Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-01-17
THE ANNUAL CITY STATEMENT.

ANNUAL CITY
The redeeming feature of the annual
city statement, a summary of which
has been made public, is the reduction
Of the public debt made during the
year past. Of the bonded indebted
ness, $39, 100 or principal was paid, and
in addition the usual $25, 600 of water
works debt was wiped out, the gas
works oyerdraft was reduced by ST.,
649.14, and $1,735.47 of old city orders
were paid, total of S6S,4S4.61. This
is as it should be, and is in violent
contrast to the policy sought to be fas
tened upon the city, last fall, by the
refunding statesmen" who, for the
mere sake of having money to elbow
Improvements, attempted to stave off
the payments of principal of the debt
for ten years and to extend the entire
debt over more than generation. The
people knocked this little arrangement
in the head promptly, and the people
are to be congratulated.
The curse of our modern American
cities is public debt, and the constant
tendency is to get deeper and deeper
into debt. Scarcely a city of any con-
; A-asss-s~-.e in all the land can be named,
where the public debt is not twice
what it was ten years ago, and the I'M
varying and incessant cry is: more
bonds!" Here in Wheeling, noted for
its conservatism and sound business
sense, the tendency is just the other
way. Wheeling is committed to the
policy of paying her debt just as rapid
" as it falls due, and the people have
approved the method. Next year we
shall reduce our liabilities by $4,000
or more as regards principal Of bonds,
by another $25,O0Q on account of the
new water works, and, it is to be
hoped, by a further reduction IN the
gas works overdraft and in Outstand-
ing city orders, a total of probably
100000. and perhaps little mole. And
the good work should go on, and to the
end that it may go on, there should be
rigid economy at the City Hall. Two
Dr. three years more of this policy viii
work wonders, and each year, through
the saving of interest money, the city
will have money, legitimately ac-
auired, without increasing taxation,
Ia supply to whatever public
announcements are imperatively needed,
opd which the ten cent levy will not
pcy for.
wheeling has abundant reason for
Generalization, and we stand in mark
cd contrast to other American cities.
xTe have a water works which is in
very satisfactory shape, aside from a
e+orage reservoir, which will come in
+ha fullness of time; we have a model
zoe nIant. which furnishes light at a
nominal cost; our streets are 1llumln-
a+ed with electricity better than the
ovora ee city. and without cent of ex-
a
nonse Ia the taxpayer; we have a well
ac,,inned fire department, which, while
fortunately having little to do, is rea
co,ablv we'll prepared to meet all con
,;noencies; our police force is ade-
$50 although little timid about
1sforcing some laws; and our debt,
,-s ~ the expressed will of the
,,o will continue to be paid as it
+,,ros All that is needed is strict
nor,v and a cessation OF the per
.o;ous nractice of spending more
ov than is received, and in very
- +iroa Wheeling will occupy con
,;o,,ous position as city which
its obligations as they mature,
i run on business principles,
;,,noses no excessive burden upon
its people
mis- Is the sort of municipal adj
zion the Register and a ma
. - Of the people believe in, AID il
: The sort of administration wnica
+ ,,, ~ obtain, even if there has to be
M entire change OF the personhei at
H. oitv Hall to ensure it.