New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-02
THE WASHINGTON RING.

DEFENSE OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC "ohho.
STATEMENTS OF HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS sHo"lNG
FINANCIAL CONDITION, RECEIPTS, ESTIMATES
AND EXPENDITURES.
To the Editor Of The Trt6une'
SIR: Since my brief and somewhat Nasty
statement OF the financial condition OF tuis ''ii
far IA the Board Of Public Works is concerneu' So'
umns have been open and freely used by our oPP -
in criticism and abuse. do not complain oi t"'''
natural that people who for half century nav a.,
their property slowly increasing in value Wihou' '
hnrdens Of he taxation necessary TO ITS pubic mpro'
ment should complain finding that properly "
sessed and then one cannot blame p0or ieho"a VIZ
comfortably sheltered all their useless INes III
Offices growl at finding themselves forced toI"oi iOi
living Again. II is the right and duty Oh e'ei' ~.
American citizen OF the age of 81 to accuse oicia asou
OF ncapacity and dishonest practices; ana 10 i'.
this the press is at the service Of any one
character or responsibility and men find indorsonon
in print who cannot be shamed by horse"hp VI
reached by libel suit This however, is necessary "
republican institutions, suppose, and ho"o'er u'"
greeable 10 the agent, has 10 be borne Wltn'
1t is however somewhat irritating 10 nnu oui
municipality called account by man who owes MS
posun TO "A combination corrupt that IL ms oo"o.
IN have defenders, and who while representing '"o
worst elements OF NewYork claims to be the purest Vi
the pure In Washington. Bat again. 1t Is hatural '
people should doubt that Washington possesses Deto
government than that OF any other city in the Unteu
States and it is little presumptuous in us to claim tna'
we are an exception TO a very unhappy rule
Its not however, say oil this that write you now
The comments criticisms and attacks have not been
responded 10 before this the fact that to eondense
into a newspaper article complicated operations i'oN
ing millions Of money is somewhat dlncult. suppose,
for example firm in New-lOrk whose business caeu
for m expenditure OF millions we're suddenly asked
TO make An exhibit OF their affairs III response 10 street
r1,a
responded to at the end Of months long after the cret
Of the concern had gone with its prosperity knew
that while these attacks being made the proper Oh
6eers were at work in getting up the reports called Tor
by law that would conclusiyely To reasohapc
mind the charges made against the Board OF fuohc
Works These / now submit to you. Before DONG So
however I offer that portion OF Gov. Cookies message
bearing upon the subject;
TIE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The extent and details of the vast Improvements IN,
auenrated, and in great part conducted 10 succesSa
comnIetlon NV the Board Public Works. are speelh
c se forth in the report OF the Board 10 the President
of tne United Sates-tlade IN November lis-a cOPS "a
which is herewith transmitted The exhibit therein
made OF energetic careful and skillfu administration
exctes qualification corresponding 10 lne Just PIuoO
our citizens and the admiration OF visitors ocGasiohsu
by the marked changes in the appearance OF the District
and IN It's Increased comfort attractions ana adornnent
session are gratifying evidences that the pubic spirit OF
our people IN voluntarily Undertaking lhe stna ,
its approval, and will receive its future ana. Ihe
this source during the past seventy Seais a ~ %
the fact that the whole country Is determined 10 MAKE
the metropolis worthy 10 he the seat OF government
Detailed statements from the Treasurer, Engineer
Auditor and Assessor OF the ard, herewith transmit
tel furnish "A summary OF It's transactions from It's lr
ganization to the present Time from 60 l,o I 90
that the total amount or accounts dulted Is >Ob2l d.
standing Indebtedness 20; from which should
be deducted amounts advanced on account Oi wafer
fund houses, pumps, d., which are To be REIN
bursed by the District aggre eating s2O6j "a; leaving
actual liabilities N,i49,i4O &c. .
The material on nand equals In yalne the percentage
retained on anu therefore, this item has not
been added 10 tine Liabilities III the above statement as
the Engineers report establishes this Iact.
The report of the engineer herewith submitted, SHOWS
the completing the contracts outstanding on al
work i'm course of completion to be sii3Ol 49, To meet
tins the report OF the assessor herewith transmitted
that there will be realized from assessments on
private property, work already done. N,9215i9 IL;
IRON balance due on account OF SiOOOO appropriation
s25lOCO total. s2l79,5i9 II. g. - - ...,..o,,o,,
The port tnat there Is an appropriation
available after July l. 1873. made by the United states
Government of s9i5OOO TO NEE. %s proportion OF WORK
i'm progress aud to be cOmmencou frUm which, with the
amount due from the District, additional assessments
Will accrue to the amount OF $4,000.
OWING 10 the extent OF tue improvements now in
progress the amount OF special assessments against
will afford relief To the taxpayers II the ne for the
payment Of these assessments can be extended over
period OF years, and made payable IN lnstallmehts'
Under existing law these assessments cannot be made
until the com letOu OF the Improvements upon which
ey are to be based. Hence large portion OF the re-
SO rces board for the time unavailable To
Ieredy THIS, AND thus relieve us creditors as well as the
tax1dyers 1t suggested that the Issue OF coupon
certificates Of indebtedness, bearing fair rate OF
Interest," shall be authorized, and that the assessment
certificate against private property DC p0hecated as
collateral 4cCurty for their redemption with the Com
msslouerS vi the Sinking Fund. VINO shall collect such
Certificates and apply the proceeds to re-
demptiOn OF such certificates OF Indebtedness, retiring
annually such proportion as you may authorize
DRvELors'EST or THE DISTRICT.
In scarcely any cty the Union nave these develop
ments been more Ia pd and magnificent than in Wash
ingOD Tue amounts paid Tor transfers OF real estate IN
Washington during the year 1872 as shown 10y the books
OF Recorder Of Deeds exceed those OF the year 1870
the sum of over S,O)J,OOO.
The records show that the number OF transfers
for 20j5 against 2oJ IN 1877 there beng nut
percentage in the increase IN the number OF trans
fers while consideration paid Tor the same shows an
aggregate Of 100 per cent upon the total
price paid for such transfers THESE ere facts attested
public records. They furnish their own comment
The number of buildings erected in Washington during
the year 1872 l,26 and the value thereof was
sessed O92j0 This assessment does not cover their
actual value.
These facts from official records, cited TO Illustrate
how promptly private enterprise and capital have
seconded welldlrected public expenditures aud in
authorities. Ihey also attest with
emphasis that be successfully assaed the conf
and Of the people OF the District IN the wis
dom of these expenditures and In the integrity which
has characterized their management.
H. ID. COOKE, Governor.
1 now send you the following approved statement
from the Treasurer's Office
,TRRAsURER's OFFICE, BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WASHINGTON. April 20, 1913.
To amount received from appropriations OF
the District Government ana Congress ana
other sources TO lI3Obi %
Advanced by banks. 1880 80
Total 50
BY amounts paid to date as per vouchers for
WM. LAIRD, Bookkeeper.
In my former communication stated the amount to