Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-07-12

1 " oN PAeeeut, hs brought about by the present administration. ii is nec. essary to find the condition of tbings when this administration came into power. First, We found 6 floating in. debtedness, unprovided for, of nearly SI2,OOO, as We supposed, but afterwards found to be nearly Sl4,0O0. Then we found S4,O00 in railroad bonds to bs pald, with no provision for their psy- ment Tn any shape. Next We found an old building, and land had been bought to be used as a pest house for a sum amounting to Sl,lJO, unpaid for. This building had tn be repaired afterwards al an expense of SG50, including a we'll mat was necessary to be dug. Next. We found the site of the present city hall and other buildings had been bought rom The county Tor sum amounting to SZ,ioO, and unpaid for. The contract with the Tucson Water Company had been made; the contract with the Tue son Gas Company had been made and entered into. Our pubhc streets were lh deplorable condition, in fact they were impossible after every ralnstorm.
 We had In reality no fire department nor any appliances for the extinguish- ment ot fires. We had no City Hall, unless the peculiar construction on Church Plaza, can be called such; We had no engine house, We had no city !ail' we had no city hospital, or pest house.
 In 1882 the citizens voted the issu- ance of S16,OO0 city bonds to build city h. rTst The Legislature, in 1883, allowed the city council to issue SI2,000 city bonds to pay floating indebtedness; tbis gave us S2S,000 with which to pay say SI4OOO floating indebtedness, S4,SO0 railroad bonds including interest on same, SII5O for pest house and grounds, and S2,750 for city hall grounds, so that We had to pay S22,700, over which We had no control. In addition to this We had extraordinary expenses (by which l mean expenses that are not liable to occur regularity, such as a large printing bill for notably, two editions of the new city charter, complete new set of Incense blanks, blank record books and books for statistical records; the want of which by the city untll the present administration, will l fear, be surely felt at some future time. Then the threatened smallpox epidemic last year which cost S2, ,500 ar more, and | which was well spent, when you con- slider that other localities in the Terri | tory who were more economical paid for their economy with the lives of their best citizens, and last but not least the | almost entire regarding Of Congress, Pennington, Meyer and other streets. | The above S2S, ,0OO was our entire income outside of the regular taxes and licenses. We did not sell one dollars worth of l city lots; the sum of S400 however, WAS received from this source for lots l sold by the council of 1882. Now We find ourselves at the end of l the first half of the second year of our administration in the following condi- | tion: We have a bonded indebtedness of | City Hall bonds bearing per cent. interest ten years. SIG, ,00000 | Old indebtedness, bonds bear ing per cent. interest twen- ty years. .....-.-.--....... l2,OOu.UU | Railroad bonds bearing 10 per cent. interest due this year. 100000 l
 SSO,OOOOO For the creation of which the present | council can Tn no way be responsible. In addition to this We have as the ere ation of this council the following float ing indebtedness:
 Notes outstanding. S11, ,35000 | Accounts for June as yet not
 auulted. ..--.-.- .-.-.--.---. 1,oJu-VO Total of. of...............sl .slsOOOOO This sum of SI3,OOO with the running Ia. a.x md S2,0O0, the above mentioned railroad | bonds, as also the interest on the others, IS what We must provide for between | now and next January 1st, all these items together. making 8 very liberal | allowance for running expenses would amount to about S2S,00O. Our income will be
 From licenses, fines. Health
 Ofncer, etc, ..-..-S f,VVO.VO From taxes same as last year. 23,OOO
 S30,OOOO0 | Or total of S30,OO0. This would leave a cash balance of S2,000 on hand besides 5000 or more due for licenses on Jsnu- | ary 1st. and start your new city govern ment with S5.0O0 in cash, no floating ln- and only S2S,00O bonded in- a much better start than We had, and financial showing on which to base the credit of the city that we need not be ashamed of.
 POLICE.
 Our police force has proved itself m excellent one. In fact, when you take into consideration the astonishing peace and quiet that has prevailed in our city for the past six months Jour police records showing no crime committed greater than petty larceny and but one or two cases of that) feel that would be neglecting my duty did fail to con- phment them on their ethclency-of course the promptness of our City Re- corder in disposing of petty criminals must have been of great assistance to the force.
 FIRE DEPARTMENT.
 Our Fire Department is well trained and fairly equipped and have done some excellent service during the past six months. I would ask the attention of tbe council to the little wants of the department, that they be more promptly satisfied in the future. These men risk their property, their limbs and often their lives for the benefit of the city and take their pay in glory, so 1t seems to me that you can do no less thsn 10 sup ply their necessities when asked for.
 STREETS.
 The present condition of our streets to any person familiar with them when we came into office, needs no comments from me. still there is room for many | improvements.
 HEALTH. The sanitary condition of our city is very satisfactory, and the death rate, as obtained from our new system of statis- t,cs, believe to be much below that of any other city of the same size m the country. I would also add my appeal to that of the city physician for early | steps to be taken for a system ot sewer ace and drainage as the most important | step that can be taken for the benefit of the city.
 STREET LIGHTING. The contract with the Electric Light |