The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-26
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL.
MAYORS ANNUAL REPORT
OF the City Of Savannah for the Year
Ending 1892.
MAYORS OFFICE.

Savannah, Ga, January LIST, 1898.
The following report of the receipts and ex-
matters pertaining thereto for the past year
that is to say from January LIST, TO December
3lst, 1892, is respectfully submitted for your
information.
The balance in the treasury on the LIST day
of January, 1892, was S,3S4.26; the receipts
during the year amounted to 9S48, 81; this
added to the said balance gave the city $685.
Z57. Y to meet the expenses of the public ser
vice for the year. The budget was fixed by
Council at SSlS, $1,000; the receipts were S3l -
473.5l in excess of the budget The
expenditures amounted to S90S, 356O3 and
exceeded the budget SS9,956.O3, but
owing to the increase of receipts over
the estimate and the large balance on hand
at the beginning of the year, the city was
enable TO pay all of It's running obligations.
including water works improvements, and
there Is lett in the treasury towards 1898 the
sum of 39,90l.74
Under the head of receipts and expenses
for 1892 and statement of bonded debt which
follows. will be found the budget and the
trial balance for the year. a comparison
with the amounts placed under expenditures
will at once show which departments ex-
ceeded the appropriations set forth in the
budget, and the items in the Treasurer's
report Will show for what purpose the
money was spent.
The report of the City Treasur er, carefully
ltemized, showing the receipts from every
source and expenditures in every depart
ment, is published herewith
The annual reports of the city officers
together with statistics containing valuable
information, will be published in "Munici-
pal Reports of the City of Savannah" for 1892
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The health interests of city have during
the year, as in the past, been carefully
looked after by the board of sanitary COM
missioners. The expenses of this depart
ment as we'll as of the other departments
connected with it, viz, scavenger Depart
ment, .. E. NJ. department, crematories
and Laurel Grove cemetery, all of which
are under the supervision of the committee
on Health and Cemetery have been we'll
managed by the said committee.
The Mayor is satisfied that the present
1Orce OF sanitary inspectors does not per
form the duty of inspecting the city in the
the public health In order to make this de-
partment OF the service thoroughly effective
more inspectors should be employed, suffi-
Gent number to inspect at least once a week
every cellar, yard and premises within the
city limits; this should be done not alone in
summer but during the entire year. Such a
system of inspection would result in the
through cleanliness OF every premises
throughout the city, which the Mayor regrets
To say does not now obtain. For some time
past the use of the Savannah & Ogeechee
canal as a commercial thOrOughfare has
been discontinued and the same has become
in an unsanitary condition both as to it's
upper and lower levels Prompt action
should be taken by the city authorities to
"a
place the same in a sanitary condition and
TO so maintain it,
Scarlet fever prevailed amongst us last
year TO a considerable extent; the dis
ease, however, ultimately proved to be
not of a very severe type, and the small
number Ofcases at this time relieves it of
the threatening aspect engendered by the
large number OF cases which existed some
time previous. A considerable amount of the
extra expense incurred from this cause was
paid to parties for articles destroyed by or
der of the health authorities as a means of
prevention to the spread of the disease.
While the city is not liable under the law
for this expense yet in many cases it be-
came actually necessary as a matter of char
ity to place it within the power of the suf-
ferers TO replace the articles destroyed and
to this end such sums as were deemed pro-
per we're allowed by council after a thorough
investigation OF each application by the
committees on health and cemetery and fin
ance and upon the recommendation of the
said committees as to the amount to which
in their opinion the parties should be allow
ed under the circumstances attending each
particular case. The Mayor recommends to
the city the purchase ofthe proper appliances
for the dlsinfection of houses visited by con-
tagent disease so that articles of fabrics and
other property will not be destroyed during
the process. This can be done effectually
without danger to the public and of great
saving to all concerned.
Council has decided to discontinue the
present city dispenSary and provide for the
furnishing of medicines to the sick poor
by druggists selected for different sections
of the city. This plan will be of great con-
Nenience to the sick and 1t is to be hoped
win prove economical to the city consistent
with better service which no doubt will fol-
low.
The attention OF council is again called to
the fact that some action should be taken
looking to the establishing of new ceme-
terry the one now in use being right in our
midst and a menace to the public health.
Furthermore ii is almost entirely filed and
loft fah To
the dead.
The Mayor regrets that on account of the
legal aspect of the matter nothing can be
done to improve the old cemetery The
tombs now there are broken, neglected and
unS1ghtly to strangers as well as TO our own
people, and The appearance of the place GER
tainly does not reflect credit upon us. 1t
has been the desire of the Mayor TO see the
walls removed, and the place laid out in
proper walks. II this was done, and the
place neatly kept an eye sore would be
from that portion of the city and
temperance OF the cemetary become such
as should surround spot Of this character.
Efforts looking to this nave been discussed
but nothing has been accomplished on &C
count of the objections raised by some who
have an interest in the persons buried there,
and who on account of sentiment or some
other reason not understood by the Mayor,
seem to prefer the broken tomb stones and
condition of the place to the i'm
which would follow the placing
of the cemetary under the control of the city
with view to the alterations
suggested.
Under the ordinance governing the
matter the owners OF a number of
privy vaults have been required to
aDondon the vaults and MAKE sewer
connections. The abandonment Of all prtvy
vaults in the city would in the opinion OF
the Mayor be a sanitary measure and one OF
the greatest benefit to the public health, but
the connection at once fall of such vaults
with the present system of sewerage 1t is be-
Ileved would be a menace of greater evil