The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-10
Presented Last Night to the
Board of Aldermen.
THE FINANCES OF THE CITY
AN ISSUE OF BONDS HAS BEEN
RECOMMENDED.
TO SELL PROPERTY FOR TAXES
A Lot to be Bought and a Handsome
Brick Builning to be Erected
For the Victor Hose
Company.


THE Board of Aldermen last night
held u very important meeting. 1t was
a special meeting for the purpose of
hearing annual reports of standing COM
mittees and officers.
A number of these reports, however,
were not quite ready and the presenta-
ton of them was postponed until a flu
ture meeting. The reports of the Light
and Finance committees were presented
by Alderman Boushall, who is chair
man of both of them, and the Water
committees report was made by Alder
man Ivey :, The other standing committees
asked fof more time to prepare state
ment of the years work.
The only officers to make reports last
night were Fire Chief Mailer and Tax
Collector Hutchings And Mr.. Hutch
ings' report Wills very bulky and import
ant-especially to those property owners
in the city who have not paid their taxes.
Mr.. Hutchings submitted list OF de-
linquent taxpayers owning real estate
and asked the Board to authorize nm TO
advertise and sell the property for the
taxes due These taxes amount to be-
tween 81, 900 and $4,000. The Board au-
thorized the Tax Collector to proceed as
he thought proper for the collection OF
these taxes.
Mr.. Mahler's report is also an interest
ing one, containing much lnforlEitloh
about the condition of the Fire depart
ment and the work it has been called
on to do during the past year.
In accordance with a recommendation
contained in Mr.. Mahler's report, the
Board instructed the Finance committee
10 purchase a new and up TO date equip
ment for the Victor company, which was
burned out Wednesday night, and secure
a suitable site and erect thereon per-
manetn brick house for the company
outfit The Victor company was highly
COMMUNICATED by the members OF the0
Board. and the decision was unanimous
that they ought to be as well equipped
as any company In the city
GOOD LIGHTS IN MAY.
The Light committees report shows
that Chairman Boushall and his aSSo-
ciates have not only performed faithfully
but well the interests and duties COM
mitted to their care They have closed
a contract which means much toward
identifying and improving this city.
Through their labors the city has not only
been saved a great amount of money
heretofore wasted, but Raleigh will in
Nav become one of the best lighted towns
in the South.
The report, which is a very short, but
very important one, is as follows:
Your committee on Lights beg leave
to submit herewith their annual report
for the year ending March /, 1897.
when your committee was appointed
we found that the city had ID arc lights,
which burned all night, and about $50
gas lights, which burned only one-half
the night, and were not lighted on moon
shiny nights, or when the nights ought
to have been moonshiny. We beg to re-
port that we have changed this stare
of affairs and have made Il contract
which takes effect on the 9th of May
next after which date the city VIII nave
40 arc Lights of / 200 candle power each
and 100 gas lights. all of which VIII
burn all night and every night during the
wear. The cost of the electric lights as
per the contract is ST4,.l5 per year,
while the cost Of the gas lights is S1.oO
with any other expense connected with
the lights. The amount necessary to
keep up such a contract, Of course, Is
very much more than has been expended
by the city upon lights, but we are glad
to note that your committee has received
the unanimous endorsement of its action
by the people ut the primaries. which is
exceedingly gratifying to your commit
tee
THE CITY'S FINANCES
The report of the Finance committee
is Of the greatest Importance to every
tax payer of Raleigh and should be care
fully studied. 1t shows clearly that the
city is living beyond its income and THAT
one Of two things must be done: The
taxes must be increased or bonds must
be issued The report follows:
Your committe Oh Finance beg leave
TO submit herewith their annual report
for the fiscal year ending March LIST,
1891. and we sincerely hope that every
citizen of the city Of Raleigh will thor
onghly familiarize himself with the
minute details given in this report. We
beg to call attention especially to the
itemized account of the receipts and
disbursements, summary of which Is
herewith presented, and suggest that
this statement has been made possible
from the fact that your committee has
divided the expenditures of the city into
departments, charging every item of ex-
pense TO its proper department.
Statement of receipts and disburse-
ments from March j, 1896, to February
%, 1897:
RECEIPTS.
From W. Il. Hutchings, Collector
Taxes -. -. .... SCI, 1892
Costs from taxes ...... 1864
Market rents ... 2,690.G5
Telephone and express
taxes 80. .... 21440
Paving .... 1926
From @. ID. Heart, Chief Of Police
License-hquor. 49,. IS 100000
Dray ............ 1880
Theatre -. ..,..... $4,000