The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-10-19
BIC REVENUE RESULT
OF PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
Where the Money Comes From
and How it is Ex-
pended.
Annual Report of the Census
Bureau Answers the Ques-
tiOn.

WASHINGTON. Oct, 1.-THE bu-
reau Of the census mas just issued ITS
annual report on the statistics Of cities
having a population Of over 10000.
This report covers the year 1905, and
includes financial and othe: statistics.
The number of cities included in this
report is 154, OF which Is had over
100000 inhabitants, 25 between 100000
and 100000, ~ between $4,000 and
100000. and 67 under $4,000. OF the
154 cities, New York had tne largest
land area-2O9,21S acres: New Orleans
stood second, with 117,447; Philadel-
phia fourth, with S1.S2s; and Duluth
fifth, with 40,556. The five cities
named were the only ones with over
10000 acres Of land surface.
Money in WaterworI<s.
During the fiscal year 1905 the cor
porate receipts for the 154 cities were
$575,814,774.
OF the corporate receipts Of the 154
rived from ,eneral revenues, including
taxes, licenses. and kindred sources;
20.7 per cent from commercial reven-
ues, including those from quisi private
Industries and receipts in fees, charg-
es, etc.. for service performed: and 1928
per cent from loans which Increased
city indebtedness.
OF the commercial revenues, the
most important were those derived
from quasi private industries operated
by cities. Of those industries, city
waterworks take the first place and
docks and wharves the second. The
total municipal income from water
works in 1905 was $47,657,957, Of which
amount New York city received $9,-
74s,S70. The aggregate were $685.
658, Of which amount New York city
received $3,O97.*50.
OF the general revenue receipts,
$309,441,271 were derived from general
property taxes and from penalties for
delayed payment thereof; $9,S56,5S2
were from special property and busi-
ness taxes; $1,0s3,922 from poll taxes:
and $37,O32,593 from licenses and per-
mits Of which amount $29,616,245 were
derived from liquor licenses and taxes.
The amount Of $2.S75,sS2 was received
from fines and forfeits; $24,o29.267
from subventions and grants from 9TH
er civil divisions and from private, do
ssnations and giffs; I. .alhul. 1aAaa 4ne
obtained from misceit neotzs t'tztl sourcessa
~ ~ City Indebtedness. - '-:-,
The total Indebtedness Of the 154
cities in 1905 was $1,618;414,005, Of
which $1,444, 725,7o7 was. classed as
funded" and the remainder. $780,
79R was classed as revenue or tax
loans," S77,9S2.99S as special assess
ment loans," $1s,e5o,122 as "outstand-
ing warrants" and $1,260,2se as mis-
cellaneous obligations" OF the ag-
gregate indebtedness thus reported by
the 154 cities. $1,521,s3o,914 was in
cured by the city government. $685.
S22,609 by independent school districts
for the same territory as the city, and
$59,960,4 ,4S2 by civil decisions having
such similar territory and also author
ICED to incur debt.
Cost Of Government.
The costs Of government tc the tax
payer are represented approximately
for the several cities by what ..ae bu-
reau Of census calls CORPORATE pay
ments." These payments exclude all
temporary transactions and payments
of one department or fund of the city
to another, or the 154 cities they ag-
gregated in the fiscal year 1905. $572,-
960,113. of which those Of New York
city constituted $164,493.177, or 2S.7
per cent.
or the total corporate paymbentS of
these 154 cities, 66.6 per cent were for
the current expenses of operation and
maintenance, including the support of
the departments and industries; 32.1
per cent were for outlays, or improve
ments of a more, - less permanent
character; and 1.3 per cent were for
reduction Of Indebtedness.
OF cities with an estimated popula-
ton of over 100000. the Der capita
corporate payments were largest In
Boston and smallest in Milwaukee.
Next In order after Boston were New
York and Washington; and of the Cit
les with small relative cost of govern
ment New Orleans, Detroit and Chica-
20 are close rivals with milwaukee.