets and City Property.
The appropriations for the year 1869 to the Depart
ment OF Commissioner Of Markets and City Property
amounted to s16l, ,39I94, of which were expended
s156 9s, leaving balance merging OF s534S 90
Its receipts e132, ,574 S5, being increase In
the aggregate of S28l294 over that OF the year 1865
and an increase on city property over the year 1865
City Commissioners. .t-
The report of the City Commissioners shows that
the duties of that department require supervision
over the assessors In making the regular and extra
assessment for election purposes ana the militia
rolment for militia duty; preparing and delivering
the election papers and baotbOXes for the 800 elec.
ton divisions OF the city; drawing some 5000 war.
rants for fee bills Of Sheriff, Clerk OF Quarter Ses.
sons District Attorney, road and court Jurors, wit
nesses and miscellaneous business certified TO by
the judges OF the several courts Within five days
after the election 2700 warrants for pay for the 20(
election officers were drawn There were also issued
9U0 warrants to the 300 canyassers Of the city
making total of 745l warrants drawn for the year
No fees were RECEIVED on account OF the city in this
| department.
| - "" City Railroad.
The number OF cars which passed over the CITY
| Railroad during the year 1869, stated by the
s16s9599; the appropriations, sssOO, and the amount
| expended, SSI42'TT
BuIlding Inspectors.
The Building Inspectors make report that the re
ceiptS during the year 1869 were Sl5.35S'52 the eN
pendttures being sll,56s16, and the net receipts
| S9I908G.
There were 55Os buildings erected, OF which 4ss
| Were dwelling houses for other purposes, G2l.
In an economical point of view, 1t may be as
sumed that all the cost of this department is fully
repaid by the increased value at which good build
ings erected under such supervision are assessed.
| Highways.
The appropriations TO this department for the yea