The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-11
CITY COUNCIL.
Annual Message from the Mayor
Reports Of Heads Of Deparfm ents-
Miscellaneous Business,

|
Reports Of Heads of Departments
Miscellaneous Business.
| AT the regular meeting of the city council
last evening the annual message of tn,
| mayor and the reports of the various de
partments of the city government wer'
handed in.
MAYORS MESSAGE.
The return Of personal property for tax.
alton shows an increase of about two mil
lion dollars, and it is believed that new
assessment OF the realty of the city would
show an increase of at least as great. The
bonded debt of the city, which, on the
3lst of January, 1872, was $1,000, 2S5,
was, on the 3lst of January, 1873, So AIS
SOB, an increase of s4l9,2ls. This sum
must be diminished, however, by $780,
700 of six per cent. bonds hypothe-
Gated and not yet returned. Our bills
payable account reaches the unpre-
cedented figure of s235, 1852, with bal
ance of appropriations still due, amounting
to $2S6,S0S more. To meet these two
items land the general expenditures of the
city for the current year, 1t is estimated by
the auditor that a sum of 81 $50, 1897 will
be required. Of this sum, $240,444 ex-
pended on the water works, James river
bridge, ard for Improvements in the river,
is payable in bonds. This leaves to be
raised during the year, 81, l09,S 1893. The
estimated receipts from other source, than
taxes and licenses are $685., 400. Receipts
from taxes and licenses, at the present
rates, 100000. Aggregate, 1884, 400.
Leaving to be provided for 1925, 493. The
expenses on account Of streets. during the
past fiscal year amounted to $l2S, 1928.
The mayor says at least two-thirds of this
charge should be borne by the citizens.
He recommends that a large por-
ton of the bills payable on account
be provided for by an issue of
bonds of $235,762 of the bills payable due
by the city Sl5S, 1926 are reported as issued in
payment of loans. The discount and inter-
est on the bills payable reported is set
down at $4,000, representing loss of
seven per cent, which might have been
easily met by loss of two per cent.
on the sale of sufficient bonds. The mayor
says the collection of the poll-tax seems to
be almost impossible. OF the IL ,242 polls
listed, less than 4, 900 had paid their tax up
to the middle of February. The working
expenses of the James river improvement
for the thirteen months ending December
81, 1872, was $56,73l. The receipts on ac-
count of the water works were S5S 1852
s94,77s. The mayor re-
that Cary street, from Thir-
teenth east be widened by diminishing the
foot way on one side and by dispensing
with gutter, in order to accommodate the
heavy business of the locality and sees
no reason, as we do not. for any curvature
Of surface at the point indicated, the grace
from west to east being enough for drain
age. The taking off of three feet of walk,
with the improvement of surface as indi-
Gated, would add, in effect, SIX feet to the
width OF this street-a relief of the greatest
service in the busy season.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORT.
Superintendent Binford reports for the
year ending January 81, enrolment in
white schools, 2,75l ia colored, 1,9l2-
,otal, 1868. Number of schools, 81;
white 81, colored 80. Teachers and prin-
,ipals 80; 81 white tof which two are Ger
mani and 8 are colored. There are 81 prl-
mary schools, 25 grammar. advanced |
l, not graded J.. The enroll
ment and attendance of scholars
gradually but steadily increases from
year to year. The February examinations
lust concluded, show an average prof.
cheney in the white schools of 70 and in
The colored Of g.. Two teachers have died |
since last report. During the year schools
nave been visited 500 times by members
IF the school board and 2,S29 times by |
parents and friends.
SMALLPOX.
During the past year, and up to the LIST |
If March, 81 cases Of this disease were re-
ported. Seventy-one were developed from
Influences existing in the city, five from
handling rags imported from infected cities,
md six from influences outside of the city. |
erom LIST of January, 1878, to LIST of
March, there have been seventeen Deaths
eleven whites, and six negroes. The erec-
ion of new smallpox hospital is strong
y urged. The number of deaths in the
'lty during The year 1872, was !, 714; births,
l,776.
TREAsURER's REPORT.
The report of the treasurer shows the
'otal cash receipts of the fiscal year to be
81 ,52l ,659.63, and cash disbursements,
81 ,533, 1928. The amount of bills
settled by bills payable during the year
vas SloS, 24l ~. Cash balance from jan |
larry 81, 1872, to February J., lS73-re-
,eipts, 1923, 76016, and disbursements,
I'll ,627.36. The auditors report cores
ponds with that of the treasurer.
CITY ALMs-HoUsE REPORT.
Total expenditure for the alms-house
proper, s2S,5S9.99. The Shockoe Hill
cemetery is reported in good condition.
Total number of interments in the ceme-
terry for the year ending January 81, 1873,
238; the number Of colored poor buried in
The grounds adjacent, was 224; disburse-
ments for the year, sl,24l.50; receipts,
s6s6.75. In the city hospital, at Clark's |
spring, the number of cases treated from
December, 1871, to January 81, 1873,
were 10. Disbursements on hospital ac-
count, $3,SS3.27.
POLICE REPORT.
The report of the chief of police shows
that the police force consists of "a men |
and officers. During the year three re-
signed, one was discharged, and one died.
Number of arrests 6,l2l, of which 1913 |
were for felony and 8 1888 for misdemeanor.
Of the total arrests 2,735 were white, and |
8 $3.50 were colored. Ordinance violations
were 1862. Alarms of fire, 65. |
Live children found and restored to parents,
4 o.