Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-01-21
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CITY AFFAIRS.
Several Important Measures Con
silSrSl.


The CITY Council met in regular
session Monday cvening-Councilmcn
all present.
The committee on Fire, Light and
Water made report Of their action re-
gariing the installmcnt OF four street
lights at Il cost OF $:4 per month, and
recommended that IL iour more lights
would cost but So; per month addI-
tiunal, and til" service would hc i'm
mca>urcably improved thereby, that
four more lights be placed.
The report was divided, and the ac-
ton OF the committee unanimously
approved. The recommendation was
adopted 10y the following vote: Ayes
| nohcrtv, O'Connor, Murphy, Millctte
AMI Work Noes-WilSon and White.
Millrttc observing that he happened
to he the provcrbial fifth wheel" i'll
this instance, changed his vote to no,
81 the benefit was assured and his
"rccord' kept-litcrally "killing two
birds with one stone"
The Street committee reported an
estimate OF $l73 on the work of re-
moving the old draw from the Fourth
street bridge and the repair of the
street ut that point.
\ motion to authorize this work to
be done prevailed, after fruitless ef-
Govt g., oor,nol limitation Of tho cost
of the work to the estimate submitted.
1t was deemed wise to omit the limi
tation.
The Street committee was further
authorized to repair the sidewalk on
West Bay avenue, displaced by a re-
cent landslide
This committee was further author
lied to notify property owners abut-
ting sidewalks needing repair, to repair
the same.
Mayor Lane had received letter OF
inquiry from the Cashier of the Os-
wego bank of Oswego, New York, rs to
what might be expected of the city on
the payment of her bond interest, and
submitted the following letter as his
reply. 1t was endorsed by the Coun-
ell:
OLYMPIA, Wash, Jan. II, 1898.
r. E. S,ceetta'1d, Cashier, Os'cego, ". Y.
DEAR SIR: Your favor of Jan. Sd was
duly received. In reply to your first
inquiry will say did not know as to
your former letter. assume the Office
of Mayor on Jan. 1, '9S. AS to you Sec
ond inquiry as to what holders Of our
bond coupons may expect, | will explain
to YOU the conditions here in this city,
that you or you bank as holding or hav-
ing an interest in our bonds may fully
understand the situation.
Our bond interest was promptly met
for several years prior to the year 1896,
at which time default occurred.
During the last three years the city
council has reduced all local expenses
and charges of the city to the lowest
possible amount that it might be able
to meet its liabilities.
In this connection will say that the
city had twenty year contract with the
OLYMPIA Water Company for water
service at the rate of $4,000 year. On
account of the embarrassed condition of
the city the water company accepted
$4,000 in full payment for the year 1895
and for the year 1896 the same company
accepted 81 900 in full payment.
During the same time the city reduced
the street lighting contract OF 1894 and
prior years from $4,000 a year to nothing
in 1895 and TO but little expense to the
city since that time.
That you may fully understand our
revenue system and tax levies, l will
state that the total valuation Of taxable
property in this city for the year 1891
was s., 597 900. The city tax levy for all
purposes for this year was miles.
Valuation 1892, $49SS,0O0. Total city
levy, 10 mills; bond interest levy 2ia
mills
Taxable property 1893, $3,437, 900, total
city levy Is mills; bond interest levy 3
mills.
Taxable property 1894, 81, $4,000, total
city levy 10 mills bond interest mills.
Taxable property 1895, $2,115,000,
total city levy l211a mills; bond interest
levy mills.
Taxable property 1896, $2,1O3,OOO,
total city levy, 1lla mills; bond interest
levy, mill.
Taxable property 1897, $2,lo2, 900,
total city levy 8 mills; bond interest
levy, 6 mills.
Invite your attention to three items
in the above statement. First OBJ
serve the great decline in taxable
property values 1891 to 1897. The
present assessed value of property is
more than much of it could be sold for
to-day. The valuation placed on
property here for taxation since 1890 has
been excessive, so much that many
pieces OF property cannot be sold for the
amount of unpaid taxes now against it.
Second. The number of mills levied
for city taxes in 1891 Was increased to
twice the number in 1892 and to three
times the number in 1893 and 1894.
That the number of mills levied for bond
interest in 1892 was 2la mills. This was
doubled for 1893 and 1894. For 1895, Z
mills were levied for bond interest and
the same number lin 1896. In 1897 ,..6
mills were levied.
Third. That the amount levied for
the payment of bond interest in 1892
was 25 per cent. of the total amount
levied for all city purposes. In 1893 it
was SO and one third OF the total amount
levied. In 1894, 80 and one third per
Ecent. In 1906, SO per cent. In 1896,
CO.'S per cent. In 1897, &C and two
II thirds per cent. Notwithstanding these
facts and the efforts OF the city Council
to meet the city's bond interest by a
Irregular increase in the proportion of the
lcity's taxes to 60 to the payment of the
bond interest, an increase from g per
cent. of the total levy in 1892 to 662a Of
the total levy in 1897, the city has
not been able for a single year to cover
into the city treasury enough funds from
J its bond interest levy to meet'its bond
interest.
During the year 1892 the bond interest
collections were made insufficient by the
sum of $5,52337. This amount was
borrowed from the general fund to pay
bond interest, and has not been paid
back. In 1893 the collections from the
5 mill bond interest levy was $7,751. Go
less than the amount necessary to
pay the annual bond interest This
amount was borrowed from other funds
to pay the bond interest and no part of
it has been replaced. During 1894 the
| h1,I ;,taroot f,,nI xroc loopaI 1re