The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-12-28
THE INDEBTEDNESS
OF MUNICIPALITIES
Recent Census Bulletin Shows
That New York Heads the
1lSI = 4

Washington, Dec. 2S.-The indebt.
edness OF the governments of the 158
cities in the United States which, In
1907, had an estimated population Of
over 10000 each, forms an interesting
chapter of U. S. census bulletin 1O5,
prepared by Division Chief E. H. NAL
ing, under the supervision of DIR. LIE
Grand Powers, chief statistician in
charge of tho official statistics Of cit-
les. 1t will issue in the near future
from the government printing Office,
and Census Director Durand will SUBJ
NIT it to Secretary Nagel of the de-
partment of commerce and labor.
The gross" debt includes the en-.
tire amount of debt obligations out
standing against city. and is classi-
fled by division of the government OF
the city issuing, according to provis-
ions made for payment and as hello
by the public or by funds of the city
In many cities such forms of curren,
Indebtedness as outstanding warrants
and outstanding judgments are moi
thought OF as Indebtedness. but il
reality are such and should be in
debtedness. Outstanding warrants
hi u W. ici J"O VI
the cities considered, and in some OF
the western cities constitute a con-
siderable portion of Indebtedness. The
net" Indebtedness includes the gross
Indebtedness less the sinking fund
assets, and for purpose of compari-
son is more significant than the gross
Indebtedness.
OF the total net Indebtedness of the
15S cities, 39.2 per cent is credited to
New York city, which had more than
seven times the Indebtedness of any
other city, and more than one-half of
the total of the twenty-seven largest
cities of the country. The per capita
net debt of New York city was $142.52
and the only other cities having per
capita net Indebtedness of over $1OO
We're Cincinnati. Ohio, $123s5; Bos-
ton, Mass, $120.S7; Galveston, Tex,
S115.7S; Pueblo. Colo, $1OS23; and
Newton, Mass, s1O5.s3. OF the cities
of over 100000 estimated population
San Francisco had by far the smallest
net debt, and Detroit, with $23.75 per
capita, next to the smallest; of the
cities having population of from
100000 to 100000, those with the
smallest per capita net debt were st.
Joseph. Mo-, $16.46. and Indianapolis,
Ind. s1791. OF the cities having from
10000 to 100000 population. those
having the smallest per capita net
debt were Erie, Pa, $10.13; Wheeling,
w. Va, $10.41: Joplin, Mo-, $10.71, and
Johnstown, Pa, $11.19.
The increase in the net debt for
the fiscal year of 1907 was $12O,93O.-
631, more than three-fourths of which
was credited to the fifteen largest cities
and more than one-half of which is
credited to New York city. The only
city of less than 100000 inhabitants
having an increase of more than ST.
100000 was Seattle, Wash. whose net
debt increased by $5,791,07S. Several
cities decreased their net indebted
ness during the year, the larger Of
them being st. Louis, San Francisco,
Washington, Indianapolis, and Kansas
City.
In any discussion of indebtedness It
should be remembered, the bulletin
states, that the value of public Inn
provements, and especially the
amount expended on public service
enterprises, should be taken into opn-
Sidaration.