Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-22

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l. The necessity will still exist with full
| force for each department to conflne its ex
penditures rigidly within the limit Of its ar
preparation.
WelILighted City Streets.
Tocomplete the electric light plant, bond
were issued for s1so, 1000, bearing per cen
interest. This secures to the city its owl
electric light plant, wholly within its con
troll. and does away almost entirely will
gas. The extension Of this system can b,
made from year to year without any furthe,
increase in indebtedness, as appropriation
Is made to cover all outlay both for main
tenance and extension when and where
| needed. The change from gas to electricity
Is well worth all It has cost, and has me,
with eommendatory praise from all citizens
Allegheny can now be truthfully stated {
having as well-ltghted city as any in the
country, and in this respect is fully abreast
with progress elsewhere.
Improvement bonds have been issued to
the amount Of SIS 900, bearing 4 per cent
interest, for the repairing of Federal and
hebecca streets, two leading thoroughfares.
This Improvement speaks for itself. the
City bearing the expense because under the
law the abuttfng property could not be
charged twice for paving.
10 finish the grading of California avenue
81, 900 per cent bonds were issued. This
Delng rural property, the city, it was
thought, could collectan equal amount from
tne ab1tting property. Under the opinion
Ot tne City Sol1c1tor 1t was and still Is doubt
ful whether this can be done, and curative
legislation may have to be resorted to.
Helped Out by Pittsburg Decisions.
The late decisions of the Supreme Court in
relation to our neighboring city may help
solve this problem, which is not by any
means clear. However this may be, the city
will mako an effort to collect fair
proportion Of the above work. but in anv
event the opening up of this important
thoroughfare will ultimately vastly improve
the west end Of the city, leading as it does
direct to Bellevue, and opening up a large
stretch of property for improvement which
otherwise had no outlet and must have re-
manned at only for agricultural purposes.
Rapid transit over this new thoroug ghfare is
building it up, and before long 1t will be
largely improved. thus adding to the taxa
BILE valuation Of the city.
The above increase in Indebtedness for the
purposes named amounts to s4Os,0O
On the first day of July, 1892, 500, 900 per
cent water bonds will become due. These
bonds were issued prior to the time when a
payment and can be renewed at per cent,
thus saving annually s. 900 in interest The
Sinking Fund Commission, from their sur
la Plus, S. VIII be enabled either to redeem about
5000 of the above bonds, or subscribe in
the same amount for the new issue, as their
judgment may direct them. 1t Will be under
stood that under the act of 1874 all bonds
issued thereafter must be provided for in
the sinking fund. which fund must be held
for the final payment of said issues; the ac-
cumulat1ng interest and earnings of the
sinking funds car be appropriated as above
indicated when thought best to do SO.
Renewals Becoming Thing of the Past.
We will soon reach the last issue of bonds
for which no provision was made for final
payment, and therefore the sinking funds
will amply provide for each maturing bond
issue, and renewals will become q thing of
the past.
The Sinking Fund Commission during the
past year has invested surplus cash in
its hands in 100000 1 per cent
fornia avenue bonds. The commission has
earned for the city since its organization,
October, 1880, through the investment of the
funds in their charge: the sum of $s7,55s 80.
They have also paid or and cancelled during
the same period: bonds of the city to tho
They hold at the present time loans o. the
and cash on hand, sss, 40 As. making a total
of cash and securities of $S97, ,240 As. The in
come of the commission for the past year in
interest was $l3,470.
events and experiences of the past year that
this Office is not provided with sufficient
force to conduct all tho work and duties
enforced upon it or expected Of it. To
lay: to keep the accounts Of all the various
departments of the city; to conduct the
bond issues and payment of interest when
due; TO enforce the collection Of all public
advertise all public work and to attend
to the classification of all bids; to
Keep pay rolls for all employees of the city,
including fire and police departments, day
aborers and others, and, in addition there
to, conduct the minutest details of q vast
md somewhat complicated municipal gov
md labor of your Controller and his one as
'istant, and he urges an increase of his cleri- |
al force If he Is to be held accountable for |
The correctness of all receipts and disburse- |
'ther daily duties imposed upon him.
Not Enough Men for the Work.
No other city Of the size and importance
II Allegheny in the entire country has done
70 much with similar help through its de- |
'artments of control. Pittsburg, with a |
eparate bond department., which is con. 4
lucted by the Treasurer, with its sewer and |
treet improvements regulated outside Of |
he Office of the Controller. with less detail
york imposed upon that official, has i've
mployes in the office of the Controller,
.htle We have but two. The necessity
+ one or more assistants must be
bvious to all at glance. It has been
imply impossible for your Controller to In
estigate every official act and control all
orce given him. He was compelled for
rant OF time. and thought it but just and
roper to accept sworn statements when |
iii convince any candid mind is with q
of his multiplied duties, that to
o through the details OF every officials 40
cunts from month to month, with tho help y
70 had, was simply an impossibility even |
ad he spent "a hours at his post every day.
Again, he most earnestly urges upon your
bodies the absolute necessity, in |
o far rs possible, of requiring all monies to
Q paid direct to the City Treasurer, thus
IMPLYING the collections and avoiding the
rrors Of the past.
A Tribute to Con troller Morrow.
As fltting close to this all important sub
ect would respectfully call your attention .
. the following words from Controller Nor. !