The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1882-11-23
City Finances.


lately submitted to the common council
by the city treasurer and clerk, and pub
lished In last weeks ADVOCATE the city
of Canton has small Indebtedness to
meet during the coming year, and tor
which that body has levied a small tax.
The amount Of outstanding warrants as
reported by those officers, after careful
examination of the books, is but trife
over one thousand dollars The wonder
is not that there is any Indebtedness
against the city; but, that it is SO little
when we consider the ridicously small
tax levied for the first years. But the
council has wisely considered it best to
go slow in the matter of city expenditures,
especially as they believe in the pay as
you go system; though much has been
done already for the means they have
at their command. The city has been
provided with numerous sidewalks and
crossings; travel has been made safe by
building and repairing bridges; police reg
ulations have been made possible by erect
ing calaboose; municipal appearance has
been improved by fencing and ornament
ing the public square; and the value and
safety of property enhanced by taking the
initial steps toward establishing fire de-
partment..' besides multitude of minor
matteri. The case of smallpox that oc-
CURED during the summer cost the city
about $3.50, in its efforts to prevent the
loathsome disease from becoming an epl-
demic. How well that matter was man
aged SO that not another family was
affected by the scourge, speaks volumes
for the promptness and efficiency OF our
mayor and members of the council who
had the matter in charge. Considering
the duration Of the disease and the con-
stant vigilance it received, the expense III
checking its spread is a marvel OF econ
omy, when we contemplate the fearful
loss of life and property had the disease
become epidemic.
This, however, like great many other
things, cost the city money and is among
them the cause Of our city debt The
charter under which our city is incorpor-
ated limits the amount of taxation in any
one year to II per cent of the assessed
valuation, which, under the present one
would yield about $1,000 all told from
taxes during the coming year. So if this
be used for the purpose of paying off the
outstanding warrants, it will leave but
little over $500 to run the city on during
the next year, or no improvements can
be made with such a pittance, must De
evident to any one who has even the least
acquaintance with the expenses OF mu-
nicipal corporation. The entire amount
to be raised by taxation during.the next
year is absolutely necessary for ordinary
expenses; and anything less than that
will materially cripple the growth and
prosperity of Canton. What We would,
therefore, suggest to the mayor and conn
mon council would be that instead of set
ting aside two-thirds OF the city income
for the next year.to pay off Warrants al
ready issued, that they take some steps
toward bonding the city for the butstand-
ing Indebtedness, to the end that public
improvements may keep pace with prl-
yate enterprise in building up our town.
1t is but fair that lasting improvements,
of which those who come after will de-
rive an equal benefit, should also be paid
for by all who are benefited. This can
best be done by issuing bonds that fall
due five or ten years hence. We don't
know whether the council has given this
matter any attention yet, but it seems to
us that this would be the best way to
raise our credit and increase the future
prosperity of our city There are many
who have horror of debt and would con-
slider the steps we have suggested as
only making bad matter worse, but the
debt already exists and the only question
is whether it will be paid off in one year
and thus cripple the growth Of the city,
or whether it would not be better to ex-
tend the payment of it over five or ten
years and in the mean time pay small
rate of interest and so save our credit and
increase the future prosperity OF Canton.