The weekly tribune., 1894-05-11

liquor instead OF the county.
The county collect I'd on taxable prop
erty within the city limits for county
purposes about S78,75O, from licenses
within the city about $4,000. The city
collected on property for city purposes
S6S. .030 80, from licenses $7,18l.96.
Thus you will see that nearly one-third
OF the revenues collected by the county
within the city were received from IL
censes. while only about 91a per cent OF
the citys revenues were derived from
the same source.
/ would recommend that steps be
taken to secure an :early revision Of the
present license laws by the Legislature
| shall hope for rigid enforcement Of
the present law.
Licenses should be collected from all.
Any other course is manifestly unjust.
The interest Of our bonded indebted
ness is provided for the year. The street
fund is empty. The fire fund, police
fund. library fund, contingent fund and
park fund are cash. The water fund is
cash, but will run short $5,748.95. The
general fund is not cash. Floating debt
general fund s36,749.57 lees sl2,S8l.18
cash on hand, which leaves general fund
s23,S6S.33 in debt, while on May 1st,
1893, the net debt OF this fund was
S32,9Sl.10, making a decrease in the
general fund OF s9,l12.77 for the past
year.
Last year the expenditures Of our city
we're moderate compared to proceeding
years, considering that about 81, ,4Ol. 10
was lost on the Central avenue paving
contract. We hope to have no losses
this year and nothing more than the
operating expenses Of the different de.
partments, and these should be reduced
to the very minimum. recommend and
urge the strictest economy in every de-
partment, consistent with good govern
ment, and hope for your cooperation to
this end, and would respectfully
recommend that in all matters involving
the expenditure of city funds, referred
to committees, that they be duly con-
sdered, not by one member OF the COM
mittee, nor minority, but by the whole
or at least majority, will now refer
to the different departments Of the citys
business
| Fire Department.
The fire department has maintained
its former excellent record, and the
operating expenses have been reduced
81 600 per year, and with this reduction
together with cash on hand Of S3.l7919
and it's proportion Of licenses will main
tain this department until May l, 1895.
| would recommend that a lot be pur-
chased on the North side for engine
house, and one horse chemical. This
would not require any additional expense
as two of the paid men could attend to
the North side, leaving three at the pres
ent engine house. For details of fires,
etc, refer you to the report Of the
efficient chief Of this department
Police Department.
This important department of the city
| am particularly pleased with. The
cost of maintaining this department
has been decreased $l,87l.6l fol
the past year compared with the
preceding year, and il it received the
credit for work done by prisoners the
cost of operating would be $3,069.6l less
than last year. 1t should have this
credit, for the cost Of boarding prisoners
and extra policemen to guard them il
charged against the police fund. / be-
lieve the police department Of this city
will compare favorably with any city OF
this size in the northwest. The force
has been reduced from eleven to eigh'
men and Its efficiency has not been i'm
paired. For particulars / refer you t.
the elaborate report Of our efficient mar
shal.
Engineering Department.
This department has been decreased
in operating expenses about 81 800 pei
year, and the work is being accomplished
in equally as able manner as hereto
fore. This reduction was not made unit
a few months ago. and l am sorry w
cannot show reduction over last year
but for the ensuing year ! expect thi
department to be operated at consider
able less expense than formerly. Tit
streets. sidewalks, and sewerage com,
under this head and I find l64 stree
and alley crossings, ten and three.quar
ters miles of sidewalk, and fifty seven one
hundredths miles Of sewerage have beeI
completed during the past year, and con
siderable other work under way. Th
magnificent driveway around the parl
is being done by the city prisoners at lit
tie cost to the city. For full and com
plete particulars | refer you to THEREFOR
Of the city engineer
Public Library.
The usefulness and excellence Of thi
} we'll managed institution is the pride O
our citizens and is keeping pace will
other departments of the city. May Isl
1891, there is net cash to the credit O
the fund 32,564.46, deducting oper
a.ipg expenses for the ensuing year O
Sl,26O will leave cash balance O
S1,3O4.46, which will be expended TO
new books, as the ordinances requir
that 5000 must be expended each yeal
For details 1 respectfully refer you +
the splendid report Of the librarian.
Health Department.
. Much credit is due to this we'll man
aged department and particularly to tn
secretary, DIR. Longaway, who for th
, past year has served the city faithful
and diligently without compensation
. This department has done all in it
J power to give the public proper sanitar
, services, and / earnestly request Of thi
council for this important work such al
and assistance as it merits.
: Water.
The city is supplied under contrac
with the Great Falls Water Works, run
ming for period Of twenty years fror
1889. The cost is 800 per year per by
drant for the first 70, and S6O per yea
for each in excess Of 70. At present W
have in service 244 hydrants at q cost o
81 ,4O7 per month. The increase for tn
past year was 81 1869, while the yea
, ending May LIST. 1893, the increase Q