The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-09-14
City Debts.

A recent bulletin issued by the Census
Department at Washington presents an
analysis of the bonded debt of cities and
towns having over 1900 population.
The statements made do not include
debts of counties, villages, and school
districts. The towns or cities having
over $500 population number 311. OF
these, rs are in New England, rs in the
five Middle Atlantic States, Al in the
Southern States, and lis in the Western
States, with one each in Utah and the
District of Columbia. The total amount
is 1852, 400. The principal objects
for which the different debts were isued
are thus classified Water works, SAL
797 ,82S; funding floating debt, 1922. 1884,
8O4; streets, $81, 5O2,917 refunding old
debt, ST. OIL 40; railroad and other
aid, $6S, 309,493 parks and public
places, $40, 49O,636; war expenses, S28,-
1872, 1877; public buildings, $25, SIG 1929 ;
sewers, $2l 1885,, 434; bridges, 1905 g.
431; improvement of rivers, harbors.
wharves, canals, and the like, SIG, 1876
O64; schools and libraries, $13 1888, 915 ;
fire departments, $2,214,924 cemeteries,
$272,912.
The rate per cent of interest paid upon
the different debts varies from 81 to 10
per cent. The debts paying over per
cent are almost entirely Southern and
Western, principally the latter. New
England owes over 100000 at 7 per
cent, and the Middle Atlantic States owe
$780, 100000 at the same rate, with over
So 00000in the South and S37 900 900
in the West. New England States pay
% and 6 per cent on over S6O,OOO0O0
and 81 and on $33,OOO,OOO. The Mid
die Atlantic States owe 1882, oil ,431 at
7 per cent and $179,73O 463 at 81 and G
pei, cent, with nearly $5O,O0O,OOO at 81
and per cent. In Southern States we
find $lO,000,000 at per cent, twice
that amount at 81 and per cent, and
over 100000 at 81 and 5 per cent.
In the Western States nearly 100000
600 IS owed at per cent, and over that
amount at 81 and per cent. With the
exception Of $685., 900 in the South and
$l25,OOO in the West, the debts paying
43 and 4 per cent are due in the New
England and Middle Atlantic States.
About Sl3, 100000 bear 81 per cent in
terest and are the debts of cities and
towns in these same States.
The per capita debt varies from 50 60
in Colorado to SALSA in the District of
Columbia, where less than 100000 popu-
lation owe $22,886, 769, with sinking
fund of S21l, $40. The most heavily bur-
dened State in the South, by this rule, is
South Carolina, with $500; next is
Louisiana, 1922; next Georgia. the
most prosperous of all, $3.50. Next to
the District of Columbia is Maine, which
is indebted $99.78 per capita.
CONTRASTING THE STATES.
The necessities and tastes of the difFer-
ent States are seen to some extent in The
objects for which their various debts
were created. For instance: for wafer
works. streets and sewers the cities Of
New York, Boston and Philadelphia have
expended the larger part of amounts bor-
rowed for these purposes. In war ex-
penses, New Jersey leads Massachusetts,
and Pennsylvania leads all the rest. OF
debts created for making public parks,
New York owes more than one half the
total On schools and Libraries, Penn
sylvania is fret, with $3,8O5,O10; Mas
sachusetts and Illinois are second and
third.-N Y Observer.
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