, 1874-01-11

lit the building up IN anything Like decent
shape.
Aid. Spa1ding said his object in endeavoring
to have the building repaired WAS to provide
offices for the various departments, 30 that the
erection OF new Courthouse might be- post
poned for at least ten yearH. The taxpayers
we're not prepared for an expenditure of 81 4,o0o,
600 just now.
Aid. Coey said the Post Office building would
not furnish sufficient room for the use OF the
city. He could not see what could be
done with the present City Hall il change
we're made. It certainly could not be rented to
Inspector King said the Board Of Education
had not yet secured q complete title to the Post
Office property from the Government. When
that cana into its possession it would talk with
made 10 rent it to the Library Board, but the
latter body vent elsewhere, because it could not
stand tho expense.& The Board OF Education
now thought Of improving the building 30 soon
floors for it's own use. It would then rent The
lo1scr floor for business purposes. II the city
wanted the building, however, the Board had
no objection in renting 1t to them for the good
Of this public.
AID. S padding said something ought to be
bad plight, and should be put in decent shape.
Tha fact might as well be acknowledged now as
at any other time that Court-Houso would not
be built for ten years, and provision ought to be
made for tho future.
Aid. Coey said ha was in no hurry for Court
House, and favored cutting down expense as
much as possible, but he could not agreo with
Aid. Spaidiug. The city had gone through many
severe trials brayey, and, long before AID. spald
inGs decade had come to an eud, you'd be in 4
condition to build 9 Court House.
Aid. spalding said that that did not alter the
fact that the city finances were at present in
bad condition, and would not warrant any very
large expenditure. The present floating debt,
- %n~ ,1.1
that tho city WAS suffering from q financial
stringency.
Commissioner Prindiyil1e said the Board Of
Public Works had been governed by an econom-
ical policy. He euggested that the present City
Hail be improved. and thought that when the
Public Library moved out there would be plenty
OF room. The Library would yacate in the
middle OF February, and then the law library
could be moved into the tank, and the Law
to changed ts rdoa s Where tint
law books we're stored. He called attention
to tue elegant quarters OF the Fire Department,
and believed that the whole building could be
fixed up in similar way at very little expense,
comparatively speaking.
Aid Spaulding read an article from 4 real
estate Journal in which it was shown that the
annual expense OF running the city aad county
governments was $4,000, ,000-sufacient to run
the governments Of ten small States.
Inspector King said the Board of Education
ponse Of public instruction was but S500. 1000,
while that Of Philadelphia, with population
only twice as large as that Of Chicago, WAS
$4,000, 600.
4 general discussion followed on the question
Of rents. and it appeared to be the impression of
tho gentlemen taking part in it that the city was
not making much money by renting its property.
AID. Spaulding suggested that some person be
appointed to aseertaln what the repair Of the
Post-Ofice building would actually cost, and to
what uso it could be put.
On motion, the Committee agreed to recon-
mend that the Council place Aid spauIding's |
on file.
AID. Spau1ding inquired il there WAS any truth |
n the ruulor that the city intended to rent the /
aonore building for Offices. He had heard some |
hing about it during the week.
Commissioner Thompson said he had also |
1eard the tumor. |
Commissioner Prindiville and AID. Bailey said |
here WAS no truth in it, The city would not |
ent q building from private party.
The Committee then adjourned.