The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-13

In The municipal statistics, lately pub
lIshed, six cities are shown,out Of sixty
Ave, to charge less taxes than Wheeling,
these being Fort Wayne, Ind; Fort
Worth, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas;
Peoria, Ills,i Johnstown, Pa, and Me-
riden, Conn, OF these none holds mu-
nlcipal ownership OF gas works and but
one, Little Rock, has an electric light
plant, and three. Fort Wayne, Fort
Worth and Meriden. Conn, own water
works. Speaking OF the results of his
investigation. Receiver Forgey says;
I'm further review OF these statistics
emitting all cities OF less than twenty
1--WE thousand and all over sixty-five
thousand population, find thirteen
having smaller per capita of debt
than Wheeling, Including the water
works debt, which some authorities
claim, with a show of reason, Is not a
municipal obligation, the per capita OF
wheeling's debt is SIT 50. II 1t be adj
mitted that the charge against the wa
ter board is not part of the city's
debt, the per capita is reduced to Sl5 80
and only nine cities of the review refer
red to above. go below this amount,vlz,,
Erie, Pa; Fort Wayne, Ind; Johnstown,
Pa: Joliet, Ills; Lancaster, Pa; Little
Rock, Ark; Rockford. Ills, and Bling
hamton, N. Y. None of these owns gas
works, one, Little Rock, has an electric
light plant and six own water works.
"In contradistinctlon to this, the per
capita debt OF Newton, Mass, city of
twenty-nine thousand inhabitants, is
one hundred and forty-four dollars and
slxty-six cents, and collects SIG 60 on
every $1,000 dollars of the actual valua-
ton of its assessments; owns water
works, but no gas or electric light
plant. Elizabeth, n. j., has per cap
ita OF $74 "A and collects S2S 60 on $1,000
actual value of assessments. Elizabeth
has $500 Inhabitants and owns no wa
ter works, gas works or electric light
plant.
Lynn, Mass. with $4,000 inhabitants,
II her debt was evenly divided, every
man, woman and child would owe six
ty-two dollars and seven one-hundredth
dollars: she owns water works. but no
gas works or electric light plant, the
tax rate OF Lynn is fourteen seventy
nine one-hundredths or $1,000 actual
value.
Norfolk, Va, claims $1,000 inhabi-
tants, an individual divide Of her debt
without regard To sex or age or other
OF her people would allot each one sixty
and slxty-seven-one- hundredth dollars,
and every tax payer is assessed eleven
and hve-one hundredth on every thou
sand dollars OF the actual value OF his
property. Norfolk owns water works,
but no gas or electric plant
"tn fifty-four cities Of from $4,000 to
$1,000 population, herewith tabulated,
VIII be foundbut eleven having great
er assessed valuation OF real estate and
personal property than Wheeling, and
but thirteen having greater actual
valuation % the same per capita.
"Thirty-seven Of the hfty-four cities
own water works. four own electric
light plants, and none own gas works,
The different water rents pursued by
different cities owning water works,
makes II matter Of difficulty to tabu-
late water rents so that there may be
satisfactorily compared with our own
/ do ind many cities report the use of
water meters as very satisfactory, both
to city and to consumer,
TO my question, DO you collect wa
ter rents off owner or tenant?' the re-
ply, In most cases. Is of the owner and
in some instances the Information Is
given that water rent Is lien upon the
property or premises on which the wa
ter Is used.
The wisdom OF collecting water rents
OF the tenant, as pursued by Wheeling,
has long been doubted As a result,
many migratory people have had the
use and benefit OF Wheeling water with
out money and without price, and such
delinquencies could be avoided by hold
ing the owner of the property for the
water rent OF his tenant.
But this is not point at issue for
the present. My object Is 10 present
comparative facts and figures to prove
the reputation OF Wheeling In the past.
and in the present as bearing upon the
future. as worthily entitled TO the high
est and best rate OF credit afforded any
city in the Union. ! make no comment
and present only figures furnished me
by mayors, clerks, cOmptrollers. treas
urers or other officials Of the several cit
les ] name.
ITO these several officials" said Re-
celver Forgey In conclusion, 81 take this
opportunity Of returning my sincere
thanks for their uniform kindness IN
replying so courteously to my many
questions"
Receiver Forgey's compilation OF the
Information he received Is interesting
to students OF municipal government
and finances In many American cities.
Copies Of the Intelllgencer containing
the compilation as submitted to the
special council committee on the refund
ing Of the clty'B indebtedness have
been sent to officials Of nearly every
city Of Importance In the country.
In the following table n comparison
OF assessed value and actual value per
capita is given:
Per Per
Capita Capita
Ppm Asseaaod ActtnI