Daily globe., 1879-05-13

SAINT PAUL. May 9th, 1879.
To the Honorable the President and the Com
mon Council Of the city Of st. Paul.
1t is customary at the first meeting of the
Council after each yearly municipal election
| that the Mayor should read a communication
presenting his views on the various subjects in
which our city is chiefly interested.
The election having been held ON the 9th inst.
gives too short time for the Mayor to have
prepared a lengthy message.
Having served in the management of city
government with many of you, your action in
the past is a guarantee for the future of CON
tinued good management and strict economy
in all our city affairs. One hundred and fifteen
thousand dollars of our bonds bearing per
cent. interest sold at one and thirty hun
dredths dollars premium. This shows our
financial credit above any city of our size in the
West, and nearly equal to any city in the
nation. .sa
Our tax for the year 1878 was 13 mills on the
dollar for all purposes, city, county and State.
believe this is the lowest rate of any city in
the whole nation Our entire debt is 81, l,471,-
444.77. The valuation of real estate and per
sonal property is $2s, 600 ,OOO. If this entire
debt had to be paid off in two years, an addi-
tional tax 81 per cent would wipe it out
This would not be much more than is now be-
ing paid yearly by many municipalities in the
United States. l congratulate you on our pres
ent financial condition.
in Saint Paul, I have carefully watched our
city government, and during that time, while
there may have been mistakes made, the city
government was generally fairly and honestly
| managed.
RAILROAD AFFAIRS.
The long and tedious law suit between the
stock and bond holders of the st. Paul & Pacific
railroad has been happily ended. Arrange
ments have been made between this company
and the Northern Pacific Railroad, which Sc
| cures ground in our city for depot purposes,
which virtually makes St. Paul the Eastern
terminus Of this great national railroad COM
pany. The St. Paul & Pacific Railroad is now
in the hands Of men with plenty of capital,
and who are determined to push forward theil
| roads to the great advantage and development
| OF the State and the building up of our city.
The magnificent country through which these
two great corporations extend, when fully cul
| tivated, will build up u city here greater than
our most sanguine men anticipate. A country
| Tor wheat raising unequalled on the globe and
abounding with natural grasses, we'll adapted
seen many times before it's richness
ard beauty can be comprehended.
The arrangements made with the st. Paul 4
Sioux City Railroad company to locate theil
| machine shops in the western part of our cit,
will add largely to our Immediate prosperity
This road is also rapidly pushing it's way further
west through one of the finest countries in the
State.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
A great union passenger depot, a transfer
railroad company open to all railroads entering
our city on fair and equal terms, several larg,
| freight depots, a short line railroad between St
| Paul and Minneapolis, the completion of
wagon bridge ut Fort Smelling with q broad
avenue leading to it, a stately and commodioul
market house. are some of the many public i'm
provements we will see accomplished befor,
another year rolls round.
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
! Our fire department. consists Of four steam
ire engines, four hose carriages, one hook and
ladder company, manned by thirty -ninc mer
and fourteen horses, under the superintendent,
| of chief engineer, assistant engineer and su
perintcndcnt of fire alarm. This department
stands high on the roll of honor Throughout
the nation and is regarded with just pride by
| our people, The entire cost of the department
for the past year was including repairs o
buildings, $28, ,96O.82. For further Particular
l refer you to Chief Engineer Strongs report
THE POLICE.
Our police force consists of chief captain
sergeant, detective, 27 patrolmen, to which
might be added 2 bailiffs for the municipa
court and one jailer. This department has at
tended to their duty faithfully, with very fes
exceptions, and, SO far as am aware, with yer,
general satisfacaction to public. The cos
of the force during the past year was $3l, ,845
IS. For PARTICULARS refer you to Chief Web
ber's report.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The Board of Public Works which is one o
the most important branches of our city gov
ernment has had large amount of business
before it during the past year. The wor
which is being done by this body is indicativ
of returning business activity, and it gives m
pleasure to commend the care and watchfulnes
which governs its deliberations. The follow
ing is the record of the street work done b.
this branch of the city government during tn
past year: