The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-14
MAYORS OFFICE,

II o inc IlOHOTuUtc 1USHtOCo " "0 wy
Council: The law requires me to transmit
the annual reports OF the various depart
ments, which duty have now the honor OF
performing for the first time, as also to make
such comments and recommendations as the
ment direct to be for the advancement of
the prosperity Of our city.
The year past leaves pleasant record OF
harmonious cooperation in the various de-
parrments for the general good-of official
duty faithfully and honestly performed,
and OF such evidences OF prosperity and
emulated by future guardians OF the city's
interest. The population Of our city is rap
idly increasing, SO that from about $4,000
in 1870 we can at least boast OF $4,000 at
the close OF 1876, and even in the dull,
stringent times since the panic OF 1873 at
least l 200 new houses have been erected to
accommodate new citizens and give room
for new enterprises.
Our old merchants arc accunulating capi-
tai, and by their efforts and influence are
bringing back to our midst the trade which
they had before the war; and but for the
scarcity of money all over the country our
manufactures would be in full operation,
our mechanics would find remuneratlve
employment, and our prosperity in all lines
of trade would be great.
It speaks we'll for the expenditures of our
CITY government 10 know that, although
there have been made many valuable i'm
provements and special heavy outlay re-
quired, and although there may be reduc-
ton in the valuation Of property on which
taxation is based, yet the rate Of taxation is
reduced for the present year, while public
confidence in our future is fully shown by
the readiness with which investment is
made in our bonds at price higher than
the bonds of any other city in our State
and as high as the bonds Of any city in the
South. Our s per cent. bonds command
readily S116, and our per cent. bonds al
most par value OF S100.
But let us turn to the exhibits OF depart
ments and learn our status.
FINANCE.
The total receipts for the year ending 1st
February, 1877, amounted to 81, ,309. .969.79,
and the total expenditures S1,309, 1879,
leaving cash balance on hand of $7S1.9o.
The entire floating debt Of the city seems
to be only $2,G21.4l, consisting OF balances
of uneXpended appropriations at the end OF
the fiscal year, and bills payable OF $500
not matured.
This shows a remarkably accurate calcu-
lation for the past year as to receipts and
expenditures, and shows that close watch
has been kept to prevent the outgo exceed
ing the income; but that the stringencv o!
the times cut short some lines of trade and
prevented the taking out of some licenses
relied on as estimated income we should
have had some surplus beyond the estimated
outgo for the year. #,s.. .
The bonded debt Of the city on the close
OF the fiscal year Of 1876 was $4 4,432, ,545.47,
while it amounted at the close Of the last
fiscal year to 4,4s5, 195.47, being an increase
Of only S52,G50.
OF this bonded debt 1856, 900 are in pei
cent. coupon bonds, S959,700 in 8 per cent.
registered bonds, S105,000 in 6 per cent.
coupon bonds, and So, 165, ,495.47 in 6 pei
cent. registered bonds.
All the matured bonds have been paid as
due. except s., 800, which could not be re-
deemed because held in trust, and the re-
uuisite orders Of court to collect them have
not been obtained. The commissioners OF
the sinking fund are ready to redeem
these when they can be collected.
1t will be seen by the last annual message
OF my worthy predecessor that notice has
been given that no interest will be paid on
these past-due bonds, SO that their standing
over is not at any cost to the city.
There will mature on the 1st day OF July
OF this year $4,000 in our bonds, which
the sinking fund will meet without
any difficulty. No other bonds will mature
until July, 1880. .....} .... sl.,,.....
I present you herewith, as president OF
the Board of Commissioners OF the Sinking
Fund, my report for the past year.
TA r., not ;nf ma
tured bonds due by the city have been
promptly met except the 1,500 Of past-due
bonds, which the holders cannot collect,
and to which before called attention rs moi
redeemed on the 1st of February, 1877
The sinking fund has paid during 1876 UP
to Jannary /, 1877, 1886, 1868 for matured
bonds, interest on our bonded debt, and
bonds of the city for investment on account
of the sinking fund. ,E."..
There was left on hand in cash 1904. 4.07 un
expended, and there was invested in city
bonds S41,S02.5O. In the latter item is EN-
braced a bond of the city for $4,000, whicl
was transferred in 1872 to the, city by ths
School Board as purchaser OF the "Davi:
Mansion" This bond now, stands in thu
name Of the "Committee on the Reduction
of the City Debt" The title at that time
applied to what is now the sinking fund.
I suggest you order the transfer OF thi
bond to its proper title, "The Sinking
Fund" -,
There also exists Il bond Of the city O.
Fredericksburg for $500 to the city OF Rich
mond on the lst of May, 1906, which wa!
accepted by order Of the Council 11th O
October, 1876, in compromise of debt du'
by said city. 1t seems to me this propert!
belongs to the sinking fund, and sugges
YOU order its transfer accordingly.
..i.8,5E.; ;I HEALTH. 81! a@ta@'
). The report Of this department deserve
mature consideration at your hands, as j
contains suggestions of great value to oul
future. ?.
The department has been managed will
great care and skill, and has materially pro
noted the health of our city. The tota
deaths for 1915 were 1,G49, OF which 744
were white and, 905 colored.% This difer'
ence between the two races in death rate 1s
very great when the Health Board estimate
our white population at 1880 and colored
at 80, 17O-which shows that while the white
have majority ef over 10000, yet the col.
ored deaths exceed the white about $50 du-
ring the year. Still, this aggregate death
roll is in favorable comparison with other
cities. There was a slight increase in the
number OF deaths over 1876, which might
be accounted for from the rapid increase In
population; but special causes in 1875 added
largely to the usual mortality. An epidemic
4 whooping-cough alone caused 70 deaths
in 1876, while only were so caused in 1876
and the excessive heat in the summer Of
1876 caused heavy extra mortality.
Compared with former years, and except
ing these special causes, we. can feel graft.
ded at an increasing city with a adecreased
mortality. ); s5. +. Isl.
This result is due in great measure to