Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-07
DEBTS OF THE CITIES
More Than a Fourth More Than
National Obligations.
THE MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIES
Total Value of Properties Amounts to
Over $3.50, 100000.
wATERWoRKs MOST IMPORTANT
Current Expenses of New York Near
Iy Four Times as Great as
Those of Chicago.
THE MUNICIPAL INDUSTRIES
WATERWoRKs MOST IMPORTANT

The census bureau today issued bulletin
on statistics for 1904 of cities having a pop
ulation of over 10000, the cities covered
numbering ISL. OF these New York had the
largest land area, 2O9,21S acres. New Or
leans with 125, eco acres and Chicago with
1I4932 ranking next. Hoboken with Sla
had the smallest land area.
The total corporate expenditures OF the
Isl cities for the fiscal year 1904, exclusive
of payments by one department or the city
to another, were 1854, 40. 2l5. of which those
of New York constituted 1867 .O6o,111, or
three-tenths The total expenditures snow
ed an Increase of ST los, ia, or SIS per cent
over 1903, and of $50, 04O590, or ISL per cent
over 1902. The increase for the single city
of New York during the two years ending
1901 was $37, 1854 ,625, or 44.6 per cent OF the
total increase. In the Isl cities the amount
spent for permanent works increased al
most per cent over 1903.
Expenses of the Cities.
Though New York has only twice the pop
ulation of Chicago. its current expenses are
nearly four times as great. The next six
largest cities of the country together ex-
pend less than New York. Though Chicago
is one-third as large again as Philadelphia,
greater. Though about equal IN size Win
Baltimore, Boston's current expenses are
nearly three times as great Washington
spends more than any one of the next elght
larger cities of the country, and twice that
of other cities of about the same popula-
ton.
OF the total running expenses of the 151
cities, 61.7 per cent went for salaries ana
wages and 3S.3 for all other objects.
Total receipts were 1904 ,115, 99S, of which
s472, AZ, SIS. or T9.5 per cent. were from
taxes and other revenues, and S121, 49,, lao,
or 20. 40 per cent, from loans increasing in
debtedness.
Municipal Industries.
The receipts from municipal industries,
such as gas and water works, and other
commercial revenues amounting to $112,-
2S6 S27.
OF the municipal industries by far the
most important are the waterworks They
are reported by los of the ISL cities, and
their value constitutes 63.S per cent of the
aggregate value of all municipal industry
properties. The cities of over 100000 popu-
lation not owning waterworks were San
Francisco New Orleans, Omaha, New Ha-
ven, st. Joseph, Scranton and Paterson. or
the $S0G0.000 invested in electric light
works, Chicago reported about one-half.
Nearly all of the $31 100000 invested in gas
works was reported by Philadelphia. Four
cities were shown to be In the irrigation
business, Denver. Los Angeles, Salt Lake
City and San Antonio; three had toll
bridges, New York, Covington and La
Crosse, and two were opera ting municipal
ferries, Boston and Portland, Ore. The only
city running stone quarry and crusher
was Auburn, N. Y, and the only one hay-
ing municipal asphalt plant was Detroit.
The aggregate value Of the properties of
all municipal Industries as here reported
was $3.50, $40, 726. The Isl cities have al
ready met from general revenues nearly
one-half the cost of their industrial plants,
bur still owe 534 per cent of the total
value. Outlays for permanent improve
ments are met from current revenues in
American cities more generally than in
British.
Debts of the Cities.
The aggregate debt of the 151 cities at
the close of the year was 81, 534, 462, 655. and
debt less sinking funds, 81. 22S 216,933, more
than one-fourth greater than the national
debt. The per capita debt less sinking funds
was $5897. OF the individual cities, the
largest per capital net debt was reported by
Newton, Mass, s125.5s; the second largest
by New York, SHIPS; the third by Boston,
s10S1T, and the fourth by Pawtucket,
s104l9. Only ten other cities had per
capita net debt of over SIS.
The tax levy per capita was largest for
poston S3n IL