The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-01

OF the present condition of the Variou,
departments of the city government.
Inc year 1898 has witnessed a meas
urable awakening of prosperity in the
CITY, as well as in the surrounding
country. The steady influx Of gold anC
SILVER from the mines of the state has
produced results in the way of build
ing and other improvements that mus
Dc most satisfactory and gratifying &c
our citizens A feeling Of enterprise
seems to prevail. the result of which
must be a continued growth and pros
peTlty within the municipal limits.
II IS matter If congratGlatiun Il
note that while the receipts from all
sources of the city's revenue show an
increase of S44,351.Gl over that of 1897,
the total expenditures We're SS6,S6i.3a
less than those OF that year. making
net gam to the city of $50 695.34. When
II Is considered that every department
mas been kept Up to a high standard,
and efficient service has been given the
people, the administration may indeed
be proud of this substantial showing.
w nile making acknowledgment to
the city council for its full share Of the
excellent work that has been done, 1
wish to earnestly recommend cOntin-
u2nca of the same careful, painstaking,
economical yet progressive policy that
has governed during the past year.
The conduct of the several depart
tory. the officers and their assistants
having worked tremendously and dill
gently in the interest of the city.
FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
Bonded Indebtedness.-In my annual
message Of last year I recommended
the refunding, at a lower rate of inter
est, Of the bond issue of 700, ma
turing in 1898 This suggestion was
acted upon and a new issue of 4 per
cent bonds was disposed of at a pre-
MUM of $1,000. This, added to the de-
crease Of 5000 per anuum in interest,
makes q saving well worth the effort
The total bonded indebtedness of the
city now is S2.54S, coo, most of which is
still drawing . per cent interest. Each
issue Should be refunded at a lower
rate of interest as soon as it natures.
City TIeasureT.-The report of the
city treasurer shows;
Balance on hand jan l. 1855 Is. $50 "a
Receipts from all sources during
the year ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4S2,lso "
Total resources for year........S5l1. OS1 Sc
Disbursements for all purposes
during year .S4fS, Isl OF
Balance on hand Dec 81, 1Sss..s 3d. 800 SO
An increase of available funds at the
commencement of the present year over
that of last year of S3,414S5.
Licenses.-In this department the
collections for the year amounted TO
SIS.904.0S in excess of that of 1897, 'vhile
the cost of operating this branch of the
treasurer's Office was $1.294.S0 less than
in 1897. This IS an excellent record,
showing q net gain Of over 900 TO
the city in the operating of a single
department
City AuditOr-The report of the city
auditor Shows that during the year
the total receipts from all sources
We're S4S2, 1882, an increase over the
previous year of S44.33l01. The cost of
maintenance of the several depart
ments of the city government for the
year 1898 was 1917 ,909.40, being a de-
crease of SIG, 1854 SO as compared with
1887.
The report shows that the expense of
maintaining almost every department
of the municipality during the year 1888
was less than during the perVlOuS year,
the exceptions being the street light
ing department, which shows an in
crease of 1926. and claims and
damages, which gives an increase Of
S7.SIS.31. The latter being mostly the
result of litigation against the city,
commenced several years go.
Report of RecOrder.-The report o. the
CITY. recorder SHOWS that the number of
licenses issued in 1898 was 5,SS9, an in
crease of 1500 over thar Of 1897. The
receipts from dog tax collections
amounted TO S2.SOS or S349 over that Of
the previous year.
WATERWORKS DEPARTMENT
Expenditure-The superintendent
report shows the total expenditure IN !
this department for the year 1898 TO !
have been S36,3f4.56 a decrease OF So /
40 under that Of the year 1897. The eX-
penditure was distributed as follows:
Maintenance, Sl6.3l4.69; construction, /
e. g63.IO: improvements, SS.201.33: de- /
partrnent accounts, S1160.S9; individuals (
and companies, S621.S5: miscellaneous /
items. 81, 1921 9; total, S36,3i4.5G. There I
was laid during the year :, l55i2 feet of !
siy-inch mains and 2.SSS feet of four
inch mains. The entire water main pipe /
lines of the CITY now amounts TO ~ |
miles. 1922 feet. There were 800 new
services added to the system during the /
wear. Representing THAI number Of new
Uate~-tal1ers-
Reyenue-The water assessment for
the year amounted to $S2516-55, deduct
ing the amount OF attachments already
made and estimating those which prob
ably viii be made before June 80, when
the water assessment year ends. The
not revenue collectable amounts to So
as. IS. an increase of S3,414.S5 over the
previous year
The report Of the city auditor shows
the net cash revenue derived from the
uEafBcL 10 D- Col. 1000.
The special attention of the council is
called to the suggestions and recon-
Of the superintendent. The
of new settling tanks on
the high lire Of the City Creek sys-
tar, TO take the place OF the present
wooden ones, which,
through age and decay are liable TO
colIapse at any time and deprive
roe number OF wateT-takers Of their
,,-afe-- supply. An increase of the water
ennnlv. either from new sources or by
the construction OF reservoirs for stor-
- the surplus water which runs to
,--ss4e in the spring and early summer.
Of the distribution Of the
Ter by putting in larger mains and
aboljshing the numerous dead ends in
- present pipe lines, thus securing a
100 perfect circulation. and hence a
,i,,re,. and more healthful water; the .
p-ection of standppes and connection
= +be city canal. by which TO obtain
Ter for street sprinklinS, and thus
.1so,-s The waterwOrkS system from the
-S,.e~e draught made upon it during me
-,,,,,T,,e.r months for street sprinkling; ,
7,,s cilrtailment Of the useless waste Of
~ TOR in large establishments by re- /
,,f,-i,,e the water-takers in hotels |
isce Buildings. livery stables. manufac-
ling establishments and many pri-
- houses TO supply themselves with I
y, +e7 meters and pay for their supply {
!, ,yafer. by measurement; limiting the ]
- of water by the unnecessary j