Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-02
A BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The financial and general condition
of the city Of Bismarck this spring
shows the present city administration
to have given the city a clean, bust
ness like administration for the past
year, and the showing made is one that
will speak we'll for the city officials.
The city debt has been bonded and
put Upon a sound basis, all outstand-
ing debts have been paid either by
warrant or funding bonds, with the
exception of the certificates of in
issued by the administration to take
up the floating debt, there is no in
terest bearing debt outstanding
against the city with the exception of
warrants to the amount of $500 or
5000 issued and signed by Mayor
Register yesterday for THE current ex-
tracted by the present administra-
tion and those allowed by the former
administration at the last meeting
amounting to over $4,000 have been
paid, and all warrants have been called
in that were issued up to March 1 of
this year. In addition to this, the city
is $4,000 within the debt limit, and
there is $1,000 of the taxes for 1901
yet to be paid into the city.
A year ago there was a debt against
the city of $57, 514 in warrants, certi-
fcates and other evidences of debt out
standing. A large share of this was
debt bearing interest at the rate of
Z per cent. The administration was
confronted with a difficult financial
situation, but managed to refund S4S,-
600 of the outstanding debt. receiving
a premium of $1,000 for the bonds
sold. This took up all the outstanding
warrants with the exception Of those
issued last year by the former coun-
Gil, and these in addition have been
paid. The debt of the city is upon
a better basis, creditors of the city
have received their money, and city
warrants issued for the current ex-
penses Of the city are nearly at par.
In addition to this there are good
balances of cash in the sinking and
interest funds, and a balance in the
IRE fund sufficient to pay a quarters
hydrant rental.
In other ways also the city has been
improved. New sidewalks have been
built, and extensive additions to the
sidewalk system will be made the
coming summer. This will give the
city one of the most needed conyen-
fences, and will be appreciated by all
Citizens. Good order prevails in the
general conduct of the city, and it has
taken it's place among the first cities
on n state for its orderly and we'll
regulated behavior. There is little
drunkenness. disreputable places have
been closed and Bismarck receives
good words from all sides for it's gen
eral condition. Travellers contrast the
appearance and moral conditions of
the city with those of other towns
along the line, where there is little eff
Fort to regulate the behavior of some
citizens in the interest of good morals
and decency. Certainly these condi-
lions will be appreciated by the peo-
pie OF the city, who will give the city
administration credit for the efforts
ehey have made to bring about this
order of things. Not all improve
menfs and advances can be made at
once. but supported by the citizens of
the city. the administration will be
to continue the work well begun
2 make the city rank with the first
in the state and the northwest.