, 1877-05-01
above, appropriations we're made for the erection
OF thirteen school buildings, aa follows:


.s'!aa .a. snf efsa Rstsa e.
t!as and nrener streets. ~ 00
s!iase aad % TIr.s nth t,rss;. 29%
NedI fI'LiEhton' Lincoln and Thirty NTH streets.
Centre svenue and Sneiesnth =. OK
ToaItn fv,ara ssreet and "estcrn aEenue.... a.,n
S,;!:i Ksd1is sySass sSd WsiHu ssset:::: i 81
West Side water lot. ..............,.. 80, OK
Therefore It will be seen that to the credit ol
the school-site and schoolbuiIdlng funds there il
si20, 500 II cur taxes were collected, the pro-
visions already made would, in my judgment, be
sufficient to aford school accommodations for
nearly All applicants In the city desiring such an
education and It. is for the ta1payess to decide
whether this shall or shall not be remedied by the
payment Of taxes. The importance of the back
Tax bill In this connection alone is apparent to al
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
t@The various public Improvements undertaken
and completed under the direction OF this Depart
ment during the last municipal year were, up to
Of Public WorSs.' On that day, by an
ordinance passed BY the City Council, said Board
Commissioners were vested in the Mayor OF the
CITY. In the transfer Of such authority the city
has suffered no apprecaolt Inconvenience nor de-
improvements, nor In carrying forward the general
duties and responsibilities connected with the De-
part1nent.
1.-THE general decrease in the number Of persons
employed. and the reduction Of the salaries OF
those who remain, bringing the expenditures OF
the Department down TO fully one-ha the amount
not detracted nor taken from the different depart
ncnts amy Of their skill, experience, efficiency.
The following statement is deemed Of sufficient
The reduction by dissni.sals from the Water De-
partment amounted to $50, 900 per annnm; the
Special Assessment Department, 81 600 per an
r1t,r11 tt1r% Epann tfufA Hrt+o
annum; the Sewerage Department, SS, 100 per an
nun; and from miscellaneous departments, SIS, =
600 per unnuna: total, S11, 500 per annum. Tue
total amount OF reductions and sarinss In salaries
wus 500. 500.
'sThe total amount received from water-tax COL
lections during the year was $685. oJ3 7s being an
increase orer the previous year OF about $U5, OO0
The total expense of the operating and maintain
20 e. =; The 6, Interest on the bonded debt
lures Of the Department s632' SIS. 2e, and
@ l5 a VII be fs, seen b. the statement
is sufficient, after paying al expenses. salaries and
interest on the water bonds. to carry forward all
Necessary watsr pipe e1ten;,on @ together wlh vt
Pumping Works are believed to he in better condi-
tion now than ever before all the machinery hav-
ing been thoroughly examined and repaired. and
consequently The outlay on them during the pres
cnt year will be necessarily small. The West Side
Pumping Works commenced pumping on the 18th
capacity to pump with ease more water and TO
greater height than the contract required and have
within the past few days filed all the requirements
Of the contract to the entire satisfaction OF the
perts elected to make the test.
POLICE DEPARTMENT..
''DurtnE the yearfndng March 81 the number OF
ratro!mcn In this Department has been reduced
from 5B5 to 482. OF this NUMBER - were dis
charged on the lst day OF August last, which, to-
gether with the reduction Of 10 men ordered by the
Council, leaves but 4S2 men on duty. The police
arSf1 n1$
ful attention and scrutiny. Its members are sub
ject 10 more and greater temptations than amy 9TH
er public servants. They hare watchfu1, keen, and
interruptions foes to contend with. who will not
heaitntc to bring all the Influences which mans lu
eenuity can devise to corrupt them or render them
inefficient; and failing in that to break them down
by perjury, slandeE, and other devices. After
careful examination Of the force It has been found
necessary to make several changes IN order to i'm
prove its efficiency. This process Of wedding out
ia necessarily slow one, and requires calm yet
decisive acton but the subject fs receiving close
attention. and am confident that our poice-force
will shortly be, as is already Indicated By its work
one OF the most thorough and best disciplined in
the last quarter were s12s, 5ea against sl7o, SOB
dor The eorrespondins period Of the year previous
year only nine months appropriation could be
made By the previous E9r tsSs 1SS
panment, being sit, $50. oa more. than that
quarter At corresponding rate to the sum asked
the current dsca year about 600 less rhan the
force, are now, as they we're TO grcat extent here
totorc called upon to perform several duties in
addition to their regular police duty.-such as
notifying delinouent licensees, serving notices on
owners or defective sidewalks to repair the same,
1epressing violations OF the building and health
besides other duties Of slmilur char
0cter.
''Adcquate protection from fire in any, city
involves much expense, especially In
cities covering wide e1panse of territory, ret
the advantages derived cannot be oyere$timate1
In value, and am certain that We have very few
citizens In our midst who are not willing to accord
a liberal need Of praise to, and who do not feel
under the guardianship OF, our Fire Department.
Several changes have been made from time 10 time
during the last year In its organization and equip
nent believe il is t. day as efficient il not
country.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ttPeculiarly situated Chicago is the con-
dition Of our Sanitary Department Should bt sub
icct Of vital Importance. and should be zcalonaly
guarded By those having the direction of municipal
utIairs. The Department in its various forms OF
existence has always hccn OF positive good to
the city, but that more effective work could and
should have been rendered, no one cognizant Of
its history for past years will donbt Tnis Depart
.ncnt is now, In charge Of au experienced and en-
crcctic officer, and Ihase no douht that the result
vi his labor will, during the coming summer, be
seen in the improved sanitary condition Of the
city. ,
HOUSE OF CORRECTIONS.
A.Iu the House Of Correction Department no
changes have occurred in the Board Of Inspectors,
nor in the Supesjntendency, since the opening OF
The prison as corrective institution, Jan. l5,
1872 Prisoners have been hulna1icly treated, the
sanitary condition OF the institution has been fault
crs, economy of management in the e1pcndtnrc
If money ltas been con;ncntfab}e, and the labor OF
hc prisoners t,aa been 81 utilized that appropria-
ions from he treasury were not asked for ts snp-
,nrt during the last nor the present fiscal gear.
There II one necessity in t1lis Department. how
ever, and this is the construction OF separate
,rison for females, thereby making room for
he better separation and classification of
nale prisoners. With the present accommodations
he re is insufficient room in the male wing for the
ordinary number Of male inmates, and necessarily
be Young and the old, the first offender and the
hardened criInnul are brought into contact anu
confined in dormltories with each other.
rhc remedy above suggested seems to be the mosf
'easible of any that can recommend.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT.. i
ssIn this Department the expenses have been
;ery materially reduced. The report OF the Super
ntendent covers the period from Oct I, 1876,
yllcn that officer assumed the duties OF his Office
q March 81, 1877 The report shows that during
he term named 6lB building permits were issued
md a2o permits to move buildings granted The
1umber Of buildings erected wah s4J. representing
valuc Of Sc. 70f, 800. and frontage OF II. 63o
!. },;1Ha f1ENf Nft.r.f