Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-13
WIPING OUT A DEBT.
The Cost of the First City Consolida-
tion Finally Paid Of.
PITTSBURGS SURPRISING GROWTH
Fooled Commission Appointed by Court
Twenty Years Ago.
NEXT YEARS TAXES TO BE REDUCED

City Controller Morrow had scarcely got
settled in his Office chair after returning
from q short vacation when he was con-
fronted by an indignant property holder
who wanted to know why he was so heavily
taxed. The complainant was James Getty,
Jr. He fashed|up bill for S33 for special
city tax. The Controller has nothing to do
with the taxes, his business being to see
that the financial affairs of the city are
economically administered, but he cast oil
upon the troubled waters by assuring Mr..
Getty that this was the last year this tax
would be assessed.
This tax is known as the old city special
tax, and arose in this way: In 1867, at the
time of the proposed consolidation Of the
old city, then consisting of u wards, with
the adjacent boroughs and townships, the
County Court appointed commission con-
sisting of Messrs. D. N. White, Alexander
Gordon and John Walker, Jr., to adjust
the separate indebtedness OF the new terri
tory. The duty of this commission was to
determine the property valuation OF the
property of the corporations which were to
be annexed. Early in 1868 this commits
sion made its report, which was approved
by Court.
DIDN'T GUESS RIGHT.
At this time the total Indebtedness of the
old city was 50, OIL, 9S7 55. After deducting
the value of the property held By the city
there was balance on the wrong side of
1886, ,468 SO. To pay off this deficit an annual
special tax of mills on the 81 was levied on
the residents of the first IL wards. The total
valuation of the property in the old city was
3-mill tax was imposed with the intention of
paying off this indebtedness in 20 years, but
the value of Pittsburg property increased so
rapidly that 1t was found advisable to cut
down the levy for this purpose, until this
year the assessment is but LILO of mill
on the 81.
The commission, in arriving at its results,
first figured out the value of the property.
owned by the corporation which was to be
annexed 10 Pittsburg. This was subtracted
from the total debt, and the difference was
returned to Court as the net Indebtedness,
By this calculation Lawrenceville owed
$37, ,279 80; Collins township, S574 IA; Lib
erty township, S637 81; PEBBLES township,
$3.50. These three townships now eonsti-
tute the East End of Pittsburg. Oakland.
now the Fourteenth ward, had no debt, but
had balance in the treasury of S494 "a.
Pitts township, now the Thirteenth
ward, owed S872 IA. The special
tax in these districts to wipe out
the local indebtedness ceased years ago,
Lawrenceville's debt, which was out Of all
proportion to the others, being Hquidated
in 1880.
RELIEF FOR TAXPAYERS.
With this years levy this special tax for
the first consolidation ceases, and will thus
afford slight relief to those persons who
are sufficiently wealthy to find taxation a
burden. There Is a strong probability that
the general city taxes will be lighter next
year. During the present year deficiency
of $500. 900 had to be met, but this year
there will be no deficiency. In addition to
this the various departments and bureaus |
have been watching every corner, and have |
turned in much more money than usual. |
This money is turned into the city treasury, |
and is not credited to the appropriations of
the various departments, so that there will |
be quite sum on hand when the Finance
Committee of Councils meets to fix the levy
for next year
Probably the most unexpected return has
been from the Police Bureau, or rather from
the First police district Inspector Nc
Aleese, as the result OF his war against |
speak-easies, turned into the city treasury
over S10, 900 in fines for illegal liquor SELL |
ing. Mr.. H. H. Bengough, who looks after |
the payment of vehicle licenses has also |