Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1888-07-05

JIG coumou cOuucil W Monosy eVenAuks
July 2, 1883, in this city:
"Mayor's Office, July 2, 1888.
Gentlemen Of the Councils
The charter Of the city makes it my
duty to communicate to you in writing, =
general statement Of the condition
Of the corporation, and to recommend
the adoption of such measures - may be
deemed expediont and proper for the
welfare Of the city.
In the discharge Of this duty, my OBJ
jsct will be, mainly, to present to you
the financial condition of the corporation
at this time; how and 10 what manner
the present liabilities Of the city may be
adjusted, and the expenses Of tho ensu-
ing year provided for. Also to recon.
mend to your consideration, such i'm
provements a. seems to me to be actually
necessary. It will be observed that At
tho commencement Of the fiscal year
lust ended, the indebtedness Of the cor.
poration at that time was 10 follows:
The Black judgement against city 3l,348 10
Unpaid warrants Of the old issue 400 90
Warrants outstanding, polios fund ga 70
fetal isdsbtednsss Jaly lot. 1857 q, l62 IS
At the commencement Of the present
fiscal year I find the9 indebtedness OF TIE
corporation to be ~ follows:
Due on the Black judgement $3,l07 81
Unpaid warrants on police fund 90 u
Present indebtedness A.Os7 IL
It will be observed by the foregoing
that the indebtedness Of the corporation
the past two years has decreased in the
sum Of one thousand seventy.6ve and
seventy.three one.hundredths dollars.
That the sum Of $3.50 81 has
been paid by the treasurer As principal
and interest out OF the redemption fund
on warrants issued under tho old charter,
and that there remains 10 this fund the
sum Of S81 80.
The warrcpts payable out Of this fund
having been redeemed, would recon-.
mend that the balance In this fund be
transferred to the police fund, and tho 70.
demption fund be abolished. You will
observe that the outstanding warrant,
against tho police fund amount to $979..
Is as against $424. rs ono year ago, and
some may wish to know Why the indebt
edness against this fund has 60 rapidly in
creased, but the matter is easy to explain
in former years the proportion Of the tai
set apart to this fund has been from / /
to 81 mills, during the year just ended
only one mill was appropriated TO thu
police, while two mills to the street fund
one mill to redemption fund and thre'
mills to what is known a. the Blacl
fund. And in addition to this, tho ex
penses attendenl upon the trial Of tn,
suit Of Black against the city, have in ,
great measure been a charge upon tn
police fund.
As regards taxation, / see no va
whereby We can reduce tho rate below
the levy Of last year, to.wit: seven mills
i The remainder Of the Black judge.
ment against the city must be provided
for, which will require . tax of thre'
mills. Although this suit, as man,
believe. was conceived 10 fraud agaips
the Taxpayers Of the corporation, an.
carried to judgement for the benefit O
the few, nevertheless, the paymen
thereof must be provided for.
| STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
i During the past year considerable
progress has been made in the improve
ment Of some Of the principal streets
and would earnestly recommend, tha
the improvement now begun be con
tinued, and if possible in more vigor
Gus manner than in the past. First
The principal streets, those upon which
the main travel passes, require muct
improvement, and I would recommend
that the Same be improved as fast a,
time and means will permit. Alst
several sewers should be constructed
whereby the water caused BY rains and
melting SHOWS may be conducted from
the streets into other channels, and
thereby improve the sanitary of thu
town. and add to the convenience and
comfort Of its inhabitants.
To make such improvements, it will
require means, and it devolves upon The
council to devise the mode Of raising the
same. The rate Of taxation at presen,
is seven mills on the dollar, this with
safety cannot be reduced, neither would
I recommend that it be increased. The
levy Of seven mill tax is about all the
property owners can well stand, whe.
We consider the high rate Of taxation for