The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-05-07


report of the mayor, which by the way,
gives a very clear statement of the
city's finances, will be read with inter-
est, and also the suggestions offered:
Gentlemen Of the city council:
With your permission shall at this
time make few comments and sug-
gestions touching several matters of
interest to us all, but at the outset will
promise to be brief and to the point.
AS the finances OF city are very
important subject to every taxpayer, 1
think it a duty owing to them to give q
brief synopsis of the receipts and ex.
penditures of our city government.
The records of the city show that in
September, 1895, the total appropria-
tions for all purposes amounted to
S17,41974.
When I assumed the Office of mayor
one year ago, $40, 62964 of this appro-
priation was still unexpended.
On Sept. 1st, 1896, the total appro-
priation for all purposes for the current
fiscal year amounted to SIS, ,41O.OO, and
at the present moment the amount un-
expended in the various funds and
departments is S11, 100000.
| Again, the amount of money expend-
ed by the various committees and de-
partments since the present admins
tration assumed control is as follows:
On streets and alleys there was ex-
pended s1,013.35, while the value of
poll tax worked (s337.50) added to this
makes the total in this department.
come up to ST. ,350S5.
| On the water works system the total
amount expended was So, 522. 49, OF
this sum ST, 100000 may be set down as
permanent improvement, being the
outlay for new boiler and boiler
house. Then there was water rent COL
lected amounting to S911 .34-thus leav-
ing the net working expense of the
system to be $1,6l1.O8.
On our efficient fire department we
spent $772.03, but as au Offset we re-
ceived from the state auditor $192.8l.
thereby leaving the netexpense S579.22.
The lighting account amounts to
S1,43l.95. The printing account
amount to S136.40. Park account
amount to $25.25. Health department
account amount to Sl3S.70. General
fund amounts to S2,13O.99. Net ex-
pense of the cemetery: after deducting
moneys received from graves sold, ia
$500. Interest paid on bonded in
debtedness S6.5591O. Bonds retired
81, 10000.
From the foregoing statement you
will observe that while the tax levy of
the previous administration was $4,000,
more than our appropriation for the
the current year, yet tooay the amount
unexpended is some 81, 900. 90 more than
at the same date twelve months ago.
In this connection will observe that
the administration has been endeavor-
ing for the past year to refund our total
bonded Indebtedness at less rate of
interest than the old bonds were draw
ing, but we have been unsuccessful
owing to the excitement attending our
National campaign. Some time after
the campaign ended we gave Kean, of
Chicago, a ninety day option on our
bonds, he is to dispose of them at par
and furnish the blank bonds free of
charge. These refunding bonds will
bear per cent. interest instead of Z
per cent, which the bonds now bear.
If this deal goes through the city will
save $1,000 per annum on the interest
account.
The recommendations wish to Of
fer are:
First. That the proper committee
prepare an ordinance establishing a
grade for the cemetery and regulating
the planting of trees and shrubs and
the kinds to be used: describing suit
able foundations for monuments, as
many of them have been erected with
out any foundation at all, which after
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