The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-07-06

The total reported Indebtedness Of
+ the city June 30. 1878, was 200 50.
/ Indebted c.s then accrued and lot re-
/ ported-which has subsequently, been
assumed aaj placed IN tue report toT the
year ending Jane 80. le19-on the
Front street grade, amounts TO Si.3O6
| IS. This amount added to the reported
Indebtedness Of the previous year
where It belonged. would show total
Indebtedness for that year Of 20,001 %,
with delinquent tax list Of 1896 l6;
leaving an apparent balance against the
city Of Sl4.7Ol ID. The total indebt.
eduess against the city June 30. 1879.
/ was $2l.727 90 with delinquent tax
list of 1884 81. leaving an apparent
balance against the city of $l6.362 So.
Deduct from this Si,3O6 &c belonging
TO the preceding year and an actual de-
crease Of the city debt to the amount of
1894 90 is shown. Without counting
assets, the actual Indebtedness of the
city. as shown by the record. was $l6,-
39s SO June 80, 1877; $20.007 20 lin
Guiding grade scrip not reported) June
80 1878. and $21.727 80 June 80. 1870
The receipts for the last year have
been sl5, 706 80; the expenditures s2l,-
$50 II. or the expenditures so S52
IS were extraordinary; viz: For FIRE
Depsrtment-engine. hose cart, tanks.
etc 5000 As: ballast wharf 81 COS 81;
redemption of grade scrip-outstanding
but not before reported 81 ,3O6 IS.
The ordinary expenses fer the year
amounting to Sll, 507 96-si. 1873 SO
less than tine actual cash receipts. TIE
extraordinary expenditures have added
$6.0i5 90 in actual cash value to the
assets Of the ciLy. redeemed S4,306 &c
Of outstanding liabilities. and added
but 81 2O 81 to its indie btedness dur
ing the last year. As partial off-et to
the city indebted ness of $2l.727 90, in
addition to accumulated property of the
full value Of over 5000. is the delin-
quent tax list of 1864 9i-which is q
lien upon the property taxed to the full
amount with interest-aEd just claim
against responsible property holders to
the full amount Of the $4,000 IS paid
upon grade scrip, which is now in suit;
these several claims sggregating So
GIL 20. which. when collected. would
reduce the Indebtedness to $12.056 90.
For the current year tax Of iO14
mills is levied upon an assessed valua-
ton OF 81 PIG .Sj5. amounting to flo.-
21O SO. being reduction of Il. mills
from the preceding year. From the
first Of January next. the liquor licenses
collected in the city and heretofore paid
into the county treasury. are to be paid
into the city treasury. From this
source. together with other licenses,
fines and forfeitures. not less than &c.
600 may be reasonably expected. This
will give an income of over $25. 900,
which with ordinary prudence will not
only pay all reasonable expenses, but
materially diminish the taxes and rap
idly reduce the debt.
During the past year, with due re
gard to public economy, the much
needed improvement and efficiency Of
our fire department and its facilities
have been largely increased. A steam
fire engine which gives general salts
faction has been purchased on satisfac.
tory terms, q new hose cart and 1900
feet of first class hose has been added.
The city has now steam fire engine
which has no superior for its capacity
upon the Pacific coast, an excellent
hand engine. two good hose carts aud
1000 feet of hose, with a fire company
which cannot be excelled for efficiency
and zeal.
To protect our hsrbor from the dis
charge Of ballast which was rapidly de-
stroying the anchorage ground. the
Council have caused o wharf to be
erected for the discharge Of ballast,
which cannot but prove great con-
venience to shippers and advantage to
the public.
In view of the great depression in
business during the past year the
Council have wisely RETAINED from
mourning any expense not demanded
by public necessity. Economy has
been observed in all its measures.
The police have been faithful and ETH.
cient; the peace we'll maintained and
crime and disorder less prevalent than
at any former period within the history
Of our municipal organization. The
chief matter OF regret is the exhibition
on the part Of very small portion Of the
community. unfortunately including
persons of position ~ d influence, 70 EN-.
bsrrsss and resist measures deemed ue-
cessary for the improvement and pro-
lection Of the city. thus involving the
city in unnecessary and expensive liti-
cation which inures to the benefit OF
nobody but the lawyers and officers Of
the courts. Our charter confers upon
the city government no power to ao.te
the nuisance Of shyster practice by law
yers. and hence We can only deprecate
and appeal to public sentiment to prop.
erly deal with those citizens who uni
formly advise the violation Of city or.
dinances or resistance to the levy Of
city taxes for no other purpose than to
promote litigation at the expense Of the
Taxpayers.
have no measures TO recommend
other than those which have been al.
ready passed upon by the Council.
whidh ! can bear testimony have been
actuated BY wise. just and economical
policy suited TO the times.
Respectfully submitted.
BERIAH Brown. Mayor.