San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-04-21

MAYORS OFFICE,
April 10Th, 1894. {
To the Hon. City Council:
GENTLEMEN -
REDUCTION OF RUNNING EXPENs-
ES OF CITY.
The budget for the incoming fis-
cal year is herewith presented for
your consideration. The same
shows an aggregate estimate for
the general expenses of the city of
$277,342.0O. This is a gross reduc-
ton In the current running ex-
penses Of the city of $47,972.5O, as
compared with the budget Of the
present fiscal year, which provided
for 1926, 314.50. The estimate for the
Police and Fire Departments re-
main substantially the same.
There is added to the Street
Commissioners department the
sum Of $7,331.50 making the
appropriation for this purpose for
the incoming year, $35,710.OO.
There is a saving in the estimated
cost Of the Health Department
Of $19,07O.0O. This saving it is be-
lieved can be brought about by
proper management of the City
Hospital under the direct control
and supervision of the city's off,
Gals and will not impair the eff
cheney Of that department in
affording relief to the unfortunate,
but upon the contrary it is believed
that it will give relief to a greater
number. The repairs on the hos
pital building are nearing compile
ton and the city will soon be in
possession of it.
500, 10000 SAVED FOR LIGHTS.
AS compared with the Budget
of the present fiscal year
there is saving OF So, 10000
on account Of lighting. The es-
innate for this years budget was
for $50 arc lights at 60e a night,
amounting to $4,000. The esti-
mate in this budget is for 200 arc
lights Including gas and incan-
descents) at 40s a night, making a
total of $24,S4O.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
1t is to be regretted that a great
or amount cannot be set aside for
the Street Commissioner depart
ment, but a large amount of the
old floating Indebtedness is still
confronting us, and / reiterate that
the city must be just to her credit
ors before she is entitled to be too
generous to herself.
The machinery for crushing and
screening gravel is now here and
will soon be in operation. Ar
rangements are under way with
the s. A. Street R'y company to
put in a track from its line
on East Commerce street, to the
city gravel pits, the intention be-
ing to haul the gravel over said
track by fiat cars and dummy en-
gines at night after passenger
traffic has ceased. It is believed
that 40 per cent in the cost of
transportation will thus be saved
and that the gravel thus treated
will make far more lasting and
enduring streets. 1t is thus sought
by this saving in transportation to
make the money allotted to the
Street Commissioner S department
accomplish more than it has ever
done before.
The work ofstreet improvements
is most important one and the
necessity is therefor fully realized
and appreciated.
The sum Of 1874, 1924 has been
expended on the streets in the
past year, this amount has been
drawn entirely from the general
fund. Only $4.l3 was found
available for street purposes by
this administration out of
the sum of 100000 raised from the
issue Of bonds for street improve
ment purposes. Not one dollar
in bonds have been issued by this
administration for street improve
ments or for any other purpose.
The work done by this administra-
ton on the building and repairs of
streets has been paid for, and no
interest bearing obligations have
been left to trail behind to plague
the people with OnerOus taxes. |
This class of work done for many
years previous to this administra-
ton was upon borrowed capital,
by long interest bear
inU bonds and all Vpstapp of the