Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-07
AWFuLLy HARD UP.
Treasuter Nelson Unbessns. Himself
to a Union aud AmerieSik Reporter.

Condition or the City FL
nances - Expenses tnci easing I'm
Every Department and THE Revenue
Failing OH-Risid ECONOMY the
Only Means of Escape from Bank.
ruptcy.
the present financial condition of Nashville
by her citizens, representative of the
UNION AND AMERICAN called upon City
Treasurer Nelson, yesterday, IN order to
obtain some figures from that gentleman in
relation to the situation.
Stating his object, our reporter was in
formed by the City Treasurer that he was
willing to answer AL questions with regard
to the financial condition of the city which
might be put TO him.
aHow much does the present revenue of
the city exceed the current expenses" in
quired our earnest seeker after light.
s'None at all, was the reply; ''on the con-
trary, there is not enough money coming
now to defray the ordinary city ex-
penditures."
ssWhat is the exact amount of bonds
which fall due on the first?"
THE principal and interest amount to
ss2, 40
sand to meet this Indebtedness we
have"
Not a dollar; but the payment of these
bonds will have to be deferred until the
mex: tax book is received"
"The City Council proposes to fund this
debt, believer"
sit can't be done, sir. This is an indebt-
edneSs that has been funded once, the FL
nance Committee having discounted the
amount and issued bonds at par
"Nill the revenue from the new Textbook
be any greater than it was last year."
Il think mott
How much has been paid out of the
city treasury during this municipal year,"
"The amount paid out for all purposes
from October l, 1873, to June list, 1873, is
S302,S7o. So"
..How does that compare with last years
expenditures?
at is only about $1,000 in excess of the
same period last year"
"HOw much of the past due Indebtedness,
bonds and coupons have been paid during
the past eight months?
''Ne have paid S67,324I5."
GLOW does that compare with the same
length of time in preceding year,"
municipal year, and nearly Sl50,000 short
of the amount paid during the year before
that"
"Are the running expenses of the city
larger than heretofore"
aYes, there has been an increase in al
most every department"
"With corresponding increase of reve-
nue?"
"No."
"Why are the city expenses greater now
than in preceding years."
because the City Council has been put
ting down more water-pipe, erecting gas
posts, building sewers, increasing the pO-
lice force, etc, etc. More new gas posts
have been erected during the past year
than in any three years heretofore
"Dces not the additional revenue frum
the water-works more than pay the expense
incurred in laying WATERPROOF"
"Yes, eventually, but the return comes
in slowly" ~
:;What proportion Of the water tax is not
collected?"
s.About onetenth, exclusive of some ST.
800 per annum which is credited TO the
pauper account, and which no effort to col
iect is made.
...There is bill nov pending in the Guy
Council, | belieFe, to reduce the water tax,
do you think it should be required3'
.:No. The Water-wOrks will have TO be
repaired soon, and il the Iax is kept as il is
nov, the work can be paid for by The water
tax. One of the engines will have TO be
replaced with new one, a. IL has been in
use twenty-five years, and is kept in order
only by the most CAREFUL attention. II that
engine should suddenly give out, there is
no way in the world by which the city could
be supplied with water"
There has been a great deal of IN
bridled eloquence displayed in the City
CHncil with regard to the expenses Of the
Street Department
"The expenses OF that department have
been very much increased during this year,
in consequence of the extensive macadam-
izing, laying curbing and building sewers
which has been done"
"Were not these improvements neces-
sarys
Il suppose SCAT least the City COUNCIL
thought sO.'
"HOw do the WoIk-house expenses COM
pars nav with those of preceding years"
"Ihey are about the same they were last
year. anu SOluc S'.[OO pei dDuuIu III cA-
cess of the three preceding years.
swell, as the, city expenditures are con-
stantly increasing, with no corresponding
increase of the revenue, where is the money
to come from to pay this constantly accu-
mulating Indebtedness
II know of no way 10 meet the emergen-
Gy but b. induction OF the exfetses in
every department Of the city government
which will justify reduction. In order to
get along the city must live within her in
come. There will have to be a large
amount paid ont for the new school-hOuse
on the Hume lot, which makes this reduc-
tion esen more imperative"
"What are the receipts Of the city per
monthe"
aAbout S37,G0Oa
"What sum is absolutely necessary to
carry on the city government, with no OK
OUTLAWS, such as building school |
houses, etc?
"AtOut S25, 900 per month, and that |
would leave $4,000 per month to be ap- |
piled to. settling our Indebtedness?
"Then your plan for paying these bonds !
which seem to exercise the C;tT Cpancii 80 |
greatly, would be u save $4,000 out Of |
each months receipts and pay up the amount |
the city owes by inEtallments 2"
THAT is my plan"
The reporter gathered up his note book |
and pencil, and as he left the office came to |
the conclusion that there was more "hOrse |
sense" in the plan suggested by the City |
Treasurer for settling the financial problem |