Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-04

the grasping at straws.
I PORTER'S FIGURES NOT FACTS.
/ The census bureau is engaged in send
ing out from time TO time preliminary
reports. These reports are submitted to
/ the nation for the avowed purpose of Sc
curing accuracy, particularly in all
/ statements relating to the financial con-
/ ditiou CT the country. The present bull
letin, No. "A bears upon the monetary
affairs of the various cities in the several
states comprising the Union. This re-
| port 10 exhaustive, and would be satis-
factory, even to those who are unable to
verify, if it were possible to have con-
fidence IN any part of n census, the TAX
ing of which has been under the super
vision of Robert p. Porter. AS these
reports are preliminary and, therefore,
subject to revision, Mr.. Porter with be-
hope that if any errors have crept in
the census bureau will be promptly noti-
fed. He is equally earnest in an ex-
preston of his belief that none can be
found.
Complaints from various cities have
been already made against this the latest
bulletin as being grossly inaccurate.
Mr.. Porter's place, Us MIR. Foulke,
himself Republican, has set forth in an
open letter, was given him through
fnvoriteism and not because of merit.
The history of Mr.. Porter is not one cal
oulated to inspire confidence in himself,
his agents or the methods employed; and,
whether from carelessness, iuef1iciency
or dishonesty, the census OF 1890 will
afford no certain information, nor can it
be reference to be relied upon in any
particular.
That a man, who has written protection
and high tariff articles, at the same time
arowedly holding free-trade principles;
an Englishman, yet writing letters dis
paragiug his own country; and finally
elevated by protected manufacturing
interest to his present place should regu-
late the number of congressman q stats
shall have, is blupder that closely bor-
ders upon crime. This blunderlng is now
to be supplemented, if possible, by push
ing through congress, at its next session,
an apportioument bill, based upon the
present enumeration, considered by the
majority as both inaccurate and parti-
san.
But TO return TO Bulletin No. II,
which relates. es has been stated, solely
to the financial condition of the cities of
this country.
Fort Worth is accredited with q bonded
indebtedness Of S6l9. 900, and floating
debt OF SS4 .270, requiring annually $780,
$50 interest. AS an Offset the city is
granted TO have in available funds S279,-
SIS. The city's indebtedness is fourth
in amount; Galveston, Austin and San
Antonio outrankihe EEt Worth in this
particular-Dallasn oEbeing given.
Texas ranks among lne Southern states
in municipal Indebtedness, seventh in
bonded and third in floating, with an in
crease of debt during the past ten years
second only to Virginia, which has
debt Of Sl4, sol 900, against 81 .0s3 ,s34
for this state. In percentage OF increase
in sinking funds Texas outranks all other
Southern states, but is put down as hav-
ing no resources in excess of city indebt-
edness, the excess of debt being 81 .l6s, =
$50, and as requiring an annual interest
of S2l7 ,472.
While the exactitude of these state |
ments may admit of question. thers
must be IN them an approximation 70 |
truth that is sufficient to quicken inves-
LEGATION. Each city in the state is vitality |
interested in ascertaining its exac, finan- |
cial status, and in using the opportunity |
afforded by this preliminary report to |