The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-07
STATISTICS SHOW .
THE COST OF CITIES s
Bureau Of Corporations Reports
on ISL Leading Munich
palities.
MOST ACRES IN N. Y;
NEW ORLEANS SECOND
Newton, Mass, Has the Largest
Percapita Net Debit;
g..
Gotham Next.

Washington, Aug. THE United
States census bureau today issued bull
letin on statistics for 1904 of cities hav-
ing a population of over 10000, the
cities covered numbering Isl. OF these
New York held the largest land area 9a
acres and Chicago with ia 1882 ranking
next. Hoboken, with S25 acres, had the
smallest land area.
The total corporate expenditures Of
the Isl cities for the fiscal year 1904,
exclusive of payments by one depart
ment of the city to another, were $oo4,-
44O,215, of which those of New York
constituted 1857 ,o6O,17l, or three-tenths.
Expenditures Grow.
The total expenditures showed an in
crease of $27, lOS,713, or So per cent,
over 1908, and of $50, O4O $50, or ISL
per cent, over 1902. The increase Tor
the single city of New York during tho
two years ending 1904 was $s7 ,964 ,625,
In the Isl cities the amount spent for
permanent works increased almost per
cent over 1908.
Tho New York has only twice the
population of Chicago, its current ex-
penses are nearly four times as great.
The next six largest cities Of the coun-
tEy together expend less than New
York.
Capitals Expenses High.
Tho Chicago is one-third as large
again as Philadelphia, the latter's run
about equal in size with Baltimore, Bos-
toms current expenses are nearly three
times as great Washington spends
more than any one of the next eight
larger cities Of the country, and twice
that Of other cities Of about the same
ror,,1otinp 0r1x, ho1Q -
ponditures are met by local taxation,
the other half being paid by the United
States government.
Municipal Ownership.
Of the total running expenses of the
ISL cities, GIT per cent went for sal
aries and wages, and 1873 per cent for
$594,175,o9s, of which $472,423,s5s, or
1855 per cent, were from taxes and other
revenues, and $121, 752,140, or 2O.5 per
cent, from loans increasing indebted
ness. --. -- --.,.s - o.. ~ * s :
The receipts from municipal indus
tries, such as gas and waterworks and
other commercial revenues, amount to
$1l2,3S6,S27.
Of the municipal Industries by far
the most important are the waterworks.
They are reported by 10S of the ISL
cities and their value constitutes 63.S
per cent of the aggregate value of all
miqnicip pa industry s6G yoo6 properties The
owning waterworks are San Francisco,
New Orleans. Omaha. New, Haven. St.
Joseph. Scranton and Paterson. Of the
$S,oo0,oOO invested in electric light
works, Chicago reported about one-half.
In Irrigation Business. l..
Nearly all Of the $31,0OO,0OO invested
In WORKS ronort a5 Nv phi1o dol
phia.
Four cities were shown to be in the
irrigation business-Denver, Los An
geles, Salt Lake City and San Antonio;
three had toll >bridges-New York
Covington and La Crosse; and two were
Portland, Ore. The only city running
a stone quarry and crusher was Au,
burn, n. Y, and the only one having
a municipal asphalt plant was Detroit
The aggregate value Of the properties
of ell municipal industries as here re,
have already from general revenues
nearly one-half the cost Of the indus
trial plants, but still owe 53.4 per cent
of the total value. OUTLAWS for perma
nent improvements are met from cur
rent revenue in American cities more
generally than in British.
Boston Deep in Debt.
The aggregate debt of the ISL cities
at the close Of the year was 1851,
462,655, and debt less sinking fund:
$1,228,216,9 1888, more than one-fourtl
greater than the national debt The
Pseereaa4pita debt less sinking funds was
Of the individual cities, the larges
percapita net debit was reported by
Newton, Mass, $12S.58. The SECOND
largest by New York ,$133.25; the thirt
by Boston $loS.17 the fourth by Paw
had a percapita net debt Of over $75
The tax levy percapita was largest TO
Boston, $5O.16.
ct pHHI NAM R0RREn