Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-04-22
Mayor Allen Gives a Concise State
ment of the Finances of
the City,
And Makes Suggestions Looking
Toward the Curtailing of
Expenses.
City Council Meeting.

2. line minutes OF the first meeting Of the
new council were read and approved.
Mayor Allen presented the appointment
of John Harold for city engineer, which
the council unanimously confirmed.
The appointment of members of the
board Of health was also submitted as fol-
lows: First ward, Arthur G. William;
second ward, DR.. w. E. Fraser; third ward,
Gerald Pierce; fourth ward, 7. w. Griffin.
The appointments were unanimously con-
firmed.
The petition of L. F. Wilcox, by his at
torney F. V. Barnes, was presented, ask
ing for removal OF a fence on Sweet street,
which at present %obstructs communication
with the street.
S.. F. Lambert moved that the chief of
police be instructed to see that the fence is
removed and an opening made. Seconded
by T. Cunningham and carried.
Petition from Chas. Kupitz, asking per-
mission to dig up street on south side of
the track that he may connect with the
main water pipe, without expense to city,
was favorably acted upon.
Petition was presented from Lena Peter
son for remuneration for damage to her
building, caused by sagging or leaning of
the city hall against her building, and the
same was referred to committee on public
buildings and grounds.
The resignation of John W. Higgins,
custodian of the engine house, was pre-
scented. and accepted. -H
The report OF the city treasurer was
read, showing a balance on hand April IL,
1892 Of $6,66861. Referred to committee
of ways and means.
The annual report OF +. II. Barrett,
showing the receipts and expenditures for
the year was read n approved.
Mayor Allen then made q few remarks
i'll review Of the city's financial condition
and the expenditures OF the previous ad-
ministration, speaking as follows:
"The figures that l will give you will
not be as exact as the reports you lave
inst heard read of the treasurer and clerk,
but they will be approximately correct.
The exact indebtedness of the city can be
ascertained only by the treasurer comput-
ing all interest due on warrants and bonds
to date, which with the bonded and debt
and outstanding warrants will show the
total liabilities of the city. Deducting
cash on hand, will then show the exact
debt. The debt limit Of the city is $751;
1885. The bonded debt is $S34, 1000; war;
rants on general : fund outstanding,
water fund outstanding, $942;
interest on warrants and bonds, $4,000;
total, $751; 42. The city treasurer has cash
on hand, general fund, $3.50; penalty and
interest fund, 1922; road fund, SOB; bond
interest fund, $1,000; sinking fund, $145;
total, 1884. This leaves the city net debt
$79,558. These figures are not as the re-
ports just read show, but on what the city
has on hand and are what the city owes
after al. the warrants issued. that have
been called in, are paid. The bond inter-
est fund is for payment of the interest on
bonds as it becomes due. The sinking fund
is for the purpose of providing a fund to
meet the bonds when they mature. We
cannot use the money therein for any other
purpose.
The general fund is overdrawn to the
amount Of about $5Oy0OO.OO. The water
fund is overdrawn to the amount of $942.-
81. There is $103.21 Ill the road fund.
There is $922.67 in the penalty and interest
fund.
Consequently if we wanted to pay cash
as we incur debts we would not be
able to continue far as there was no levy
made for road purposes last year, and the
penalty and interest fund does not receive
any additions to it under the present sys-
tenn Of collecting taxes. The last council
paid many claims against the city in cash,
on the water, road and penalty and inter-
est funds. They perhaps were able to save
the city on some of the debts that they in
CURED, but it was like robbing Peter to
pay Paul. If a fund is raised for a parti-
cular purpose it should be used for that
purpose, and a debt that is not due for
work or materials that would bring it due
from a special fund, should be paid from
the general fund. If the fund is not de-
sired to be continued, the proceeds thereof
should be turned into the general fund,
and taken to pay warrants in their order
of registration and stop the interest there
on. The last council had during the last
year, in the road fund, $2,2O5.SO; in the
penalty and interest fund, $1,224.52; Fire
and water fund, $5,85 80; to-day the road
fund has, $1OS.2 l the penalty and interest
fund, $922.67;; and the fire and water fund
is overdrawn $s9942. 81. l call these matters
TO your attention, not to ~criticise the last
council, but to bring to your minds the
fact that we must take charge of the city
finances with a depleted treasury and com
PEELED to operate with a warrant that can
be sold only at q great discount. Conse-
quently we must endeavor alithe more to
keep close to the line in spending the
city's money. / would like to see the city
. n . cash basis nee more, and we should
make an effort to bond the floating debt.
This desire you to take under considera-
Stion. Il we can bond the entire debt Of the