The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1888-02-04
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
The Mayors Message-The City's Fiuan-
cial Condition-Annoyance of Gold
Weather-Hard on the Crows.
BALTIMORE. January 3lst. I

BALTIMORE, January 31st, 1888.
Messrs. Editors The most interesting matter
now before our citizens is the message of Mayor
Latrobe, delivered yesterday to the City Council.
1t is able, concise and highly interesting docu-
ment and will be read by many substantially in
terested-fnancially and otherwise-in the affairs
of our city also by persons in the State and
country who own largely of property here. 1t is
proper that they should see how we stand. I
will, therefore. give an outline, taken from the
message, which speaks well for itself. 1t makes
several important suggestions, among which is the
needed. Besides this it speaks hopefully and en-
couragingly of the annexation of the Belt. Alto
gether it is highly interesting document and
written in good taste and style.
The total funded and guaranteed debt of the
city is shown to be $50, 1863, l76.15. Of this in
terest is paid provided for as follows: Balt-
more and Ohio Railroad on S5OOO,OOO city pas
senger companies, $755, 566.25; water board, from
income, IS, 500,O 900; Western Maryland Company,
$2,3SS,00O overdue stock, no interest allowed,
$6,927; overdue Western Maryland bonds, no in
terest, S., 290. These leave balance of $685.
39l.74. Of this interest is provided upon $l0,-
$50, 66455, leaving S7,707, 1879 as balance of
debt over available income-producing securities.
The productive investments making up the above
SlO,S90, 664.55 are given as $4,000 shares Balt-
more and Ohio Railroad stock, So, 250, 900, (this
produced per cent. in 1887 y sinking funds, &c.
039, 241.39, and income from markets, wharves,
real estate, &c.
Unproductive investments are SIS, $780,
These include 81 ,030, 500 mortgages and accrued
interest of Western Maryland Railroad, 10000
shares Valley Railroad, 81, 100000; 1900 shares
Baltimore and Susquehanna Canal, $3.50 900 f.;
Western Maryland Railroad stock, 5000, 900, and
other property, such courts city hail. JAIL police
stations, fire departments, etc.
The debt of $50 1863, 176l5, compared with that
on December 81 1885, of $34 955, 2S9. a. shows an
increase of ST. $685. but is less than that of
1885 by $364070.42. The increase of funded and
guaranteed debt is accounted for as follows: There
were issued by or finance bonds to aid the West
ern Maryland Railroad, Sl,7O4, 900; to improve
Jones's Falls, $l35,0)0; Hartford run sewer, $780,
900; Western Maryland bonds etc., s., 290 con-
solidated bonds and 1886 loan redeemed and the
Western Maryland bonds Endorsed, S5lS, 40349.
Comparing balance of debt December 81, 1887,
with balance 1886, the increase for 1887 is 81 $751;
1929, accounted for by decrease in the value
of Baltimore and Ohio stock of 81, 275, 900. Differ
ence in sinking fund of 1887 over that of 1886,
S295,Sl6; paid by Western Maryland Railroad,
81 504, 900 and stocks and bonds with no interest
The Mayor says: although the actual funded
and guaranteed debt of the city is 1885, 1863, 1875,
the taxpayers should ordinarily only be called
upon to provide interest on $13,746,96S.1S, of
which S6,O39,24 20 being in the sinking fund, the
amount, however, on which interest must be pro-
vided will be increased in 1883 to S3,250000
should there be no revenue from the Baltimore
and Ohio Company. In 1887 interest had to be
paid by the tax levy $l2, 140,0 5S.6l. If no
revenue is derived from the Baltimore and Ohio
in 1888 the total amount will be $1,000, 968 IS"
The Mayor adds "This company has received
much aid from the city, but we must not forget
that for a long while it returned a large annual
revenue, thus greatly relieving taxpayers"
We have had continuation of cold, wintry
disagreeable weather since l wrote you last week
and some snow with hard freezing Navigation
has been much interrupted, though the high north
west winds blew the ice, where it broken,
down the bay. As general thing, however, bus
mess continues very much impeded by the bad
weather and the ice. The tide was at one time
very low, caused by the strong wind from the west.
The water in the bay had sunk at one time about
five feet below the usual tide-mark. From nearly
every point we still have accounts of severe
weather and SHOWS, with difficulty in railroad
travel and interruption to navigation The streets
we're almost impossible to-day on account of sleet.
The crows farther north must have a hard time
of it on account of the deep snow. They were
fairly starved out and famished for something to
eat, which was so covered with snow that they
could not get it. They migrated south to find
open weather and suitable provender. 1t could
not be found here and so they passed on farther
south. For three four days large numbers of
them were seen flying high in the air, making
their way towards "Dixie," seeking more genial
climate. They appeared to have hard work nav
igating against the strong west wind and were
sometimes forced to alight. Their migration thus
is always sure indication of severe weather and
a hard winter.
The recent Republican banquet at ReAzlert's is
highly spoken of by all parties. lis looked upon
as model starting poirt of the party in the COM
ing campaign and cannot fail of doing its share
Of good. 1t is likely to be followed by similar
banquets at different times during the campaign.
The gratuitous exhibition of Mr.. Walters beau
tful gallery of art and paintings at stated times
for the benefit of the poor, is grand charity and
speaks volumes in praise of the donor. Nothing
more unique and charming could be given seen.
It is tasteful in every respect. NEsToR.