The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-01-31
Correspondence Baltimore County Union
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
Mayor Latrobes Annual Message The
Dynamiters in London, &C., 60.
BALTIMORE, January 9th, Is

BALTIMORE, January 9th, 1885.
Messrs. Editors Mayor Latrobe sent in his
annual message to the City Council yesterday
afternoon. 1t was read and approved as a lucid,
able document and well digested, satisfactory to
every 1t is rather long, but full and to the
point, so that no one can misconceive city affairs.
As many in both city and country are financially
and otherwise interested in this paper, therefore
give some of the most prominent points SO they
can see how the city stands in her finances, BUSH
ness, &c. His honor says that during 1884 there
were $2l0,2U0 four per cent. bonds and 5000 900
of three-sixty-fve per cent. bonds issued and
S9SS, 900 of six per cents paid off, the net reduc
ton being $57S, 400, leaving $37 SAB 59l.73 as the
gross funded and guaranteed debt of the city If
from this total be taken the estimated value of the
come-producing property of the city, the excess
of liabilities is Sc, 175,50s.3O. The city has un-
productive investments of the nominal value of
$5,559,S20. OF the total funded and guaranteed
debt the interest upon Sc, $780, 900 is paid by the
water board, by the finance commissioners upon
50, $4,000, and by various railroad companies
upon S12, loo, 2329l, while upon $13,972 interest
has ceased, thus leaving but $l2, 74S, 1862 upon
which interest is paid by taxation, decrease of
$7O4, 800 since 1888. We are also told that the
revenues of the city for the year 81 $685.
81, an increase of $24673641 over 1885, due to
the heavier tax rate and the more prompt collec-
ton of back taxes. The total expenditures were
$4,2S2. 99253, an increase of S26, 1861. The alb
clifton of the book fees will during the present
year increase the city expenses in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000. The Mayor concludes that "one
of the most gratifying exhibits has been the large
reduction" in the floating debt, which was $685.
237.31 at the close of 1888 and only S55 ,379 SO at
the close of 1884. The collection of taxes was un-
usually prompt Of the levy of the last year Y
1900 per cent was paid by the close of the year.
The report of the Appeal Tax Court shows that
1926 new buildings and 682 improvements were
made, large increase over any year for long
time past. The assessable basis is now $249, $751;
500, or $84S, 467 more than last year.
The Mayor condenses large amount of ia.
teresting matter into his message and makes some
very good suggestions, among the chief is to adopt
some measures by which the high rate can be per
manently made lower and the recent advance il
the price of gas, owing to an Objectionable monop
oily, be again made more suitable to consumers
Let us most earnestly hope this may be dono rs
people now complain greatly. I notice that a
proposition is on foot to supply the whole city
with electric light which, if properly cheapened,
will be great relief to consumers.
The terrible attempt last Saturday to blow up
the House of Commons, Westminster Hall and the
Tower of London by dynamiters has caused great
excitement all over the world and justly it should
1t deserves the condemnation of all men who have
in them spark of humanity. 1t is so horrid and
terrible as to rccoi upon itself Fortunately, in
vile spirit it seems with some) to approve. In
stead of wasting words with long, denunciatory
sermons and moral homilies, let people study the
practical text of learning how to do right in all
things and there will be no more dynamitng or
attempts, either to blow up the Parliament house.
Tower of London or any thng else. A burnt child
will not put its fingers in the fire a second time
Honce the potential and truthful saying that
burnt child breads the FIRE. People can if they
will do rightin everything. Do away with wrong
full causes and there will probably be no more at
tempts to hold the world in awe by combustibles.
Virtue and intelligence will take their place. /
am glad to see that our country publicly and
otherwise) and all the civilized world gives to
such monstrous acts unqualified condemnation
Do right conscientiously and all will be well. The
sermon is Short effective and can be easily learned
1t is fortunate the loss of life not great
at first supposed.
The members of our Corn and Flour Exchange
have had their annual election and elected the
regular ticket. Gen. John Gill has been elected
president. Hereafter it is expected to cease
putting up an opposition Board of Directors.
Generally these contests have been very spirited
but in good humor.
The dullness of business has tendency to cur
tail to some extent travel on the city passenger
railroad cars. l find, however, that very many
persons take the York road cars who could go
because they have good warm stoves in
them. These cars, during market days at the
Belair Market are often so packed with people
and baskets that it is impossible to get seat,
which people complain of bitterly. Cannot the
learn is rich-get extra cars
for such occasions? 1t is positively insuferable,
demanding a remedy.
Though the times are dull and probably will be
until after the Inauguration, our theatres do
ing fair business and hotels find strangers on
the lookout for rooms or quarters before and after
the 4th of March, when the largest crowd imagin-
able will be en- route to and from the Nations
capital to see Mr.. Cleveland inaugurated. As
have hitherto said, let us give our Democratic
friepds fa;r chn9ce to do what is in their QpYer
Mr.. Cleveland will deceive them politically con-
They hang upon slender thread and
must do right or four years hence will see them
out of power and those who manned and guided
the ship of state so well for quarter of century
past will be placed back again where they were.