The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-22

which WAS lately settled upon by th,
council was the old First ward cemetery
but after Investigation as to the cost o
removing the bodies OF the dead buric,
there the committee appointed for iha
purpose have learned that the expense will
he so great as hardly to justify the under
taking. II is therefore necessary for an.
other site to be selected and II Is respect.
\ fully suggested that when the land fol
this purpose is purchased enough be ac-
CURED for stables for the scavenger. garb-
| age and street department and for Il lum-
Der and gravel yard and crcmatory. This
| should be done with as little delay ne. Is
consistent with q proper performance OF
the duty. and as soon ms the land is pur-
chased 1t should be turned over to the cleo
trio light commission with instructions TO
proceed with tho erection of the works
our street railway service, while good
in some respects, should be improved in
others. 1t Is no more than right that the
street railway company should (under rea-
sonable condtions) give transfer tickets
over its connecting lines. Under the pres
ent system passenger desiring to travel
only short distance is often compelled
TO pay two fares While the right of the
city TO regulate this matter has never been
settled by our State courts ] am of the
opinion that 1T Is we'll worth an effort to
give our citizens this relief
This company having failed to pay its
share of the cost of paving several streets,
suit has been entered and is now pending
for tho amount due.
II is made condition to the franchises
of several of the companies using wires
on the streets that they shall place Il
certain quantity of such wires under
ground and this is respectfully called to
your attention with the recommendation
that these provisions be more strictly en-
forced.
THE CITY'S FINANCES.
The tables appended Will reflect without
further explanation the financial condition
of the city, and it viii be gratifying to
you to know that tho lloating debt of
Sl33,1i7.1S which you found upon entering
Office has been now reduced to SCI, 560.74
decrease OF $50, $500 In little over nine
months. Should this ratio of decrease con-
tinue YOU will be able to retire all floating
Indebtedness and place the city on cash
basis as to current expenses before the
end of your term.
During your administration of affairs
the value of city scrip has steadily risen
from 10 cents on the dollar until 1t is now
worth 81 cents
Enough cash money is laid aside by the
finance committee from all receipts TO pay
all wages of city employees, and this has
proved to be not only justice to the em-
ployes. but sound financial policy when
has assisted the city's credit and raised
the value of scrip. To accomplish this pur,
pose it has not been found necessary to
borrow as much as one dollar
II is recommended that for the year 1899
the following budget be adopted for the
departments
Fire department $40 900
Street and bridge department. ... 5O0Oo
Ponce department '.......,..,..... 10000
Health department ..............,. 10, 900
Legal department. .....,,.......... 10 900 |
Scayengor department .......... glNO
Garbage department ..........,... 5000
Engineering department ........... II 900 |
Assessing and collecting departm't 5000 !
9cnopl department ..,......,..,.... $1,000 |
For Houston Lyceum ......,..... 200 |
For use in purchasing or improv-
ing property for park ..,.,.,..... Ia, 900 |
For salaries II 900 |
for printing Observation-Disclosures. 1Dn |
ior interest on bonds ............. $1,000 |
'or contingent expenses ........ 1000 |
for light account ............t.... IL, 0l0 |
'cf water account ................. 20 000 |
BY combining the expenses within the |
lhoNe amounts IL Is confidently expected |
hat before the expiration of your Official |
-erms the city will rot only be able to
gay of it's accumulated floating deaf, but |
also be able to meet all future current cx-
nensos up TO that time
THE NEED OF A PUBLIC PARK.
In recommending an appropriation for
park the mayor feels that but little ex-
'lana'ion is necessary. In this city such
IN institution IL not only needed bur n
allure to provide IL While property re-
Mains as cheap rs it X, aud while the ne
essity for IT IL constantly increasing.
you'd be negligence. There is no place
imilar TO n park owned by the city.
hc hnI k,,<I, |
hcn and women the Fairgrounds OF the
hidrcn are rapidly being taken for i'm
movements. Tho value of parks MS adding
, The recreation and consequently tho
ealth of the citizen can not be overosli
1ated, The health of each citizen Affects
ne entire community Indirectly This
ity may well profit by the experience of
be Older cities and secure park property
nile II Is so easy TO do So
Considerations of the health and COM
prt OF our citizens, us well MS n sense OF
ride for the appearance OF the city, de-
land that work in this direction begin at
nee.
The mayor recommends that n large
ark be established at some point accessI.
lie TO rs many parts OF the city as prac-
cable, and that in other sections not 80
ccessible 10 the main park there be estab-
shed smaller parks or squares.
THE HOUSTON LYCEuM LIBRARY.
The recommendation Of an approprla
on Tor the Lyceum library is made with
40 understanding that the Lyceum viii
lake reasonable provision for tho use of
le library by the public under such re- ,
-nctlons as may secure also to that in. ,
itutien the right to maintain its organ
alton as the custodian of all effects ar ,
uired under the donation OF the CITY. |
! tins connection 1t Is suggested that fhe
'uncil pass an Appropriate resolution on '
'dinanoe cmbodying the conditions ey-
.ctod to be performed " the lYcrnm
iih respect Ia the appropriation made i
nd that one of these conditions be that
le amount be expended only for rent ana
her necessities and useful books. esne- S
ally works of reference and those par. q
ining to the useful nrts and to science.
sCANENGER FEES.
The scayenger department should non !
operated at n profit to the CITY. n !
iouid be merely aelf-sustaining. During '
our official ineumbpncy the actual ro, ,
'ipts of this department have exceeded
'e operating expenses, while an addition /,
amount outstanding shows a substantial .
It profit, II is, therefore. recommended
nj an ordinance be passed reducing the y
for removing u quantity less than n :,
lrrel from Size to ST.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Although the administration af the c
hool system is under the control of i g