The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-03

TIE city comptroller ard the members
q the finance committee are deep = the
work Of fixing the city tax levy for the
uew year. They have been driving away
AZ x fof srTne weeks. and the ordinance
axlng the tax lwyv VIII likely b READY
today or tomorrow. Just what tie levy
viii be the city officials have not finally
determined Last gear II was II mills.
and the aim this year has been g keep
n down as sow as last Il s. question
whether the efforts VIII BE- successful, but
* T. certain that the levy VIII not be over
z mills. The chances are & viii not be
shaf Fp11eh. The property assessment this
year IL not as large As II was ~ the same
time the levy WIS made last Year.
The total assessment this year is 81 60
90 OF which about SO Hfa 0s3 rs IN the old
limits ~hIcA must take care Of about all
sIse bonded indebtedness fncinding the in
ssrsst Oh the water plant. The interest
that the city = called upon each year %
meet amounts TO about slssSao. In adj
difEan 70 that the city viii have 70 pay on
Grant street bridge bonds amounting 10
Z otst Thss year the city has paid OF
shp1 81 the bonds. TIE total issue
amounted r. SO eco and after next years
payment there viii BE- but $500 remaining
sspald These bonds draw per cent. in
terexf TIE other bonded indebtedness o.
fh4 egsv. rsffh the exception OF about Sss@.
draws per cent. When Il is taken into
consideration that = mills Of the city
levy go to pay interest. II Is plain that the
rify has rot a great amount LETT with
which 10 conduct its affairs for one year
There is 40 doubt that the police depart
nent should have a larger force the COM
ing year Than X has az present Chief
Reed has been more or less professionally
etstcr
~ necessary FOR him 10 increase his force.
Then too. IL IS likely that his best men
aili demand an increase in salary. That
wili have 20 be granted. or with the oppor-
tanitles 10 do something else they VIII
likely tender their resignatons.
rhs council Il - thought. in fixing the
levy will figure on slight increase in the
expenses Of Chief Reeds department.
The past yeaT the city government has
made remarkable record with the money
IN hard with which 20 conduct its affairs.
IN addition to paving all interest and $500
OF the Grant street bond issue. II has ar
ranged 10 pay the last OF the clty's float
ing Indebtedness, amounting 20 about
SEQ GO and will likely cancel the mortgage
on the corporation yard amounting TO over
81 eco The yard Is located In the southern
part OF the city. and was secured from
Josiah Collins IN exchange for a piecn OF
city property on Second avenue south. near
YeSler way Mortgage and interest VIII
soon be due. The wiping out Of the last
Of the city's floating debt viii be a matter
for Communication. The debt was created
during the Ronald administration and
grew out OF the building Of 50 many
sewers. Bonds were sold a; big discount
and the city had 10 shoulder the floating
debt At the time OF It's creation II
amounted Ia about $50 600 During the past
three years the city has worked 70 reduce
~. until Il Is now so COO. For some days
paqt the city officials have been getting
papers In shape prior 10 discharsing me
last OF the debt. once u IL paid. the CITY
viii have reason 20 smile.
Condition of the streets.
Frank TAttle. superintendent Of streets
ana sewers "a looking forward with much
pleasure to the not FAR distant day when
= half dozen or more Of the big streets
OF the city will be plauked and In proper
condition 10 handle the present extensive
traffic.
"Aa q matter OF fact" said Snnt Little
Yesterday afternoon. "the present deplor-
able condition OF the streets speaks louder
than words for the increased volumes of
business which this city Is az present en-
loving You may not think on first
thought that there s. much in that re-
mark: but II YOU weigh the matter you
will find that 7 speak the truth. Our de-
pAFhfstEt keeps an tff1lNE pi al the 0AEN
and general garbage which is taken from
the public streets every day. and during
the past three months the amount has
doubled. | noticed that some are COM
planning that the streets are very dirty
That IL true but g must be remembered
that We are no; allowed 20 Increase our
expenses az present. and with the in
creased traffic there Is but one thing 20
DO and that Is 20 suffer for a few weeks
Then Il viii be different. The city Ia about
20 plank and replsnk a half dozen or more
81 the big streets. and when that Is done
YOU viii see marvellous change Tor the
better. Every day three employees with a
horse and cart devote their exclusive time
20 the cleaning OF First and Second ave-
nues and Pike street. They have nothing
else 70 DO al day long. ard they are kept
fFTX busy with their work The truth is
mar these paved streets set much dIrtfpr
when the side streets or other streets
ieAetns - the main thoroughfares are
not planked Down on Columbia street
below First avenue there has been an
enormous amonHt Of traffic for some time
owing largely Go the fact that Mr. Coiman
is erecting hts building, That part Of Co
l0mhia street Is not phnkea and when
las heavy teams go over IL the mud
gathers an the wheels. and as a res,Il.
First avenue IS black Tor two sguarss
north ard south.
When Columbia street Is paves a. v.su
he diffgrent- 1t viii Or ~ whar We f,la,,tr
ar replsRk the other streets. II win be
found that ;ho streets win rot r.e,,tr,
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