Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-15
RICHMOND'S EXHIBIT
Review of the Years Operations In
the Various City Departments.
MESSAGE OF THE MAYOR.
He Briefly Discussss the Annual Reports
Forwarded to the Council and Makes
Some Important Il Communications

tnereNith the reports maze 10 hiin py tne ncnns
OF the various city departments. He discusses
these reports briefly and makes several impor-
tsnt Recommendations. This Is the message:
MAYORS OFFTcE,l
RICHMOND, Va. March IA, 1892. !
To the Honorable the Members Of the CITY Couf-
ell:
Gentlemen,-In conformity with the require
ments of the city charter have the honor TO
submit for your consideration my annual report
Of the condition OF the city, with accompanying
recommendations, for which ask your careful
consideration.
IL is matter for sincere congratulaton that,
despite the severe stringency In the financial
markets of the world during the early months
OF 1891 and the depressing influences OF tho re-
action from the spirit OF speculation In our own
State, which was felt throughout the entire year.
the progress OF Richmond during the past
twelve months has been In 80 many respects 30
satisfactory.
Our building operations though not 20 active
as In 1890 show that more than 300 new houses
were erected. whose value, eIciusiye OF non
taxable buildings. was about 100000.
Our manufactorles, with an aggregate capital
OF s15,27J,50O. reported sales amounting 20
$50, 49s. 900, whilst our iobbing trade, which il
an important factor In our commercial Interests,
made the gratifying increase OF s3,00O,o67 oser
the business OF the preceding year.
Our financial institutions make most salts
factory oAniDtt. Our DaDk clchEluEs huDH HI ii-
crease for the year Of 81, I37, ,449. These figures
Indicate a Substantial and healthy business
growth. and should encourage US 10 confidently
anticipate yet greater advance for the year
upon which We have just entered.
OUR MANY MONUMENTS.
Richmond IL rapidly becoming famous for the
number and beauty Of her public monuments.
4 monument 10 be erected In Marshall Park g
the memory Of the private soldiers and sailors OF
the Confederacy, Will soon DO completed and
will long remain tribute Of admiration TO the
men whose deeds Of yalor and patriotism have
made forever famous the name OF the Confede-
rate soldier and sailor.
The Richmond Howitzer Association, composed
OF survivors Of one OF our most famous artillery
battalons, have already made APPLICATION 10 the
Council for n cite on Park avenue on which ~
erect a monument 10 the memory OF their dead
comrades. A monument To General A. p. Hill
will soon be erected on the hermitage road not
far from the city limits, and the old soldiers ol
the cavalry OF the Army OF Northern Virginia
have inaugurated q movement for the erection
in this city of equestrian statue 70 that match
less cavalry leader General j. l.. Il. Stuart.
Tho widow u Jefferson Davis having decided
10 commit tO our keeping the sacred dust OF the
honored and beloved President OF the Confede-
rate States, II is proposed that the southern
States shall unite In erecting In this city 10 hi'
memory monument worthy Of the man and OF
the cause Of winch he was 30 illustrious repre-
sentative.
In several OF these undertakings the city in
due time will be asked TO help. most cordially
recommend these movements 10 honor our dead
heroes TO your favorable consideration. Appro-
priations made for such hallOved objects Will be
wisely made.
Every encouragement should be given oul
military organizations. Money appropriated
for them IA money wisely Invested Tor the pro
lection Of our lives and property. Our appro
priatiOns 10 our voluntary sodiery should be
somewhat commensurate with their needs. and
II should be our constant aim 90 encourage and
foster an interest in all that pertains 70 theil
welfare.
THE ANNEXED TERRITORY.
BY a recent enactment Of the General AS.
sembly our corporate limits we're extended on
our western boundary so as to include the terri
tory from LOmbardy street 10 the Boulevard
and between tue BIoad-Street road and tine
Grove road. The assessed value or the pro
perty thus annexed 10 more than sSOO,O0O, the
taxes on which for the current year Will be due
70 and collected by the city Of RcAmond. Thi'
addition TO our territory includes much valuable
property, which, when improved, must ulti
matoly become q source Of considerable revenue
10 the city.
The guarantee by the city OF the interest foi
Eve years ON $50. 900 OF the bonds Of the Virgins
Agricultural and Mechanical Society gave thai
society prompt relief from It's pecuniary emDar
fassnenis and enabled lt5 officers 70 provide FOL
a very satisfactory and financially-successful ex
hiDition. II is proposed TO have during mex
October an Exposition on much larger scale
than that OF last year, and We should give thl.
effort our most cordial support. The Exposition
could be very we'll utilized In the collection O
valuable exhibits Of Yirginia's resources, which
after being shown here, could be preserved and
forwarded 10 the Columbian Exposition In Chit
cago In 1898, at which latter Exposition IL IA e
be earnestly hoped that Richmond, and indeed
all the cities and counties OF the Commonwealth
will be fully represented. i. 10 not too early tt
begin the work OF preparation for an exhibit o
Richmond's varied aud valuable manufacturing
proGucts
TIE CITYs FINANCIAL CONDITION.
On the Let day of February, 1891, the city haC
a cash balance 20 her credit IN the bank OF sl0,
J77.J4, floating debt OF s343,oO4.S6, and a
bonded debt OF S6.O6l, ,225.6O. At tho close Of
the nscal year ending January 81, 1892, the re-
port of the Auditor shows a cash balance o
$02. .190.39, floating debt OF el69,9sl .62, and
a bonded debt Of S6.3l7, ,O65.6O. Ii Will thus be
seen that during the twelve months past oui
noating debt has been reduced sl73,022.64
whilst our bonded deb; has been increased b,
S2jJ,S40.
our revenue for the coming year IL estimated
at al 300, coo, and after setting aside S42O,OOt
for interest and redemption there will be lett fol
all the other needs Of the city ssSO,oOO.
The continued growth aud prosperity OF the
city depends a. much upon sound financial man
ngement as upon any other one cause. The
credit of the city is deseryedly high, but We car
maintain IL only by fixed determination e
avoid unnecessary expenditures and by the
adoption OF n rigorous policy OF Keeping our ap-
prOpriatiOns within the limits OF our income. II
will be very gratifying to our Taxpayers e
know that the money realized from the sale Of
bonds has been ia the main wisely Invested, ant
that we have valuable assets 10 show for nearly
very o. liar OF our bonded debt The assets o
the city in the shape Of gas and water plants, pub
lie parks, City Hall, and other public buildings
are estimated 20 be worth more than $4,000,
600. and in this calculation the gas-works are
pat down at 100000 aud tho water-1oTks al
A.. lnaa Fl.... ~.
market value. II our gas-works, water-works
public parks, market houses, and other property
represented by these bonds were sold at publl(
sale to-day they would realize enough 20 cance
every dollar OF cur Indebtedness and leave a
handsome surplus in the treasury. city that
can make such an exhibit as this certainly has
reason 70 congratulate itself upon the unitorm
good management OF its finances. Few cities IN
the country can make sucn excellent showing
for their bonds as this.
THE QUESTION OF HEALTH.
The question OF public health Is OF paramount
importance, since II vitality concerns the growtt
and prosperity OF the city. The Chamber o.
Commerce, aided by the Academy Of Medicine
hes rendered most important public service by
lts careful investigation ot tho many matters az
fectlng the public health. The reports OF the
cham Der have been submitted 10 the Council
aud will doubtless receive your most earnest
consideration. 1t is gratifying 10 note that the
total number Of deaths trom all diseases In 1891
was 147 less than in the preceding year. The
Board OF Health, in their interesting annual re-
port, made a number OF valuable suggestions as
TO how the dsath-rate can be still further
decreased and the h0atlfulness OF tho city
improved. The most prolific source OF dis
ease Is defective plumbing, both that which ha:
become so by long usage and that which was ren'
derei So by It's original construction. In many
houses the sewerage-pipe connections are made
with almost criminal carelessness, and frequent
ly offer no resistance whatever 10 the ingress d
gas from the main sewers. Many deaths are
directly traceabe TO sources OF this character
Out of a total OF 213 houses visited by diphthe-
ria the plumbing OF 104 was detective; out o
seyenty-ave houses containing cases OF typhoid
fever defective plumbing existed In twenty
seven; IN all OF the houses invaded by scaIlet-Ie
yer imperfect plumbing was also 10 be fodnd. It
rome ~ these evils would earnestly recommend
the appointment OF an inspec OF plumbing
and house drainage and ventilation, whose du
ties should be directed aud supervised by ths
health officers Of the city. IL IL an anomalous
fact that the colorei people, living 10 what are
city. were singulariy exempt from diphthena
TO which tho Inhabitants OF houses possessing
every comfort proved ~ susceptible.
Impure milk, pssuicious meats, and decoyec
vegetables are also prolific causes OF disease II
ia very important that their sale should be pre-
vented Persons selling milk IN the city should
be required 70 keep their dairies and stables and
places OF business open to the inspection OF the
Health Department. vendors OF meats and
vegetables snouId 90 required to submit 70 q like
inspection and 10 abide by the decision OF the
Board OF Health. To make this Inspection mos
effective IL Is important that We should have an
inspector OF meat and food supply, which
heartily recommend
The benefits derived from the appointment oi