The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-24
IN BAD CONDITION,
City Clerk Jacobs Makes a Gloomy Re-
port in Regard to the Financial
Condition of the City.
PURCHASE OF A POOR FARM.
Alderman Sershon Brings New Plan-sug-
gests that City Should act. Smith
Gets Money but one Votes Nay.

session at the city hall last evening
but most of the time of the aldermen
was taken up in reading the minutes
which had been allowed to pile up
until it took an hour and half to get
them out of the way When the
minutes were read the aldermen were
evidently relieved but they were not in
a mood to attend to business and the
routine work was disposed of in short
order.
The most interesting point of the
meeting was a report of the financial
condition of the city as made by city
clerk Jacob. Of course the report of
the future expenses of the city as
shown is only an estimated report, but
it is based upon the expenses of other
years. The report shows that the old
financial difficulty has not in any way
been removed and long before the
snow flies the city will be forced to
seek a loan to carry out the running
expenses of the city government.
On April 10th, the city had on hand
the sum of S9831.96. Adding to this
the $28, 900 received from licenses and
other small sources and the total re-
rources of the city for the remainder
of the year are shown to be $38, 1865.
| Of this amount nearly all is now either
contracted or due to outstanding debts.
The estimated liabilities of the city,
up to Dec. last, as shown by careful
and conservative estimates by the
clerk, are: $57, 521.62. 1t will be seen
that this will leave a total deficit of
Dec. 1st, of SIC, 324.97, which is far in
advance of the amount of the total
deficit from last year. OF course the
city government will have to be run
from Dec. 1st until the tax levy is
available in March and this will almost
double the amount and bring the
deficit up to over thirty thousand
dollars. The report shows the fnan-
cia1 condition of the city to be most
gloomy aspect and something must be
done to reduce the expenses of the city
or to increase the revenues.
The only other matter of public in
terest which came up at the meeting,
was the suggestion of Alderman Ser
shon, that the city purchase the
| Cavanaugh farm for use as poor
farm. The farm contains forty acres
of land with splendid modern buildings
and can be purchased for about SIS, 900.
It is ideally located about three quar-
tiers of mile from the city and can be
purchased on the terms that the city
may dictate. The aldermen gave the
matter very favorable consideration
and it was referred to the committee
on paupers to report at the next regular
meeting. The purchase of the farm
seems to be a happy solution of the
vexed question of caring for paupers.
It is held that the farm would be self
sustaining and that it would furnish
a splendid home for the unfortunates
of the city. Some immediate action
should be taken on this matter.
The matter of the opening of Chest
nut street, as suggested by Commodore
Morgan, was brought up, and the COM
nittee reported in favor of opening the
street. This will require that the
Commodore move his fence and that
the old building owned by H. S. Van
Ingen and located in the middle Of the
street be torn down. The report of the
COMMITTEE was accepted and the street
will probably be opened at once.
The Harbor committee presented a
bill of $40. so, due to A. B. Smith, Alder
man Of the Seventh ward, for inspect
ing the harbor. The bill was declared
allowed, but as Aid. Head voted
against the allowance of the bill it is
probable that there will be some
trouble before the Alderman is allowed
his money.
Miss Weller, the assistant of the
City Clerk, was given a little raise in
salary as token of the appreciation of
her services for the city.
Bids for the office of bridge tender
were received as follows: H Chaffee,
S195; G. Murdoch, $500; Paul B1auert,
5000; Peter Schutzs, 200. The matter
was referred.
The matter of the construction of
sewer on Middle street was referred
back to the Sewer committee for a
report.
Bids were opened for the sprink1ing
of the different streets of the city and
contracts awarded as follows: To
James O'Brien for Prairie avenue,
Park avenue, Deming street and Park
Place at ten cents 1inea1 foot. To
Henry Zeit1er for Union, North Main
street and Milwaukee avenue at the
rate of eight cents per Gnea1 foot.
In regard to the paving of Julius and
South Chicago streets the Courcil
M IN
sent an estimate of the cost of the
work to the city, showing that it would
cost the city about 1929 anl The matter
was referred to the Paving committee
to report on at the next meeting.
The claim Of George Fay for remun-
Grafton for damages alleged to have
been received from falling on a de-
fective sidewalk was laid upon the
table.