Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-01-06

seen fit to Increase the salaries OF
the engineers of steam fire engines
from $40 to $75 per month.
FINANCE.
The bonded indebtedness for
the construction of the two
bridges across the Villa
mette river S5O, ,OUo
The bonded Indebtedness for
the construction of Marion
street and Ferry street
sewers l9,OOO
Total bonded indebtedness 1853, 900
From the best information at hand
the floating Indebtedness, at the be-
ginning of the year 1891, was
between $4,000 and $4,000. Our
floating indebtedness at the begin
ming of the year is about $2S, 900.
Under the provisions of the charter
as amended at the session of the
legislature of 1891, the city has the
mower to bond this Indebtedness to
$4,000, which, so far, it has failed
to do. We should be careful not to
incur large Indebtedness against
the city for any purpose. Our M
debtedness at present amounts to vt
least $1,000. L would recommend
that means be devised whereby a
portion of the Indebtedness existing
against the city be reduced during
the ensuing year.
BRIDGES.
The high water of 1899 left the
bridges in very bad condition.
They were temporarily repaired aud
fixed up for use by the council of
1890. 1t was found necessary during
the past year to rebuild these bridges
and it has been done at a cost of
$5216. The following bridges have
been built during the past year;
Capital street bridge, Twelfth street
bridge, Fourteenth street bridge,
bridge across Mill race on Church
street, Fourteenth street Queen truss
bridge, bridge across Mill race on
Fourteenth street. The foot bridge
on Commercial street, across South
Mill creek has been repaired at an
expense of $3.50. The bridge known
as the High street bridge, across
South Mill creek, although it was
planned and commenced by the
council of 1890, was completed and
paid for by the council of 1891, at an
expense of $1479. More work has
been done during the past year in
building and repairing bridges with
in the city limits than has been
done by the city for number of
years preceding it. The work is of
permanent and satisfactory char
acter.
THE SEWERS.
During the past year the council
has been obliged to expend consid-
erable money in repairing and re-
building portion of the sewers of
the city, that should have been
properly constructed in the first
instance. Some of the work that
was done by the contractors who
built our sewers was of such a char
acter that it should not have been
accepted by the city. There are
many defects In the sewerage that
will have to be remedied at great
expense to the city. Hereafter
when the city enters into improve
ments of permanent nature more
care and attention should be given
to the matter than was exercised in
the construction of our sewers.
OUR STREETS.
The streets during the year 1891
have received the careful considera-
ton of the council. An effort has
been made to adopt some system of
permanent impr ov e m n IS that
would not only meet the approval of
our citizens but would be for the
best interests of the city. The coun-
Gil, in considering the matter, has
had great deal of difficult work to
do, and has given its time freely
with a desire to do what IL deemed
for the best interests Of the tax
payers. The difference of opinion
as to the kind of material to be
used In making permanent improve
ments on our streets has been the
cause Of a good deal of delay. This
delay has enabled the council TO
better understand the question.
The city, however, after nearly one
years deliberation on the matter,
let contract for grading, draining
and graveling the streets which the
contractor failed to comply with and
carry out. 1t Is proper that the
citizen who Is TO pay for the street
improvements should be consulted
as to the kind of material to be
used and the manner in which i'm.
provements should be made.
Street Improvements are largely a
matter Of experiment, and 1t Is
difficult to adopt any kind Of per
manent street Improvement that
will give entire satisfaction. This
is a question you will consider dur
ing the ensuing year, and / trust
that you will consider 1t In a man
uer TO deal fairly and equitably by
our citizens.