The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-06
The Police stations.
BAD NEWS FOR THE CITY EMPLOYEES o.


SALARIES.
Prompted by the expressed apprehensions
of policemen and other city employees that the
city would soon cease to pay salaries, we
made inquiries on the subject Of the financial
officers Of the city yesterday, to learn that it
was unfortunately true that the month of
June had not yet been paid in full. and that
the taxes were coming in 50 slowly lin fact
not at alb that the prospects of paying July
soon we're very slim.
Ofthe Sill 900 900 assessed valuation) of tax
able property of all kinds, taxes have been
thusfar paid on only about $40, 00O,o 900, leaving
still uncollected the taxes on about $40 OOO,-
600, representing 100000 Of the city's es-
timated revenues. And If, says the city Off
Gals, the taxpayers will not settle their ac-
counts, Of course there can be no money In
the treasury to pay the employees.
This condition of affairs, it Is true, does not
mean that the six last months Of the year
will not be paid In cash, for Of the amount due
that goodly portion will come In between
now and the first of January next. Still, the
outlook is far from being cheerful and was not
expected. II 1T is asked why are the taxpay-
ers not required to pay up, the answer we re-
ceive is that it would be preposterous, during
the yellow fever panic, to force taxpayers into
court, especially while business is stagnant,
and SO many people are absent from the, city,
and many OF these have had to pinch them
selves in order to get away.
In the presence of these facts, will it not
appear singular that there is now manifest
disposition at the City Hall to renew the lease
of the Davidson building for
CENTRAL POLICE STATION,
rather than acquire the Turner's Hall on the
terms that have already been stated in the
to-day, for we find even one of our Camp
street contemporaries misinformed as to the
plainest facts on the subject when~it SAYS
that in case the city abandon the Davidson
building it will cost q large sum to tit up the
Turner'S Hall as a police station, and $4,000 to
put the Davidson building according to
contract) in the same condition that it was
when first leased by the CITY,
The Davidson building, at the rental of
$4,000 Q year, will in seven years have cost the
city for .S25,000 payable In yearly INSTALL
ments of $4,000, without INTEREST,", after it
shall have been fitted up thoroughly for a
police station, central police office recorders
court, coroner's office and office of the Police
commissioners, at q cost to
THE PRESENT PROPRIEToRs
mot to the city Of $4,000.
The Turner's Hall Is more capaciOus than
that portion Of the Davidson building now
occupied by the city; and it is well known
that the corner rooms on the ground floor of
Turner's Hall can be rented for $1,000 year,
when IN seven years would amount to $1,000
50 that whilst the city would be paying
S25, 200 for
THE RENTAL ALONE
OF the Davidson building 1t would be really
paying $4,000 for q vast, commodious and
well constructed edifice, which would have
become its property after the fifth year, and
would continue to, as long as it pleased the
Council to rent portion of it, yield q revenue
OF $1,000 per anDum, or per cent on the orig
inal investment. Indeed, it seems astound-
ing that the city administration should hest
tate In the face Of comparison which is so
1aVorable TO the purchase OF Turner's Hall.
j., Now for the arguments against abandoning
the Davidson building
1t Is asserted that it will require an eXDendi-
ture OF $4,000 to put back the Davidson build
taken possession of by the city. By stretch
Of the imagination it might be admitted that
the assertion Is true. But will not the CITY
have to make that expenditure at some future
time as well, when it must abandon the build
, hg lor more suitable quarters? Apparently,
patent to any builder. At the present price
Of labor and materials it would not be sur
prising il little more than $4,000 would not
construct in toto two similar wings as those
erected by the city uthe Davidson building.
NOT 4n2 n c SRGs0p Dos s Tgper o Hat tv6
squares back Of the Davidson btfilding, and
i accessible via the Royal and Bourbon street
nhe OF cars, Baronne street line, the Dryades
street and the ST. Charles and CarondsEet
street lines, from one to three blocks distant.
., Inc last objection is that the slightest rain
causes causes an overflow in the neighborhood of
Turner's Hall. Passing over this exaggera-
sion we will say that the remedy is not only
easily attained, but in the interest of the citf-
zens OF the vicinity it has been contemplated
for some time already to construct an ordi-
nary sewer through the Girod street ceme-
terry which will thoroughly drain that section
OF the city at cost of $500 Or $500 at most.
;, referring back to the cost of putting the
Davidson building in repair should the city |
to abandon it, the city will not be
embarrassed to find the necessary money. In
the contract of lease Of the Davidson build |
ing there is vicious clause which says that
The rental due by the city for the building
shall be receivable for the taxes that may be- |
come due, not only on the Davidson building
put also on all other real estate belonging to I
he proprietors OF that building. This may /