The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-08
1T DROPS BELOW.
City Expenses Actually Less
Than the Estimate.
Evidently Some One Has Watch
ed the Pennies.
SAVING is OVER S13, 900.
MayOr Davis Has Reason to
Congratulate Himself.
Every Department Economically
Administered Apparently.
SAVING Is OVER $4,000

Probably for the first time in many
administrations the estimate on the
budget for the expenses Of running the
citv. OF Tooeka for one year have been
higher than the actual expenses. That
this actually. occurred during the fiscal
year ending with April 1st, 1906, the
REPORT of the city clerk submitted TO
the city council last evening sub
stantiates.
The estimate made last year in July
was s162, 2,961.1O.
The actual expenditure by the city
clerks report was s161,74o.ss.
The saving over the estimate there
fore was $1,220.19.
The expenditure for the year pre-
lvious. ending with April 1st. 1905, was
|SI74.995.42.
The saving over the last fiscal year
was therefore S13.234.42,
This is simply an Indication of the
lcareful method which has character
ized Mayor Davis in his financial ad-
ministratiOn Of the citys affairs. Mayor
Davis may be lacking in some OF the
qualities which go to make an ideal
mayor he may have made mistakes
Ebut there is no gainsaying the fact
THAT he has brought admirable busi-
mess methods into his conduct of the
financial interests of the city.
& mere mas HOT DEEu 2 more EdEELu u
purchasing agent for the city, not
voucher is drawn but what undergoes
lhis scrutiny and the same is true of
every bill of supplies that comes under
lhis eye and they all do.
The fire department which is the
most expensive department of the city
beat its own estimate. It returned an
estimate to the mayor last July of
S40,075.57, the actual running ex-
Ipenses were $39,026.30.
saving of over $4,000 on its estimate
S6,128.04 instead of $9.999,00 as esti-
mated.
The police department cost the city
last year S27.400.11. the estimate had
ibeen $4,000.
The city electric light plant cost
; l.40O more than had been counted on
in the estimate The estimate was
1913, ,447.04. The purchase of new
lamps had not been counted on when
the estimate was made.
The city engineers estimate accord
ed pretty closely with his actual bud
get. The estimate was $7.535.5S.
The street commissioner beat his
own estimate BY about s3,O0O-he
counted on spending $30,990, but only
spent $27, ,422.64
The miscellaneous expenses. how
ever. ate uo whatever of profit was
made IN the savings of these various
/ departments the estimate returned
i
ipenditure on miscellaneous accounts
was in the neighborhoOd of $4,000
The report Of the city clerk follows:
During the past year there have been
lforty-seven regular meetings Of the
council and nine special meetings, the
minutes Of which make 457 pages Of
written Journal work.
The number of ordinances passed
were ninety-eight, making 514 pages CT
written journal work and the total
year was 81 pages.
+ The paving bonds issued during the
year amounted TO 500, ,901 II. The bonds
were issued to pave the following
streets: West Sixth avenue from
Haynes street to Morris avenue. TavIor
street from Tenth TO Huntoon streets;
Wan Buren street from Huntoon to Thir-
teentn streets; Tyler street from Third
to Fourth streets; Jackson street from
Huntoon to Twelfth streets; West
Twelfth street from Kansas avenue to
jackson street; West Twelfth street from
Tyler street to Fillmore street; East
Twelfth street from Kansas avenue to
Quincy street: Polk street from Hun
foon to Fourteenth streets; Madison
street from Eighth to Tenth streets:
Douthitt stret from Wesern avenue 0
Fillmore street; Clay street from First
to Second streets; south approach of
the Melan bridge; alley bounded by
Kansas avenue. Quincy, Laurent and
Il- r. property alley bounded by Van
Buren, Jackson. Fourth and Firth
streets.
THE amount of bonds outstanding
against the city April l. 1906 was 81
ICE. .666 and of this amount $500, 600 is TO
Ibe credited ss waterworks bonds. incur
red in purchasing the waterworks plant
the total interest which the city pays
yearly on the above bonds is S52, 1874 Al,
over half of this interest, s27, 500, is In
terest on the waterworks bond issue.
.AH Of the later issues bear to Az per