The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-10
Sl55. 212. "a

AL aUSUluU6 rGuuCUlOu Vi GQ6 Clby H.
ebted ness of 81, 25S. S.. Our available :
ties consist of:
Cash, 1866. IL
Sewer assessments, 1000. 0O
Unpaid taxes that are oollecta-
hle, 25,310.07
lax deeds, 1868. 40
Total, $50, $50. IS
These are real availabilities. There il
an amount of some $4,000 due from tax
collectors of 1889, 80 and '92, three fourths
ofswhieh is absolutely worthless
This lack of value is owing to various
causes, such as errors in making up the
list, removal of persons from the city,
etc. In addition to this, the finance COM
mittee of the past year, who have labored
earnestly to effect a settlement with some
away some $40, 600 more of ava liabilities,
but which were IN reality worthless tax
bills, and have cleared up these old &C.
counts in the only way possible.
This manner of disposition of these
supposable claims against former tax
collectors, leaves our net debt apparently
larger than last year, while it shows us
our actual financial condition. Therefore
a fair statement of our real availabilities
such sums as may in all probability be
collected would be, with the cash in
hand, some $50. OC0, leaving net debt of
about 1923, 000 but a real debt of $155,
2le "a which is 81, 25S. 35 less than one
year ago.
Our collections for the year have been
most satisfactory and have exceeded the
amounts that we have expended by a
number of thousand dollars. The total
collections are $97, 692. Oh made up as fol-
lows:
From taxes 1885, s58 1914 90
From taxes other years, 900, O2O. 5S
From State for schools, 6, 791. 10
From other sources, $685. 25
Total, s97, 500. Oh
We have paid out for all purposes some
thing over sos, 900, leaving us cash bal
ance of little more than s., 800, while
last year at this time our bank account
was overdrawn $500, and the unpaid
Mayors orders amounted to over S3OO0
OF the amount expended the past year
$780, should have been paid the year pre-
sious. Adding to this amount the notes
and bonds that have been paid, 81, 400
and we have actually paid old debts to
the amount of $11. 900
We begin the year with but compare
lively small amount Of floating liabilities
and with a better understanding of our
actual financial condition than any previ-
GUS hoard Of city officers. The work Of
the finance committee is not yet COM
Ul6L0u DIS Uuef6 T6I0h1n several u0S0G61eQ
accounts of former tax collectors that
should receive the prompt and careful
attention of this years committee of
finance.
l would recommend that the council
provide for the issue of new bonds to take
the place of those, to the amount of $13, :
800, coming due this year, as in view of
The large necessary expenses the present
year it would be unwise to attempt to
pay any portion of this sum.
ROADS, BRIDGES AND SIDEWALKS.
In the matter of permanent roadbuild-
ing some commendable work has been
done the past year on the north side of
Main street between the P. & R. rail-
road ana the Universalist church at the
West end. The material used for this
purpose was obtained from the Chap
man farm where an excellent ledge of
granite for road uses exists. The stone
orusher and engine were located there
and the city produced it's crushed stone
at an expense of some 20 per cent less
than it could be purchased.s The cost of
the stone this year included all the cost
of repairing and moving the orusheI and
engine, the construction of bins, etc., vet
the saving to the city was as large as I
have stated. The establishment OF this