Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-05-26
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
or THE
Corporation of Martinsburg, For The
Year Ending May Q, 1904.

In 1873 l was elected Councilman
to represent the citizens of the First
Ward Of u city. AT that time we
had a bonded debt of one hundred
thousand dollars. We were paying
s per centum on our bonded debt. and
the bonds could be bought for sixty
FIVE cents on the dollar. On eighteen
thousand dollars of the floating debt
we were paying ten per ceutum on
ten thousand dollars. and eight per
cent on eight thousand dollars. l
served continuously in the Council up
to 1890, when l was elected Mayor of
our city. Our bonded debt was $780,
10000, bearing S per cent interest our
floating debt was paid, and every OBJ
legation of the Corporation was fulfill.
ed. Hon. Chas. Lambert being my pre-
decessor.
By referring to the ~treasurers re.
rort You will find OUT bonded debt
now to be $40, 100 at S per cen inter.
est. The bonds are above par and
none offered for sale. All that we
were able tC obtain $4,000 were taken
up, and the Council has placed $4,000
In the National bank at 4 per cent as
a sinking fund, until bonds can be
bought.
All the obligations Of the city have
been met promptly. In 1884 the last
of our floating debt was paid off and
the first money paid on our bonded
debt. Since that time (ten years) the
Corporation has paid S24,o on its
bonded debt, built the present CITY
Building with elegant vaults, lookup,
firemen's hall, elegant council cham.
beers, and all the convenience that our
City Council need; built an addition to
the water house and bought a new
boiler, and had our elegant steam fire
engine thoroughly repaired and tested
and reduced taxation from rs cts. to
90 cts. on the hundred dollaIs.
The treasurer, sergeant, and clerk
give a full account of all money col
lected, (and a very important part to
the taxpayers) how it was expended,
every dollar being accounted for, and
each department charged with the
amount expended upon it.
The Councilmen have faithfully and
honestly fulfilled their duty as the
agents OF the people.
The sergeant. Mr.. II. Wilen, has
faithfully and c~ourteously, and most
successfully considering the financial
crisis collected the taxes, water rents,
market rents, lot rent, fines and H.
censes. without n single complaint.
The clerk, Mr.. Chas. A. Young, has
faithfully attended to all the council
meetings, to the markets, weighing Of
hay, and measuring wood and stone.
His books are a model of n~eatness and
accuracy. For our present thorough
system Of keeping we are much
indebted to our friends, Major Alex.
ander Parks and Mr.. S. Hill, of the
National Bank. Both having served in
the Council.
Our city and Council 1--WE much to
our city engineer, Mr.. Jacob ShafIer,
who by his great interest in the water
works, his painstaking, careful atten.
ton, superior knowledge Of machinery
has saved the citythousands of dollars.
Our police have been faithful and
courteous, keeping the law-breakers
in bounds, andever ready and anxious
to serve our citizens. Mr.. Cav, our
lanitor, has been a faithful man, and
has fulfilled his many chores with
satisfaction and without a complaint
The next regular meeting, the frs,
Thursday in June, will be the last
meeting OF my term as mayor OF the
good city Of Martinsburg, and | take
this opportunity Of rendering my
thanks to each and every Councilman
who served during MY terms as May
or, and to all the officers and employ
ees of the Corporation, for their aid to
me in trying to fulfill the obligations
imposed upon me by the position as
Mayor of Martinsburg.
J. ". McSHERRy, Mayor.