The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-05
THE MAYOA'o REPORT.
Condition of the City FinanciaIiy-It is n
Fisttering bowing.

4
Missoula, May 4.-The report of the
mayor read at the meeting of the
council this evening is of more than or
| binary interest on account of the gen.
eral discussion that there has been at
times during the year. when the esti-
mates made by Mayor Keith have been
attacked and their accuracy called in
to question. The result Of the years
administration is fiattering one and
one for which the members of the city
government deserve the warmest praise
and the thanks Of their constituents.
This result shows that the mayor was
| remarkably accurate in the forecast
Of the years work and that his figures
were correct in every particular. 1t
shows more than this. 1t shows that
the city of Missoula is by no means
bankrupt as many would have had the
public believe earlier in the year. The
| city is TO be congratulated upon the
| excellent showing made and is in bet
ter shape at this time than il has been
| in years. The report of the mayor is
| as follows:
To the Members of the City Council.
City of Missoula:
| Gentlemen-I have the honor to re-
| port to you the financial condition of
| the city of Misoula at the close of the
| fiscal year ending April 80, 1896. togeth-
er with a general statement of the bust
| ness transacted in the past year just
| ended.
We found on entering upon the du-
| ties of our several offices that the debt
of the city was: Bonded, sos, 900; war
rants outstanding. s61.57429, which.
after deducting the cash on hand in
the general fund, S1,55029, left an in
debtedness of the city of S159,023.42. At
the close of the year just ended. April
80 1896. the Indebtedness of the city is:
Bonded. $4,000 warrants outstanding,
s64,S42.3S. which. after deducting the
cash on hand i'm the general and sink
ing funds. $S.225.40, shows an indebted
ness of the city Of $155,616.9S, or a show
ing In favor of the year just closed of
SO. 406.44
Through the ordinance passed in the
last year. creating a sinking fund for
the payment Of the city hall bonds, now
outstanding, and setting aside one mill
levy each year for such purpose has
resulted i'm the treasurer now having
in the sinking fund $2.135.S4 These
bonds, amounting to $4,000, can, at the
option of the council be called in for
payment In 1897.
The Indebtedness of the city created
in the past year for all purposes for
which warrants have been issued 9TH
er than for interest on the bonded in
debtedness, has been S2112445 The
the beginning Of the year ending April
30. 1896 was 81 .550.S7. The receipts of
the city treasurer for the past year
from all sources has been $34. 619 %.
making a total Of S36170. %. from which
he has paid out and set aside TO the
library fund the following amounts:
Warrants redeemed. ..........l7S4s IS
Int'est on warrants redeemed 2.7l0 %
Interest on bonds .............. 6.01s 90
Purchase OF copy of codes. 10 90
Transferred to library fund. 1854 Of
Making a total of............s27.9 A 50
We now have cash in the treasury in
the general and sinking funds of S.
225.40. There is now due the semi-an-
nual interest on the bridge and sewer
bonds, which is s.. 100 which will re
duce the cash on hand 10 that extent,
but l believe that the treasury will
permit, outside of the sinking fund, a
further call of outstanding warrants in
the near future.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the Indebtedness of the city was
being increased each year with the
fixed and necessary charges which we
found at the beginning of the year just
past. and the further fact that the
revenue in the past year has not only
covered the Indebtedness created but
has reduced the former Indebtedness
about 81, 500, IL shows conclusively that
the finances of the city have been
given some attention and most econo-
mical management
Considerable credit is due our city
marshal and the gentlemen who have
served the city as policemen in the
past year for the manner in which they
have discharged the duties placed upon
them. While the police force has been
reduced nearly two-thirds in the past
year. l believe that our citizens will
agree with me that the service render
ed by the marshal and his assistants
has been all that any reasonable citi-
zen could ask.
1t is a source of satisfaction 10 re-
port that no serious fires have been
recorded on the minutes of our fire de-
partment in the past year. While many
times the department has been called
out for duty. the prompt manner in
which they have responded has pre-
vented any great loss to homes or bus
mess houses which might have result
ed seriously and with considerable loss.
/ cannot express myself too plainly in
saying that, though we have with the
exception Of the chief and one driver. a
volunteer department, no better serv-
ice is given any city in the state than
is rendered by our fire department. not
excepting those cities with fully paid
IL ldIAitttA0s AoA ANiS htlltNe nlucn
credit is due the chief. who is at all
times working to the interest of the
city and his department.
| wish to thank the members OF the
council for regular attendance at the
meetings i'm the past year and also the
excellent services rendered the city and
l fully appreciate the valuable assist
ance given me at all times in executing
the demands of the city.
J. NJ. Keith. Mayor.
The Treasurer's Figures.
Missoula. May 4.-The report OF the