The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-11

The following communfcsuon states I'D
few words and In very satisfactory man.
uer the claims Of the present City Council
upou the voters Of Richmond:
solid Sh~ts.
RICHMOND. May 8, 1880.
Editors Dispatch; The Richmond Whig
has for several weeks past INDUCED 10
almost daily attacks upon what IL p'easea
10 term .srine (" rule In our City Council.
and bas m generss terms characterized It's
legislation as wssteiuI, extravagant and
corroFt.
leaving to ctr able and willing editors:
and public speakers the genera, ceience Oh
our municIps government from such oase,
less and unworthy asperssons, uiink tnets
I can prove very briefly tast " we 90 Dsse
rings 10 the Council taa1 II we are 10 ]uege
chem by rheir fruits) that rags are eoou
things s.d ought TO be established at every
rnss'rort and cotlnty~seat ia this old Com
| monwcftb! ,....,.
During the past four years the Cit.Coun-
Gil OF Richmond has done ut least eight
thing which furnish such conclusive evi-
dentc OF wise snd prudent management
thatn will ask your permission 70 ehuine-
rate them:
\. II has reduced lin 1861 thewdte OF tax
onnroperty from S1.50 TO Sl.40'sn the hum
dred dollars OF value.
%. TO conform to the State lav, and with
out restoring the old rate OF ttX, IL mas re-
duced the assessment on real property
trearly two millions OF dollars (Sl,Sl7, 29al.
2. II has laid off every dollar OF the fioat-
ing debt, amounting February !, 1881, 10
/ S34, 944. -.
a. II will pay off in July and August,
/ 1880, from funds now in hand, Sl0o,0ss OF
bonded debt.
8. II via have assets sufficient in Janua-
/ y, 1881, 10 pay of SlO0,oeo more OF oshoeo
debt.
g. The present fiscal year began with
net cash surplus OF 7,1O0 in the treasury.
and larger appropriations have been given
to each Of the main departments than last
year-tbe excess amounting to 100000.
7. 1t has during this period twice re-
duced the price Of gas lin 1876 and in
1SSO), each time 80 cents per 1000 feet. and
The private consumption being say 60,000,-
600 feet. This is q practical reduction OF
tax to our citizens OF 100000 per annum.
8. Ana our city bonds have steadily In
creased in marketable value at the follow.
ing astonishing rate-yiZ., citYG per cent.
bonds in 1870 sold at S67 so, now S107.50;
citv 8 per cent. bonds in 1870 sold at S92 %,
now Sa2050; and on all temporary loans
for which We paid eight per cent. then, we
get OF six per cent. now, whilst there Is
strong probability that our next issue OF
bonds lior the water supply can be sold at
par with four per cent. interest.
MessIs. Editors, is not the conclusion IT.
resistibie that such government is eff-
cient-is honorable-is careful and conser-
vatve ia all its acts, and may be safely
trusted to continue the management OF our
municipal affairs! FAIR PLAY.
p. S.-Since il has been so often stated by
the authority above alluded to that the cost
OF the new reservoir was SS50,000, will you
please add to this communication "offl-
cially" that the actual cost Of that improve
ment, including land damages and every
other item Of expenditure connected there
With, amounted up to the 1st OF February,
1873, to S47i,993.72. FAIR PLAY.