The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-05
SINKING FUND ADVOCATED
AUDITOR BRoWN'S SUGG ESIIONS no
BOARD or FINANCE.

He Also Calls Attention TO Condition of
City Hall-Board of Finance Approves
Bills Amounting to $4,000 Condition
of the Municipal Bond Accumulated
tricity Cheapest Motor for Elevator.
The board of finance last evening ap-
proved bill amounting in the aggre-
gate to about $4,000, Mayor Farms
worth was present and presided at the
meeting.
The proposed plan for running the
city hall elevator by electricity and
the making of various other improve
ments about the city hall, came up be-
fore the board for consideration.
1t was stated that the running of the
elevator by electricity would be a net
saving to the city of from 5000 to $500
a year.
The city hail also is in need of con-
siderable repairs in order that it should
be in a creditable condition when the
national convention of fire chiefs meet
here next summer.
A committee of two, consisting of
Alderman Clarke and Councilman
Fuller, was appointed by Mayor Farms
worth on vote of the board, to meet a
similar committee from the town au-
thorities recently appointed to consider
the proposed changes and repairs, the
expenses being borne jointly by the
town and city governments.
A bill for $55 sent in by the board of
health for the expenses incurred by the
board in visiting Worcester and Pater-
son While making inquiries relative to
contagious disease hospitals, was sent
back to the board, the corporation
counsel having given an opinion last
year that such bills must be presented
directly to the court of common ooun-
ell and not to the board of finance.
City Auditor Brown presented to the
board the following business-like prop
osition relating to the city's finances:
To the Honorable Board of Finance:
Gentlemen-For your information
desire to call your attention to the fol-
lowing conditions of the municipal
bond account. and suggestions in re-
gard to the transfer of amounts that
might be utilized for economy in
change of elevator and the further i'm
provement of the city hall, should such
meet your approval
First: Municipal bond account-The
report of the commissioners of this ac-
count shows that they already have in
their hands $157 91J.55 which, with in
terest due on July l. will make the
total amount about $160,00O with which
to take up $3.50, 900 of municipal bonds,
cb mo- n ,rfo1l Of o.
would suggest that you consider the
advisability of establishing a sinking
fund either for the authorization of
taxes or the retirement of certain series
of sewer, bridge or pavement bonds, so
that the money will not be used in ad-
dition to the amount appropriated for
the running expenses of the year or it
may be made the nucleus of some fund
that will benefit the city in its future
obligations.
Second-The municipal fund account
has an appropriation of $500 to help
retire these bonds. I would suggest
that this amount be transferred to the
maintenance of city buildings. to in
clude the cost of elevator change, there
by saving the city in power and re-
pairs from 5000 to $500 per year; and,
also if there is sufficient amount in the
transfer to lay new tile or marble
floor on the first floor of the city hall,
and wainscot the first and third floors
to compare with the second. You un-
derstand that one half of all improve
ments, including the elevator in the
city hall is paid by the town. The
wainscotting will be in the long run a
matter Of economy, as it will not re-
auire repairing and cleaning as often as
at present
Investigation will show you that the
first floor is a disgrace to any city the
size of New Haven in it's municipal
building.
Yours very truly,
BENJAMIN e. BROWN,
City Auditor
81 orc 6iec1Iesinn q n