Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-03

Mayors notes given for borrowed money.
This Judgment has been reduced to $40 600
There viii be an increase in the necessary
expenditures the year 1881, as follows:
Increase IN sinking fund $4,000: additional
sinking fund on new bonds to be issued $4,000:
interest ON new bonds 1880; extension Of
Water Works mains about $50, 600; opening
and widening streets lestimated) $4,000.
THE CITY's ENDORSEMENT OF THE SAVANNAH
ALBANY AND GULF RAILROAD BONDS.
IN 1853 the city put its Endorsement on $500.
600 OF the bonds of the Savannah, Albany and
Gulf Railroad Company. The railroad COM
pany suspended payment in 1871. and became
lnsOlYent. The bonds fell due in 1879. The
entire principal of these bonds, with the aC-
cumulated interest from the time of the sus-
pension fell upon the city by reason Of it,
Endorsement
In the spring the city was confronted with
the decision Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States, holding it liable for the pay
ment OF these bonds, and we were obliged to
make some effort to provide for the payment
OF this obligation. 4 compromise somewhat
similar TO the compromise Of the debt of the
city IN 1878 was agreed upon in July last and
an ordinance was passed to carry the com
promise into effect. The terms Of the cOmpro-
mise were IN the language of the ordinance,
as follows: THAT the Mayor and Aldermen
shall issue Tor exchange and exchange new
bonds for each one thousand
dollars of said bonds SO guaranteed, and all
coupons on same tthc coupons being those due
January, 1877, July, 1917, January, 1873, july
1913, and January, 1879, and all interest due
thereon up to tho first day Of July. 1888 thir-
teen hundred dollars of said new bonds. which
said new bonds shall become due and PAYABLE
thirty years from and after the first day OF
July, 1883. and shall bear interest, coupons
payable quarterly, at the rate OF five PEI
centum IS per cent? per annum."
This compromise was not to go into effect
until the holders of 100000 of the bonds had
accepted the terms. That number have ac-
ceptcd and the exchange Will be proceeded
with at once.
am sorry to say that some Of the holders OF
these bonds have expressed themselves unwll-
ing to accept the terms of this compromise so
liberal 10 them, considering the circumstance
of the case and the financial condition of the
city. What course they Will pursue ! do not
know. but have reason TO hope that all vii
eventually accept the terms, as it is impossi-
bic for the city to raise the ready money by
which to llquidate this indebtedness, without
resort to additional taxation unbearabie al
this time. The amount of new bonds necessary
to effect tins compromise, II all the holders
of the bonds come into it. will be $780, 900 The
annual interest Of which is $4,000, which the
city must provide in addition to a sinking
fund OF sufficient amount to retire $4,000 OF
this issue Of bonds annually.
POLICE.
This force has maintained the efficiency fol
which it has heretofore been distinguished
As a means Of preserving order by the sup
preston of violence and turbulence. it is az
successful as force of like number OF men
could ne Inc very large expense OF mann
tanning tins department precludes the in
crease of the number of men employed. The
expenses have been for the year Sj0,7G6 81
The effort has been to reduce this expense
but it Is hardly possible to do so without
seriously impairing the efficiency of the force
STREETS AND LANES.
This is an expensive department, neverthe-
less the expense of keeping up the bridges
sidewalks, crossings, sewers. parks and
squares, etc, Is so great as to make it i'm
possible to pave the streets in such manner
as would be desirable. Yet, something has
been done in this respect. During the year
DraytOn street has been paved from south
side OF Bolton street lane to twenty feet south
OF Duffy street, and repairs have been made
10 several sewers injured and broken. The
total expense of this department amounts to
S36.020 so.
The buildings in large portion OF the city
known as amacraw We're destroyed by fire
on 5lst October. It was deemed advisable to
provide at once for opening and widening
some Of the streets there before the houses
should be rebuilt. To this end Council has
looked, and measures have been taken for this
purpose. This work viii cost a considerable
sum, but It has been thought best to proceed
with 1t before the rebuilding on the old plan
should make the opening more expensive.
The extension of the city to the southwark
by act of the last Legislature has made il
necessary to look to the making of q convent
ent plan for that portion of the city and
means have been taken to that end. But as
the property there has been exempted by the
Act from taxation for ten years, the means OF
doing what might seem necessary in the way
of purchasing the land viii necessarily be
limited. But as the laying out of streets is q
matter that will enhance the value of the
property, it is probable that this matter may
be arranged without very great expense. The
known liberality of the holders of property IN
that section Is something of a guarantee OF
this.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department has undergone some
changes. The salary Of the Chief has beer
increased 10 $500 per annum, and he is re-
CURED to devote his time exclusively TO the
care and management Of the department.
The report Of the Chief contains full in
ventory and description Of the property OF
the department.
The cost of the service has been $2I 1919 81.
CITY LIGHTS.
The expenses of lighting the city have been
SlS.204 ID, but $1,000 of this amount was for the
last half of the year 1882.
A contract was made by the city in the year
1882 to extend for three years from January
], 1888. with the Brush Electric Light and
Power Company. at a cost of $4,000 per year.
IN the month OF May this company commenced
the performance OF its contract, and continued
to light the city with electricity until the 3lst
of October, when its works were destroyed by
fire. By an agreement with the CITY Council
the company was allowed until the 9th of Feb
ruary, lSS3, to rebuild their works and re-
sumo the fulfillmcnt of their contract. subject
the city of the system Of lighting.
CITY COURT.
The expenses Of this court paid by the city
have been $6,OlI 40. This includes 81 1866 II
for the salary Of the Judge. of which the city.
by an act of the Legislature, will hereafter
De relieved.
CITY PUMPS.
The work of this department is performed
by contract. The expenses have been safe
80; Of this SSl9 20 has been for new pumps
and improvements.
DOCKS AND WHARVEs.
The receipts from this source have been
1913, exhibited in the Treasurer's report I'M
der the account Of rents. The expenses FOL
repairing, building and Improvements have
been sGiS IS.
DRY CULTURE.
This department has charge of the drainage
Of the city and the low lands in and about the
city, including Bilb0 canal, MusgrOve creek,
Springfield plantation and Hutchinson Island.
Inc expenses OF this department have been
Sl444I Is. large portion Of this has been
for building embankments on and around
Hutchinson island, to wit: the sum of 50 947 ~
Hutchinson island has for long time been
the source of great trouble and expense to
the city. 1t IS TO be hoped that it will not be
SO IN the future. The city having at great eX-
pense built and repaired the dams. has made
a lease of that portion of the island owned by
the city, for ten years, which places upOn the
lessee the obligation Of keeping it in order
and gives to the city a small annual income.
JAIL.
The expenses of this institution have been
S9.964 II, and the income S9,4Tl 10. There ia
due the city for the care and maintenance OF
prisoners against some of the surrounding
counties and the United States Government.
81. 500 90. By an Act Of the Legislature the
iail will pass out of the control of the city
into the hands of the Sheriff of Chatham
county on the 5th of January. By the provi-
si0As Of the act the city prisoners are to be
cared for iFec Of expense to the city.
MAkkET.
The receipts have been sl7,5S0 so, and the
expenses 3,7l2 y.
PARKS AND SQUARES.
The expenses paid on account of this depart
ment, which is under the supervision of the
street and lane department, have been
sS.e0l Al, which includes the keepers salary.
POLICE COURT.
The receipts for fines in this court have been
S4.776 25. The income from this court is APP
prOpriated, much as Is necessary, to sup
plying the police force with uniforms. The