The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-09
Economy Has Not Been Prac-
Hsed Notwithstanding Con-
dfion of Treasury and Tax
payers Are Tired.
Many Big Mistakes
By CITY Officials
Sewer Construction Made at
Great Cost to City and Err
rOr Has Been Made in Street
Improvements.

Saturday of this week the tax bur-
zen of the citizens of Richmond will
be further increased by the floating of
, $4,000 bond issue which bears 3.65
per cent interest and is payable in six
years. This bond issue was author
,lzed by council to meet the deficit in
the city's expenses for the current
year
For the past three or four years the
tity's finances have been in deplor
bible condition. but Notwithstanding
This fact, the city administration and
the city council. since the first of this
kear have failed to practice economy
In fact, money has been spent with a
lavish hand. This is the reason why
the city on January /, will begin new
kear with a deficit amounting to $50
900. which, with interest at 3.65 per
cent. would in six years total, $50. .475.
Council and the board are held
equally to blame by the taxpayers.
Extravagances are shown in sewer and
btreet improvements primarily. The
ritys share of the cost of sewer sys-
fems located this year will, in round
humbers. reach the total of $4,000.
I'm 1907 a little over $4,000 was spent
On sewers. In street improvements
small extravagances are shown. For
instance. temporary improvements
have been made where permanent i'm
brovements should have been made.
The board took the proper stand in
This matter, but council failed to sup
port it. An instance OF this ILL
timed extravaganza is cited in the i'm
provement of North Tenth street. This
street did not need to be remade. North
Ninth street, which is used for heavy
truckage, was overlooked and remains
tn eyesore to the city.
The board stood pat on the PROPOSE
tion of paving North f street from
Tenth street to Sixteenth street. thus
saving the city eventually thousands of
dollars. but the council listened to the
property owners and refused to au-
thorize the improvement
Sewer Systems Expensive.
Two immense sewer systems were
made this year. one in Northwest
RicfGlond and one in southwest Rich
mond. Both were necessary and are
regarded as splendid improvements,
but local business men fail to see the
policy of the city in making two such
Expensive improvements in one years
time ESPECIALLY at time when the
city could not afford to spend so much
money
Howls are now going up from prop
erty owners owing to these two i'm
provements. They protest they have
been assessed too much. Whether
this is so or not. the fact remains that
the c:ty positively can not afford to
assume an additional share of this in
debtedness.
Hose House impossible.
Fire insurance rates for manufactur-
ing and mercantile establishments
have scared to what is generally re-
garded an abnormalsrate. Should the
fire department be increased. as the
business interests of the city desire,
hnd the new company located in West
Richmond. as the people in that sec.
tion insist upon, the fire insurance
rates would shrink perceptibly. But
the city can not afford to increase the
fire department.
The above, business men state
shows that the condition the city's
finances have been allowed to get in.
TO, not only affects the city as whole
but also nearly every taxpayer person
elly. This is further borne out by the
fact that the shippers of this city have
in the past two years lost approximate
ly S3s0.o0o in business by the SQUAD
BILE the board of public works and the
two traction companies engaged in
during that period of time. This vex.
atious question was only settled after
the shippers. disgusted with the boards
attitude. interfered. and in shor'
time secured terms from the trac
tion interests satisfactory to them.
selves and TO the city at large.
Waste on Streets.
Streets in the wholesale and manu-
featuring section of the city continue
10 be macadamiZed. when the outpoul
of money for these improvements
could be for all time stopped by per
manently improving the most uset
streets with brick paving, it is gener
billy stated. North d street, which
probably has more heavy drayage OF
II than any other street in the city. wa:
recently temporarily improved. only Il
have this Improvement ruined by tn,
fraction company placing new lin.
along the street.
As TO whether the city's hospital ap
nropriation is or is not economy, tn,