St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-06

unless for such purposes absolutely
necessary and representing large as
I sets. The bonded debt at this date.
June l, 1888, is S., 7S8, 900, to which add
sos, SOS for sundry indebtedness, which
includes the bonded debt of the old
water company, will make the total liza
bilities of the city of st. Paul amount to
50, O9l, 75S. This amount does not in
clude S650,000 bonded debt of the board
of education and S549, 400 bonded debt of
Ramsey county, which, if added to the
total liabilities of the city, will make
the. great grand total debt amout to ST.
29l,2lo for city, county and board of ed
rGation, and for which the faith and
credit OF the city of st. Paul are ire
vocably pledged"
80 AS to the police department., which
now comprises one hundred and sixty
men of all grades, the mayor recon-
mends an increase of fifty patrolmen in
accordance with the report of the chief
of police made to the last council, but
which was acted upon adversely. Dur
ing 1887, according to the report of the
board OF public works, siXty-six miles
OF streets were graded at a cost of
1895, 565: seventeen miles of sewers were
constructed at cost of S341, $50; eight
miles of cedar block pavements were
laid and two and One-half miles of as
phalt at cost of S514, $40; over fOrty-One
miles Of sidewalks were built and platS of
two hundred and twenty new additions
and rearrangements were passed upon,
the number of lots in new additions
being 13,309; surveys and platS for fifty
seven street Openings were made, the
length OF streets opened being twenty
eight miles and the value of land
and buildings condemned was S240,0O0;
SlXty-elght miles in street grades were
established and the sum of Sl36,540 was
expended in the cleaning of streets and
sidewalks.
As shown by the report of the water
board, twenty miles of mains were laid.
the total of mains in the city being 103
miles and proposed extension of
twenty-siX miles this year. A reduc-
ton of 20 per cent has been made in the
rate of sprinkling. and the action of the
board in the reduction of rates has met
with the appreciation of all citizens. the
intention being to reduce the scale to
the lowest point consistent with the
necessary working expenses of the de-
partment
Referring to the health of the city the
address states st. Paul has enjoyed an
almost total immunity from the rayages
of contagious diseases, while
EPIDEMICS HAVE BEEN UNKNOWN.
The death rate for 1887 was 1918, a
lower rate than that of twenty-seven of
the largest cities i'll the United States.
The establishment of crematory for
the disposal of refuse is recommended,
it having become necessity. In scarcely
any other branch of the municipal gov
eminent have the results been so phe-
nOmenal and gratifying as in that under
the control of the building inspector.
During 1886 the sum of S9,753, AS was
expended in the construction of build
ingS, and in 1887 the figures were SIP
939,314.
A new annex to the city hospital, to
cost $4,000, is now under way, and this
will remove the drawback that has
hitherto existed, growing out of the abb
Sence of proper facilities for the recep-
ton and care of patients and invalids.
In conducting the hospital last year
there were expended SI5,642, or Sits
per week for each patient.
During 1887 the total loss by fire was
S222, 094, of which S6S,765 was on build
irgS and S153,329 on contents, being
100000 less than in 1856. The inSur-
ance in excess of loss was 81, AS, TIC.
The most serious obstacle encountered
in cOntending with fires is the network
Of telegraph, telephone and electric
wires, which have become so numerous
as to form an impenetrable barrier
against the work of the department, eS-
pecially in the erection of ladders. which
is attended with great difficulty and
danger, to say nothing of the frequent
delays. The necessity, in my opinion,
of placing the wires under ground, is
urgent, and l trust this subject will re-
ceive your early attention. Especially
does this apply to the closely built dis
tricts, where the wires should be under
ground and the erection of poles pro-
hibited. The water mains in the bust
ness district should be increased to not
less than twelve inches in diameter, and
hydrantS should be placed at every
block in the district bounded by Sew
streets. The chief engineer recon-
mends the purchase of stand pipe for
service in high blocks and at mercantile
fires, the purchase OF new apparatus
and the location of two new companies.
In the matter of a progressive and en-
lightened system of education st. Paul
ranks second to none in the country.
During the year II, 400 pupils were en-
rolled, the average daily attendance
being S,151. Dec. 81, 1887, the value of
school property was S1,712,000. The
schools are equipped with a superior
system of heating, ventilation and fire
proof dry closets, air being introduced
by mechanical means supplying 1,500
cubic feet of fresh air per hour for each
pupil and eXhauSting the impure air in
like manner. Among
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
with which the mayor closed his ad-
dress were the following: Compelling
licensed pawnbrokers and junk dealers
to report daily a list of all articles re-
ceived the day preceding; the advisable
ity of appointing awharf master to have
charge of the levee and regulate the
docks and business appertaining thereto
during the season of navigation; COM
plants made as to the running at large
of cattle, especially in the dis
trict of Como Park Park and vicinity,
Rondo street and the Sixth ward
and the inadequate facilities and small
size of the force make difficult the en-
forcement of ordinances, render neces-
Sary the appointment of two pound
masters in the Sixth ward, the erection
of a pound near the work house, and
the appointment of poundmaster and
the erection of a pound in the Rondo
street district. In order that more
careful jurisdiction may be exercised
over milk vendors they should pay a
small license to ensure a strict compli-
ance with the laws governing the state
dairy commission.
Attention is called to the Importance
of exercising the utmost care in the con-
sideration and granting of new fran.
ehises. In this period of mechanical
invention and enterprise numerous at
temptS are made by corporations to Sc
cure rights which invariably involve
the interests of the great masses, and it
not infrequently happens that, in the
granting of extended franchises, in
Justice is done a large proportion of the
population. Too much care. therefore,
cannot be exercised by the council in
this matter. In the granting of valua-
bile and extensive franchises l think