Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-06-11
CITY FINANCES.

Captain Bryan, chairman OF the city f.
nance committee, made the following
interesting statement of the financial
affairs of the city:
The Auditors statement of receipts
and disbursements on account of the
General Fund which is presented to-
night, shows that the receipts amount
to S124, 1886. 20; expenditures 1928, 697.77.
Figures of these proportions are the
exceptions rather than the rule in the
yearly business of our city as one will
ascertain if he has the time, the in
clination and the patience to trace
back the last twenty-five years Of our
municipal life. And yet these figures
large as they seem, will give evidence
of no profigate expenditures when
published in detail in the city report.
More than once it has been stated on
| this floor by a member holding the
position that l now do, and endeavor-
| ing briefly as possible to submit re-
marks on our fiscal affairs, that
figures are by no means pleasant
reading, although of much import
ance to citizens and taxpayers. Ii is
by no means inappropriate for me to
call attention to the fact, and perhaps
it is exceptional in Council proceed
ings, that those who for sixteen years
and at different times served as Chair
man of the Committee on Finance
Mr.. Snowden for six, Mr.. Uhler for
eight, and Mr.. Baader for two years,
are now members of this body, which
| in measure, shows an appreciation
of their services by their constituents,
services which will always be con-
sidered unselfish and valuable. An
idea as to how we have expanded,
as it were, can be best illustrated by a
comparison of the present fiscal year
with that of twenty years ago, 1882.
In that year the receipts amounted to
S91, 3lS.00, expenses SS7, $4,000, and of
this last named sum, S40,000.00 was
necessary for payment on the public
debt. 1t is. indeed, gratifying to
know that the report of 1902, showing
an excess Ofreceipts as compared with
1882 of S37,00000, also shows a de-
crease of near $10000.00 to pay in
terest on our public debt.
The General Fund accounts in some
few years have presented figures over
$3.50, 100000, caused by extraordinary,
but necessary disbursements. In 1890
the receipts were $122,317, expenses
S123, 300. This was the year that by
: agreement $40, 600 was to be paid for
the redemption of the bonds 1S53-54,
held by the heirs of DR.. VIM. Gunton.
Prior to that year it was no doubt
matter Of concern to those charged
with our fiscal affairs as to Just how
provision could be made for the dis
charge of this obligation when the
time arrived. But in this, as in other
years, what appeared as troubles was
easily met. The canal property was
| sold, and at the request of the Finance
Committee the money apportioned the
city 81 ,300 by order of Council was
used, to not only pay, but to antici-
pate payment of the 10000, and a
loan for a few months of $4,000 was
also made. 1t required $4,000 for
debt payments that year, and 81, 900
for general purposes. In few other
wears $4,000 was expended; for inl
stance, in 1898, when the sewer along
Gibbon and down Royal, and that in
the northeast section, were built at a
cost of $4,000. The total expendi-
lures for streets and sewers for that
wear amounted to S27, 1911. No tenn
porary loan was necessary then for
the reason that a sale was made
by the city of the Pioneer Mills prop
erty and the collection of large arrear-
ages of taxes from the Potomac Manu-
featuring Company, total OF near
$4,000 from these sources. In 1897 the
disbursements were Sill ,594, the year
the King and Pitt street sewer was
built. For the year ended May 81,
1902, every estimate was realized, the
receipts reaching expectations, includ-
ing a gas works transfer. The expen-
ditures, exceeding as they have, and
most always will, the total amount
named in an appropriation bill. The
amount S12, 900 for sewers and streets
was increased by $1,000; for cleaning
streets, 5000; electric light, $1,000; fire
department, $3.50 (which includes
rebuilding and purchase of engine;
lot on Prince street, $1,000: chain
gang, $500; schools, $500, and other
special appropriations made from time
to time. The paper which have pre-
sented tonight shows the plan for the
| gradual retirement of bonds issue of
| 1872 With debt less by q quarter of
a million dollars than acknowledgement
ago, with bonds quoted TO day at par,
as contrasted with market price of
go cents twenty years ago. With a
tax rate reduced to S1.71 net, in 1895,
seven years ago, and continued each
year since. With enterprises spring
ing up in our city, which will much
increase our population. With i'm
provements in reason on our streets.
and construction of sewers, thus CIV
ing employment to labor and also
| furnishing conveniences and good
sanitation to the householder, /
am not afraid of being considered
an optimist if claiming for Alexan-
dria much to encourage as to the
| future, when we recall some dis
couragements of the last three de-
cades. While we can congratulate
ourselves upon present conditions, we
should not forget those men who con-
trolled public affairs in what seemed
Alexandria's darkest days in the years
IS79-81. The city then burdened with q
debt to pay the interest upon which
alone, almost amounted to confisca-
ton; men occupied public positions
as we do to-day, had great task in
hand and performed it. Our bonds
were not worth fifty cents, but it was
no fault Of these men, and credit is
due them, some now dead, others
still living, members of Council, a
number of our citizens, bank officers,
but more particularly the Finance
Committee and Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund upon whom much of
the labor incident to the compromise
of 1879 fell All Of these and those