The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-26

x-s
$lS1. $780, "A. u.,,
ton for real estate within the city i,ml.s;
from information obtained from the board
Of county appraisers will be about $lo,oV.,
mn. improyemepts on the same
on iaat years valuation. 81. $40. 600: person.
ala. intending moneys. credits, ETC.. esti-
mated At last years valuation. $aoo4' i'a'
.Thus You will see thai the basis of
revenue for the ensuing year will DO about
r.. OOO. 600 less than last year. The max
imum levy is eight and one.half mills. Inc
receipts ftom licenses will. 1 trust, be
larger than last year. Our scale OF LICENSES
25 per cent Of the amount de-
rived by the county from Licenses
in practically the same field, the county's
receipts from licenses outside OF Helena
being comparatively small. Our city mas
70 depend too largely upon revenues derived
from ad yalorem taxation-we do not get
enough from licenses. The county col
Iected last year, from ad valorem taxes.
S2lO, 900; from licenses. $4,000. The city
collected. from I'D valorem taxes, Sloo'-
OS6. OF: from Licenses. Sl9, 10.
Thus you will see that about 26 per cent
of the total revenues of the county was
derived from licenses. while but IL per cent
of the total revenues of the city were de-
rived from licenses. l would reoommend
an carly revision OF the license law, and
ANAL QOD0 IOg u Alkbu so
nresent law. Licenses should be collected
from all alike. Any other course Is mani
testify n unjust.
The interest ON our bonded indebtedness
ia provided for the year. The street fund
10 cash. the fire fund 10 cash. Our general
Warrants ON this fund are registered and
not paid for want Of funds. and boar IN
terest at the rate Of seven per cent pc.
annum from the date Of registration until
called for. Under the law the CITY treas.
urer is directed that whenever $l,OUV OF
available funds shall have accumulated in
the treasury to make q call for outstanding
Ali funds from licenses, fines. fees. etc,
90 to ths credit Of tbs general fund. Our
best sffos,s should be directed in the inter
est Of the general fund. by taking of every
possible burden, reducing the expenses OF
eyery department paid out of the general
fund to the very minimum and reinforcing
the fund by every legitimate means. ~
pursuing this course our warrants on Tue
General fund will be kept up to Q good
figure.
or the bonded indebtedness Of the city.
Sl1. 800 il of the issue OF October. 1884, z pei
cent 7-aO years; $3.50, 900 represents the
sewerage system of the city; Sl5O.OO is-
sued in 1883. 6 per cent $50 years; $l3o,oOo,
issued in 1889. 6 per cent 1O-2O; funding
bonds, 100000. 6 per rent 1920 years.
the redemption of outstanding warrants.
Our first issue of bonds was Sl9.50O; OF
this issue IS, 600 was taken up and cancelled
within the last year. and there IS now Q call
for 81, 600 of this issue.
Last year tho expenditures of our CITY
we're necessarily large between our audi
torium and furnishing the same. tbs pur-
chasing and opening of Lawrence street,
the paving of Main street. additional nre
apparatus and buildings. furnishings for
the city hall, extensive repairs on the Last
Chance" and Davis street tunes, I'M sne
extraordinary expenditures in the street
department, growing out of tbs capital con-
test. etc, This year We shall have none of
these, I trust; nothing more than the
operating expenses of the different depart
msnts, aad these should be reduced to the
very minimum.
recommend to urge the ~strlctest econ
omy in every department. consistent WITH
good government and hope for your CO.
operation to this end. and 1 would respect
fully recommend that In all matters lnvolv.
lug the expenditure of city funds. referred
cred, not by one member OF a COMMITTED
nor a minority, but BY the whole or at leas
q majority. / will now refer to the differ
ent departments OF the cisy's business.
STREETS.
During the past year much has been done
in this department. The paving Of Main
street from Cutler street to Helena avenue
commenced about May 16, and completed
October 4. is a splendid piece of work. re-
fectine credit alike upon the contractor
and the engineering department OF our city.
The long line of general work covered by
this department under the capable and
faithful superintendent, speaks for itself,
for the details of which l refer you to the
splendid report furnished by him. lregret
that l mo say as much for our side
walks. The improvements In this line are
not striking. not creditable to the city nor
its citizens. True. considerable has been
done, but much, however, remains to be
done before our city can boast of its side
walks. The great trouble seems to be with
the unimproved property on residence
streets, and so many nonresident owners
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
The fire department has maintained it.
self in the front rank of the city's depart
ments-probably no little city can boast Of
80 thorough and complete a department ns
ours. The thanks of our citizens are due
the officers and men Of the department fol-
their prompt responses to all alarms. and
their efficient services at all fires. The
Losses by fire during the past year have
been reduced to the very minimum.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
This important department Of the publi'
service l think will favorably compare witt
other departments. 1t has been, and is be
ing managed on the following lines: Tn
preservation of good order and enforce
ment of the Law. and Notwithstanding tn
assertions somewhat derogatory to tn
force. | believe it will favorably compar
with the police force of any small CITY
For particulars, l refer you to the elaborat
report of the retiring marshal.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
This department is one of increasing i'm
portance ia the city expands. Ita wor
for tine past year l will only refer to in
general way, to-wit: Directing or superin
tending the laying Of the Main street pave
ment; Harrison and Monroe avenue eewer
street grades furnished street department
grade sheets and much other useful ep
valuable office work, and for details ref,
you to the able 'eport of the city enGinee
SEWERAGE.
Iregret that there is not q greater disp
sitiUn on the part of our citizens to utill
the splendid general sewerage system
this city. From the best information tn
! have been able to obtain, only about on
third of the buildings in this city are CO
nected with the sewers. Were it not (
the state of the times | would recommel
that steps be taken by the council compe
it.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The usefulness and excellence of this "
managed institution Is the boast of {
citizens. For details l respectfully re
you to the splendid report furnished by t
retiring chairman of the library commit
HEALTH.
deBire TO call your attention TO the I