Morning journal and courier., 1880-01-13

penditures of the past year over those of the preceding one. The decrease iu the receipts was due to the falling off of over $3, 900, 900 in the grand list and the excess of expendi- lures to the fact that $12, ,653 was paid for land taken two years ago for the approaches to the new bridge over the Quinnipiac river. Aside from this item, the expenses of the past year fell short of those of 1878 by $3,- 775.26.
 THE FUNDED DEBT.
 The funded debt of the city is shown in the following table:
 0ity bonds, aid Derby railroad. ......... 14O,Oo0 Oity sewerage bonds 5g9 Ooo
 ss49. GOO Floating cebt .......................... 25000
 Total. .$s74, ,OOO Tour floating indebtedness is limited to a note in favor of William Fitch, trustee, given for account Derby Railroad Company, on which the company pays interest.l
 To counterbaIance this, in part, there is nov in the city treasury:
 City Hall sinking fund. 57,740 27 Municipal bond sinking fund. .......... ls,2T7 22
 Total. 6,450 16 This amount deducted from tho sum of the liabilities leaves the indebtedness of the city at $717, ,549.85. The total amount of reduc- tion made during the year in the debt was
 
 year $5, ,686 32 more in cash on hand than at the beginning thereof. A saving of $2, 176.- 55 was effected in the interest account. In addition to the resources above enumerated there is now due and unpaid to the city $213, 230. 29 on the tax lists of the past five years aud on street and sewer assessments, which amount, if paid in, would leave us owing but $504, ,319.5 56. Allowing that 25 per cent. of the amount due proves total loss, the remainder, when realized, would leave our net indebtedness at S546, ,965.6O. As the return of prosperity will enable nearly all to pay their taxes, I think the above sum fairly represents our mu- nicipal liability. There will be further re- duction of $2O,O00 in the funded debt dur ing the present year by the payment of twenty bonds, each of $1 900, issued in cid of the Derby railroad. Sixty thousand dol lars worth of City Hall bonds, the entire amount, will be paid next year out of a sink ing fund created for the purpose, and which at present amounts to $57, 740.22.
 An examination of the auditors report will reveal the fact that there has been gradual lessening in the grand lists, rates of taxation, receipts and expenditures for the past four years. This has been accomplished mainly through the cessation In extensive public Improvements, necessitated in part by the hard times. Every csnt of our indebt- edness has been honestly enteiled, and while about three-fourths of it was in- cured by my predecessors for the past eight years, it was for such needed improve ments in our sewerage and pavement sys- tenn as should have been made twenty years earlier. In dismissing the subject of our finances, I need but remind you of the fact that there is such happy mean between pe- nuriousness and a wise economy in the outlay of public funds, that you may guarantee such 8 continuance of needed improvements as will accord with the size and dignity of the city. without imperiling the gradual reduction of our taxes and the meeting of all our obs siga- tions.
 ROAD DEPARTMENT.
 To the Road Commissioners is entrusted the expenditure of much larger share of the public money than to any other body acting under your orders, and 1t is with feel ings of pleasure that review their proceed ings, and lay before you summary of their stewardship. The number of orders referred to them, ninety two, is the largest which they have acted upon for several years. They have held fifty seven meetings, besides visiting at various times the improvements being carried on under their control. They have awarded thirty contracts for public works, in each case to the lowest bidder, and after advertising in the daily press.
 BRIDGES.
 Almost all the bridges in the city have been overhauled and are in fair condition. Lew
 
 reconstructed of iron at Q cost to ths city of $3,771.24. Mir. A. B. Fill of the city sur veyor's office had sole charge of this inn provement. The approaches to the Quinni- piac bridge have been paid for and graded. The bridge is now in working order, and has cost the city $1O2, ,479.57.
 GRADING STREETS.
 Eleven streets have been graded during the past year, in nearly every case by contract.
 PAVING STREETS.
 The approaches to the now depot have been greatly improved by the paving of State street, Meadow street and Union avenue. These Improvements have increased by 340- 1000ths of @ mile the extent of paved streets existing in the city. We have now 12 and 936 -1000ths, or very nearly thirteen miles of paved streets, which afford useful service for heavy carting to the greater portion of our business center.
 PUBLIC PARKS.
 The walks in the old Green and Wooster Square have been extensively repaired and new walks have been laid on Laurel and Wal nut streets adjacent to Jocelyn Square, which, with the iron fence recently erected, make this very attractive resort for those dwelling in the vicinity. The old pump at the corner of Church and Chapel streets has been re- placed by new and much better one, and the Improvements made in the approaches to the
 
 surroundings. The Broadway Square has also had new pump erected, to the great satis- faction of those doing business in that quarter of the city.
 THE STONE CRUsHER.
 The proximity of rock suitable for paving purposes has been @ source of great saving to the city. Employes of the road department have during the past year crushed 5, AS. GA cubic yards of stone for use on our streets. In the past eight years we have received from this source 7I, ,381 cubic yards of stone. The entire cost of buildings, crushers, etc., with their maintenance, has been $65, ,595. .95.
 SEWERS.
 Sewers to the extent of 3,0174 feet have been completed in the past year, making in all 34. 137 miles of sewers in the city at present.
 SIDEWALKS.
 The extent of sidewalks laid and curbs set is seven and one-haf miles.
 LICENSES AND PERMITS.
 Licenses and permits to the number of 605 have been issued by the road department dnring the year, for connections with sewers and with gas mains, yielding to the city rev. enue of $1, ,367.5 50. The entire expense of the department for the year was $113, ,000.
 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 Our citizens have good reason to conRratu- late themselves in the possession Of @ fire de- partment, which in efficiency stands second to none. In large measure this is due to the able and competent chief, Albert O. Hen- drick, who presents to you this evening his fifteenth annual report, from which it will be seen that the force consists of 11S men. AL though the number of men in the depart ment's service has been decreased by eleven, the permanent force has been increased by five, change which the Commissioners and Chief believe will greatly promote it's useful ness.
 NEW FNGINrs
 It has been found necessary to procure a has been in the service twelve years. The new machine is of the latest pattern and is lighter than the one it replaces. Its cost to the city was s@2, 800 and the old engine.