Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-30

of which 800 were stamped VIII tnS So u.+
promise agreement, and $500 were not
The bonded debt at this date is as follows;
New per cent. bonds outstanding S5,So0'4VV
Old per cent. bonds stamped Win - 80
compromise agreement $500 zoe zoo
Old per cent. bonds not compromised lOo,OoO
roto, ... s.478,OOO
The Finance Committee, deeming it import
ant to make more thorough, exhaustive ana
critical examination of the books connected
with the finances of the city than has hereto
fore been made, employed an expert account
ant for that purpose. The examination was
commenced early in october last with the eX-
nectation that it would be completed before
fhe close of the past year. but in consequence
Of the extent which it was found necessary to
carry the investigation, longer time will be
necessary for its completion. The work ls
still in progress.
POLICE.
The notice force has been increased by the
appointment of four additional men. The
present strength of the force consists OF one
Chief, two Lieutenants, four Sergeants' anu
fifty-five privates. -Four auulllonal n9 9i
have been purchased during the year, lhaAlhg
the total number of horses in the service OF
| the department twenty, of which three are
the property OF the Commissioned oIllGe[5 an I'o
seventeen belong to the city, all OF whlch are
serviceable and in good condition. hlgh
standard of discipline has been malntalheu III
| the force, and they have performed all duties
required of them in manner Wnlch renecIs
| credit upon both officers and men.
with 4 view of adding to the efficiency of
the force in the event of riots or other emer-
gencies they have been supplied with I'M
proved Springfield breach-loading rifles, ana
| for the past four months nave Deeh
regularly drilled in the use OF these arms.
The officers and mounted men men, nase
been supplied with improved COTS pls-
tolls The barracks, prison and staples are
patterns of neatness ana good oruer, anu, anu tIie
property of every description III Tue keePtn ny
of the department has scrupulous care ana al
tpQtiOu.
The report of the Chief gives full details of
| the practical working of the department, the
| number of arrests and a complete inventory
! of the property in his charge. the expense VI
the department for the year amounts 10 the
| sum of 4,507 45.
| STREETS AND LANES.
The committee in charge of this department
| have given their attention mainly TO keeping
| the streets and lanes graded, repaired, clean
| ed and in the best condition possible with the
! means at their command. They have not had
| the facilities for procuring the material nee
! essary for extending pavements oyer the un-
| paved business streets, nor for making other
| improvements that the increased business OF
! the city imperatiyely demanded. with view
of obtaining additional facilities for making
| the necessary improvements In TINS Depart
ment, the city government nave petltloned
| the State Legislature for the passage OF an
| act that will permit portion OF the expense
| for improving streets to be assessed on the
| properly AUDITING which is directly benefited;
! and unless some measures looking to tnat END
! can be adopted, it is difficult to see hoy any
! extensive improvements can be made without
| a decided increase in taxes. Atten-
ton is again ncroS directed factes y ag
! the large traffic which the wharves of she
| Ocean Steamship Company and Of the Savan-
| nah, Florida and Western Railway. By dl-
| rectiOn of Council committee from that body
! has recently been appointed to investigate tne
| subject, and recommend such measures as IN
| their judgment win be feasible and practi-
| cable for the purpose. There appears to be an
| absolute necessity for prompt and energetic
! action, Under an agreement entered INTO
with the Ocean Steamship Company for the
| taxation of their property west OF the
Ogeechee canal on the same basis as other
! city property, Canal street extended and
! Wadley street running thence south to the
| extension of Joachim street, have been trans
| ferred by that company and accepted as pub
| lie streets by the city government, and Will
hereafter be maintained at the public eX-
| pense. The patent asphalt pavement, laid
| directly in front of the City Exchange by
| the International Pavement Company, OF
| New York, in the month of May, 1881, ap-
pears thus far g Re durable pavement pay tSIn
| additional years for which it is guaranteed, in
| my opinion, must be considered Well adapted
| to the streets of the city. The total expense
| of the street and lane department amounts to
| $3S 400 SO, which INCLUDES the care Of the Park
| and squares, the building Of sewers ana work
of every kind in the streets and lanes. The
! report of the City Surveyor gives details of
the work done, the average number Of men
| and teams employed, and the material used,
| also full inventory of the property belonging
| to the department
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Under the supervision of the Chief Engineer
and his Assistant, the Fire Department has
merited the confidence and approval Of the
city authorities. The morale and discipline
of the force has been fully maintained, and 1t
has worked efficiently and tremendously in
every respect. The horses, APPARATUS, equip
ment and property of every description have
been carefully looked after and are in good
condition The engines and hook and ladder
truck have been supplied with new patent
harness, which facilitates prOmptness in re-
spending to alarms. The report of the Chief
Engineer contains full inventory and deacrip
ton of the property in charge of the depart
merit, and a detailed account of the number
of fires and alarms during the year. The cost
of the service has amounted to $l5,S97 81. \
superintendent of the fire alarm Telegraph has
been appointed at a salary of SI5 per month,
who is required to devote his entire time TO
the service of keeping the wires in good order.
CITY LAMPS.
The necessity of supplying light in the east
ern, western and southern portions of the city,
more recently built up, together with desire
on the part of Council to accomplish that end
as well as a more satisfactory lighting of the
city without any great additional expense,
prompted the municipal authorities TO enter
into contract Go haze that geYyice performed
bv adopting the system of lighting the streets
with naphtha gas, at cost of $40 SO per lamp
per annum.
The system proved unsatisfactory. Upon
frequent inspections it was found that large
number of the lamps became eXtinguished at |
different periods of the night, and that many
of the lights thar remained burning were poor
and not in accordance with the contract, FROM
causes which appeared to Council should have
been overcome by the contractor.
If the contract had been faithfully carried
out the expense to the city, including the ad-
ditional lamps established, would have
amounted TO the sum of $l2,S20 for the year.
In consequence of the failure of the con-
tractor to perform the service as agreed upon !
Council has declined to pay the amount in |
full The sum Of $5,333 u has been paid on ac- |
count. The contract expired becember 3lst,
1882.
A contract has been entered into with the |
Brush Electric Light and Power Company for |
lighting the city with electric lights for the |
term of three years at a cost of $4,000 per |
year, that company giving a good and sufi- |
cient bond for the faithful execution of the |
terms of the contract. \ contract has also |
been entered into with the same company for |
lighting the market with electric lights, for |
the term of one year, for the sum of 81 900. |
The cost of gas for lighting the public build
ings, Including the BOlice barracks and Mar
ket amounts to the sum of 81 1856 50 for the |
year.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The expenditure in this department amounts
to S2,343 Al for the year, which includes re-
pairs, fire insurance, lightning rods for the
exchange and powder magazine, and fuel and
gas for the city offices, etc, etc.
CITY PUMPS.
. In this department the work has been per-
formed under an annual contract, which has
resulted in a saving of expense to the city,
and in keeping the pumps in fully as good con-
dition as they werekept under the old system.
One new well with pump complete has been
built, and four wells and pumps have been
discontinued. The total number of pumps
maintained by the city at this date is one hun
dred and forty-nine. The expenses of their
maintenance for the year amounts to
Sl,73S 80.
The Jail remains in a dilapidated and in
secure condition, and requires a large outlay
annually to keep it tenantahle. Careful at
tentiOn has been given to sanitary measures,
and to the care and m9@agement of prisoners
The expense of the institution amounts to
the sum Of 49, O7S 05 and the receipts to 81 246 GO
for the year. There is due for the care and
maintenance of prisoners $3,240 40.
DOCKS AND WHARYES.
The receipts from this source have been
carried to the account of rents in the report
of the City Treasurer.
The expenses have amounted to S639 A.
wreck from the Savannah river and dredging
the dock at the foot of East Broad street, etc
DRY CULTURE.
The Dry Culture Committee have exercised
a careful supervision over the work commit
ted to their charge. The Bilbo canal, Mus
grove creek, and all the drains, bitches and
banks on the low lands that Immediately sur
round the city south Oft Savannah river
have been regularly cleaned, kept free from
xvnnds' and distinctions and in thorough good |