Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-10

duties we are called upon 10 perform |
FOR the ensuing year.
| can sincerely congratulate cur con-
stituents upon the general c1Hditlon |
which prevail in the city. Amid the |
general depression and stagnation
which has extended over he land,
Fort Worth has continued 20 prosper
and grow without cessation. Each sue
ceedlng day has brought additional
population new enterprises and indus
tries, and an increase In material
wealth. New houses, both for business
and residence purposes, have been
erected In all parts OF the city, and
soon as completed. The growth has
not been rapid or phenomenal, rut has
been steady and substantial.
The wise and economical adminis.ra-
ton OF municipal affairs exercises a
beneficial influence in attracting capital,
business and population and your con-
duct Of the business AFFAIRS If the
city has beon no small factor In the
progress made by our city during the
past year.
Notwithstanding the adverse criti-
cism INDUCED In by the uniformed, and
the chronic croaker, there Is nothing of
serious nature in your administra-
ton OF affairs of which Just complaint
can be made
Expenditures have been reduced
wherever possible, and the most rigid
economy exercised in the management
Of the affairs of the city. | know of no
place where the pruning knife" can be
applied, and efficient service main
tanned.
l appeal to you, not without conf
dence, to continue to exercise the
utmost economy consistent with good
service. and to keep expenses safely
within the revenues at your disposal.
Remember, that every dollar expended
is a dollar taken from the income Of
some citizen, many Of whom perhaps
can lily afford TO spare 1t from his
business and 10 part with 1t may en-
tail sacrifice upon himself or family.
FINANCES.
The first and most Important depart
mont of any municipal government, as
of an Individual is sound and healthy
financial condition. II is as necessary
TO growth and Improvement as pure
and wholesome blood is TO the indi-
vidual.
am pleased TO say that the finances
of the city are generally in a sound and
healthy condition. The current eN-
penses Of the city as wen as the inter
est upon its bonded Indebtedness has
been met promptly at maturity and
/ the credit OF the city has been main
| tatned at home and abroad. The lit-
CATION Incident TO the Investment Of the
sinking funds that have accumulated
In the hands of the treasurer was
finally settled IN favor OF the city, and
the wisdom and legality OF the position
! assumed by You fully maintained.
| Acting under your instructions, l have,
IN conjunction with your finance com
/ mittee, purchased $4,000 OF bonds for
| the sinking funds, at q cost for
| premiums, accrued interest and eN-
penses Of S25,ls5.s5. There is yet $780,
! 600 In the city treasury FOR investment,
and negotiations were pending for the
! purchase Of bonds with these funds,
| when the suspension Of the City Ma
| tional bank, in which the city treasurer
| kept his funds, was announced, putting
| stop to the contemplated purchase
| The aggregate appropriations for the
| year for all purposes have been $31g,-
0G3.AS, including the sum of S25, 1855. So
| invested in bonds. leaving the amount
! expended for current expenses SPOT.
| S77.GS. From this latter sum there
| should be again deducted the sum OF
! Sl4,G299G, which was paid out for
| permanent Improvement as follows:
| Sewer improvements. ..........S l,3TS. SO
| City hall furniture. $685.. 90
| City han light fixtures 1915
Fire alarm construction. 1,757l2
on Ninth ward school bldg. 1,SSS. 76
Real estate for streets....,... 10000
New streets made..,...,...... 1,3S1lI
Addition to Third ward school
| buliulhs...'.. ,..... .'........ l,63O20
s1l,629g 6
Leaving the actual current expenses
of the city for the year S2S3. 2i76 90. This
Is reduction from the last proceeding
year OF 0.2g537.
For your information and en-
comagement, a comparison is made
with expenditures for the last live
| years.
lS9O-9l.......... ........ .s55S. 740. 10
issl sS'''... '..'....r ....,.... 56I263.3d
ls92-s5. ......,. .... 4il636 81
lS55-sl'..., .,.......... .....S33, 5i3. "a
There is nothing In these figures to
Justify the assertion 80 often heard
upon the streets of waste and eN-
trayagance." 1t may be said that there
Is little to encourage you in pursuing
the system Of rigid economy which has
pervaded every department of the city
government for the last three years
when. Notwithstanding the cold facts
shown by the foregoing figures you are
accused OF waste and extravaganza, "
but you should keep constantly in
mind the fact that we are working
for Fort Worth and not for "popu-
larity," and that there is no applause
81 hNbSAillltll anu li1llIAh as lllt Itll-
seriousness Of our own rectitude, and
that we have performed our duty in
every instance.
Your attention is especially directed
to the great volume OF unpaid taxes
due the city. Many OF the largest
estates In the city have not paid their
taxes for years, and some of the largest
business houses are In arrears for
| large sums on account OF occupation
taxes. 1t Is sincerely hoped that the
| charter amendments now pending be-
fore the legislature may become law
| before the close Of the session, and that
additional power will be conferred
upon the city to enforce the payment of
the money so justly due. and for which
the deliquent taxpayer has been the
beneficiary.
II for any reason these amendments
should fail every means should be tried
to compel the non-raxpaying element
In our city TO bear their share OF the
burdens OF government, and to pay foI
the benefits they enjoy.
An examination Of the records viii
discover the fact that not only do the
owners OF real estate avoid the payment
OF their taxes while they continue td
enjoy the benefits OF municipal govern
ment, but tnat many persons escape
payment of the occupation taxes. / sus-
gest that IL the ordinances are moi
already sufficient to enforce the pay
ment OF these taxes, that they be-
strengthened by appropriate amend
| fpeufg with the fun unNn1ent of a 4