Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-12
THE MAYORS ADVICE
To Councils Concerning the Appro-
priations for the Year.
PUBLIC WORKS WANT TOO MUCH
According to His Honor, but the other
Two Suit Him Well.
ADVANCES IN THk PAST TwELvEMoNTH

Mayor Gourley's message to Councils, re-
ferred to in another column, is as follows
PIrTsBURG, Pa, Janus ary II. 1892.
| To the President and Members of Common Coun-
Gil:
GENrLEMEN-In harmony with the require
| ments of the City Charter, l beg leave to
| submit herewith the reports OF the heads OF
the various departments, setting forth in
detail the expenditures of the past year,
and presenting estimates of the money
deemed necessary to meet the expenses OF
| the year to come.
1 Iembrace the opportunity here presenter
| to congratulate you and the people OF our
| city in general On the prosperity which
| has characterized the year that has passeu
| away.
In the magnificent buildings which have
been and are being erected, in the splendld
| system of electric and cable roads winch mas
been put into operation, in the DullolnS up
| of our suburbs, in the active operations OF
| our great industries, in the steady employ,
| ment of our working people, in Thousand
| ways we witness the unmistakable evlden-
| ces of pros perity and substantial growth.
When we, in addition, consider the health
| full condition of the city, its freedom from
| pestilence visitations, from riots ana serious
disasters of all kinds, the peace and good
| order which have prevailed throughout its
entire limits, we cannot withhold the con-
clusion that this community has enjoyed its
full measure OF happiness during the year
SO recently brought to a close.
Rapid Decrease of Debt
In the gradual reduction of our bonded
debt there is still further evidence of the
city's prosperity and improved financial
condition. Five OF six years ago this in
debtedness aggregated almost 100000.
We are informed by the Controller that to-
day the net Indebtedness does not exceed
So 500, ,000
In view of what has been accomplished in
the comparatively brief period of time
designated, we have every reason to hope
that through wise legislation and prudent
and economical management of municipal
affairs the city will be able to extlngu1sh the
present debt within the next ID or IA years.
To attain to such q condition prudent
man will deny himself many things which
he and those dependent upon him would be
glad to enjoy. II this be true OF single IN :
dividual it should apply with at least some
degree of force to the many persons who
compose community, or make up CITY,,
1t must be admitted that extensive public
improvements in a great city require large
expenditures of money and oftentimes the
mourning of debt. 1t seems proper and
right, too, that the expense OF certain classes
of permanent improvements should pc
shared at least in part, by those who shall
enjoy their benefits in the years to come,
Bond Issues Often Necessary.
There are times, therefore, when the issue
advisable, thus relieving the taxpayers of
the present by placing portion of the city's
liability upon the taxpayers of the future
The great danger, however, lies in pursuing
such policy to extremes, thus defeating
the very object sought.
If the history of municipalities demon-
strates any one thing 1t establishes conclu-
sively the fact that the tendency of munich
pal governments is toward the extravagant
expenditure of public money and the reck-
less creation of debt. To meet these eX-
penditures and to provide for the interest on
and payment of bonded debts, property
valuations are frequently advanced and tax
rates increased until taxation becomes op-
pressive. That the expenses of our own city
government have materially increased year
by year during the past six years Will Pc
come apparent from an examination OF the
various appropriations covering the period
named.
In 1886 the city valuation of property for
taxable purposes was SIG 000,00O. The tax
rate was IA mills. The amount raised by
property tax was, in round numbers Sl6oo,-
600. The total expenses of the city govern
ment for that year aggregated S2,oOooOo.
Increase of seventy-Five Per Cent.
In 1891 the city valuation was $3.50, 900
and the tax rate Is mills The amount raised
by property tax was 100000, while the
total expenses of the city government will
amount to $4 465 coo. In word, the ex-
penditures for the year 1891 will exceed the
expenditures of 1886 by Sl,s65, 900, thus show
ing an increase of 75 per cent in the annual
expenses of the city government within the
brief period of six years.
No portion of this increase was required to
meet the interest on the bonded debt or to
provide for the sinking funds of the city.
For these purposes there was used in 1886,
s., ,127, 700, and in 1884, $lG46, 0O0 thus showing
a decrease of over $50 900 in the appropria-
ton made necessary by the city debt.
1t was not used by the charity department
= rad s,,aA al,N
amount of money to support the dependents
poor of the city in 1886 as was expended for
that purpose in 1891. Where. then, has this
in Increase of 81, ,s65, 900 been used? In answer
1 would say that the very large proportion
oft has been expended by the Departments
of Public Safety and Public Works. For the
year 1891 there was appropriated for the De-
partment of Public Safety s704 900, and for
the Department of Public Works s., TBS, ,5s4,
or a total of s., ,430 5s4 to both these depart
ments of the city government: This is an
increase of more than 81 500, 900 over the
amount spent in 1886 by the parts of the city
government now embraced in these depart
ments, and almost equal to the entire appro-
priations of that year for all the purposes of
municipal government including education,
sinking funds and interest on the bonded
debt.
Money Has Been Well Spent.
No one will deny that much of this money
was necessary in the better equipment of
the Bureaus of Fire and Police by the De-
partment of Public Safety, and in the repay
ing OF streets, building of bridges, extension
of water supply, purchase and improvement
of park property by the Department Of Pub
lie Works.
1 make this comparison, not in the spirit
of criticism but in order to show that dur
ing the past year, and 1 might add, during
the past three years, large sums of money
have been spent upon Improvements by the
departments to which 1 refer.
The appropriations for the Department of
Public Works have been largely increased
each successive year for the past four years.
In 1885, the total appropriation for this de-
partnent was 1850 553: in 1885, $945, 722: in 1890,
S 263, 500; in 1891, 1,726, 5s4; and the amount
estimated for the coming year Is 81, %, 1906
That these large sums of money were not
only expended, but carefully expended, 1
have no reason to doubt. That the s. 23I 306
asked for by the department. could be ad-
used in 1892, l freely admit
Probably one-half of it could be expended
on repaving alone though no such sum is
asked for that purpose. But can the city
may be deemed necessary each succeeding
wear? To what extent should appropriations
be made even for needed improvements
These are questions which merit serious
Large Increase in Valuation.
If the information which have been able |
to obtain from the Assessors office is cor
rect, it leads to the conclusion that, by the |
triennial assessment now being made, the |
city valuation of taxable property will not |
be less than $23o,oOO,0oo. Even though the