Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-10

hands
them destroyed BY n COMMITTEES OF the 1eneral
Council. thereby saving 20 our citltens 81, ON
SlOS, 500 bonds on hand. In the next thry
years Sl95, 800. being the interest," on tnv as
already purchased and owned by the city, LOT
the greater portion OF the bonds pur
chased are of recent issue. having thirty years
60 run, md probably tho most ofthem are a
part Of the last ss9xy wn tsh S neoole The
commissioners may DO, II necessary, emoiheu
from Investing in such securities.
Although the city has the right m lsw. niu
the sanction Of the constitution 70 eol,eot
nrl,iieSe tax on merchants, Il Is TO be hoped
that yOnr united wisdom VIII suEgese sun.o
other mode of procuring suuicleht Lo, .ie'
and cease imposing burdens on one eiass uoa "a,
HE that imposed on others, as IN tne cnse y
present. by collecting priyilsge ana an au-
valorem tax on the same capital used oy n'er-
! chants. $50, L., a..
Water Works Company for damages. the Ia
ture Of which the Mayor Is not anViseu ol. w
he would recommend that lawsuitsi wheneNSr
/ they car should be ayoided-ntlgation rAIsH
/ eve ris beneficial TO any one. ueteI roIhs'
| like many other enterprises, are Of incalcula,
| ble heneft 10 cities, and sheuld be fostered
/ and encouraged rather than met with techni-
01 yha sni, ~ Messrs. I. &. Brown & Co.,
| known as the Nieolson Pavement Case vs.. the
| Ciitv Of Msmphis, will probably be decided at
| the present term Of the supreme Court AT
| Weshinston. VIM. Nj. Randolph. Esq. late
| CIV Atterncy, has at length consented 20 as
~, ne cnnnsel already employed at Wash
| ington TO defend the city's INTEREST,", inns Is
| Of course q Gauss OF grauhcation 10 an our CIT
/ irens especially must il be so on account OF
Mr. Rsndolph's familiarity with the suit from
| the commencement. In the meantime the
mandate Of the United States Circuit Court is
| being strictly obeyed. Three eompetent CLERKS
| are employed in preparing the tax books. and
| in the meantime the Collector Will receive
| The Nicolson pavement tax when he collects
the taxes far other purposes In round ~ num- ana
beers the city admits tns' 81 s1e of HGUs s19S0S
Neither amounts are taken into account IN the |
| floating Indebtedness. -,
THE sanitary condition Of the city will re- |
ouire your immediate action. Since the be- |
Ginning of the present year comparatively |
little has been effected towards cleaning the |
payed streets and alleys, and the time IS now |
for action 10 place the city IN good condluon |
must necessarily be expended in this way and
also in repairing the now almost decayed |
wooden pavement or paving anew with some
kind of substantial material; Inc generat
health of the citizens since the departure OF
yellow fever has been excellent, ana WIN or. |
binary care there is no good reason why IL |
should not remain so. l shall be happy 10 |
cooperate with you IN carrying out any ineass
ure which promises TO protect the health OF
our citizens. |
ing the streets demands your careful atten- |
ton. If this increase Is owing 20 tne uhTaLs,
/
be resisted; and it does appear but reason
able that the company for the privileges
granted to il, should be willing 10 furnish gas |
for city purposes AN. 4. pI isr vide spread
dissatisfaction in the community on this SUB
;eot. but we should not hesitate 10 apply the
remedy. he cost Of gas light and lamps IN
1870 was $40. 332 81; in 1878 II was Soi,oio IL.
Comment is unnecessary. :, -,
The condition of our public landing will
properly occupy your attention and receive
due consideration. The thousands Of dollars
heretofore expended in paving the levee wlil
ere long be forever lost. The caving in Of |
The entire city's front is going on SO rapidly |
that unless immediate action IS had by the
city the loss will be very great. The wharf,
age rates have been for many years cause OF
inst grievance to steamboatmen; the revenue
from wharfage should not exceed the actual
amount needed to keep the leyee IN repair,
and every dollar collected should be expended
r. Is iificuit to conceive why an onerous
ard almost prohibitory tax should be i'm
Dosed on steamboats, floating on the Father
of Waters for the mere privilege OF calling at
our landing, leaving with us what we want,
or calling for the purpose OF conveying from
our city such wares and merchandise as are
needed by the people Of the surrounding
country. Might we not as consistently collect
a tax on every railroad train coming into our
Gentlemen, you will be called upon to levy
and collect taxes for educational purposes; IN
dining let II be remembered luht uOluluB
tends more to the happiness Of the. citizens,
the increase of population and wealth, than
the acquisition Of knowledge; the friends OF
edueation-and who is not!-may with pleas
ure point to our city as enjoying rare oppor-
tunities for the dissemination Of useful know
ledge through the agency OF our public
schools, colleges and converts.
According to the last assessment the value
of real estate and Improvements IN the eight
original wards was 81. 362. 500; and in the new
wards, 81 ,926, AIS: the personal property, |
s., 92s 1894; in all. s2S,2l7,e69. If we consider
the price fixed upon real estate by holders
when about TO sell it, this assessment might
very properly be doubled.
The rate of taxation at presentis: For gene
raj purposes. per cent; interest, per cent;
schools. 30 cents on each SlOO, and SINKING
fund % cents; Nieolson pavement tax, 81 40 in
the old wards. In the new limits, general tax |
81; interest. so cents; schools, 20 cents; Miss.
river railroad tax, 10 cents; sinking fund. ~ |
cents on each 500 worth of taxable property, |
making a total for the original wards Of "a 90, |
and in the new wards So 10 on each 500. To |
this must be added an additional tax TO meet
the judgments already decreed, and just now |
held up until an opportunity is given you,
gentlemen, to raise the money, al
The last, but by no means the least import
ant matter 70 which | beg leave to call your
attention. Is the urgent necessity Of procuring
Immediately a Workhouse for criminals. and
a house of correction for juveniles. When
punishment must be imposed, lot ii be with a
view to improving the condition Of this unfor-
tunate law breaker. On the other hand, let us
show by our course that vice and crime in ev-
cry conceivable form will meet with proper
punishment; that tue life and property of the
citizen shall be protected, cost what 1t may, /
and law breakers punished.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let us bear in |
mind that we should use our best efforts TO |
greater simplicity in our municipal govern
ment, greater economy in its administration,
the cutting OF of all useless expenditures in
ali directions. a stop TO all projects involving
An increase of our permanent indebtedness,
with little or no pubic benefit; no money TO be
paid without fair equivalent received; no
salaries without services rendered; no gifts or
presents Of any kind, under any pretence, to
be received By any official of the city; 4
thorough accountability for every cent of
revenue belonging 10 the city. and serupulous
care taken that il reaches the City Treasury. |
As one Of the general issuec now before us.
i fully recognize the duty Of prOclaiming no /
more bonds-no further increase Of the cify's /
permanent Indebtedness. Let US stop and /
pay. The people require rest breathing time
10 recover from the exhaustion resulting from /
our past mode Of doing business. You may |
rely uDon my earnest cooperation with your /
honorable body in all measures which shall /
prevent the further increase Of debt. and yet /
still do all that may be necessary for the full /
but gradual development OF our fair city. and |
thus lay the foundation Tor the accomplish
ment Of what we all desire-the growth. pros |
perity and happiness Of our city and her |
people.
In conclusion. gentlemen. permit me TO re-
assure you Of my earnest desire 70 Wosk IN &C
cord with you for the best interests 81 the
city, and By faithful adherence 10 an hon |
cst administration Of our government may We |
not hope for the Divine favor. the reward Of
a consciousness Of duties we'll performed and |
the appreciation Of those who have devolyed \
such important trusts upon Us.
JOHN L0AGUE, Mayor.
February 4, 1874.
fAl