Bisbee daily review., 1909-08-06
OF
 CITY BUDGET
 CREDITAbLE
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF CITY OF DOUGLAS IS ExcELlENT-LoW ER TAX RATE WILL BE APPRE. GATED AND IT IS BASED ON ECONOMY AND GOOD MANAGE. MENT.

DOUGLAS. Aug. 5.-tSpecial)-
 There are various features of Doug. las life that speak well for our city to the outside world, but none that speak more eloquently and effectively to those people most efficient in the making a new country and new cities than the completed statement of our financial budget for the next year, which we present today in the shape in which it was presented to the coun- cil on Monday evening of this week. by the mayor and the city clerk. as a basis for counciimanic action. To those who are expert in municipal af- fairs, it is eloquent: to the business element in any community, 1t is ef- fective to a good opinion; and to all others, 1t is satisfactory.
 Here is Douglas that eight years ago did not exist, scarcely; yet today it has well on to eight or nine thousand inhabitants, figured from a trade standpoint; trifle over $3,100,0 900 valuation of taxable property at only 60 per cent basis assessment: and a budget of expense for next year that, after making all due allowance for ex- pected proportionate growth and i'm provements. and not skimping or jug glsng anything-calls for only eight tenths of one per cent COOS. or eight mills) per each s100.00 of valuation, in the shape of taxes. and is actually lower by some hundreds of dollars than that of the preceding year of 1908, and that was only 10 mills, or one per cent on less total of property for assessment. The total of expenses for 1908 was less than the estimates.
 Really, it eems as though. in justice to ourselves, this is a local situation that permits of comment, and of call ing attention of others to 1t. It can scarcely be called immodest for per son or a people to call the attention of others to themselves if there is any thing about them useful to others and that 'justifies them in doing so.
 Back of all these figures, and best of all, lies a happy, progressive, cour- teous population. We do not think it is out of the way to call attention to this fact; first, ecause it is true. and second because it is important to those choosing a new residence. No municipality can prosper whose people are torn by dissensions: none can prosper save where there is common effort for the common good. And in no place does the latter characteristic show more plainly and satisfactorily than fiji the budget of the city of Doug las. There cannot be an economical budget without an economical admin istration of the business for which 1t provides, and there cannot be an eco nomical administrator of that busi- ness without courtesy-just common courtesy Without courtesy. nothing progressive and good is possible; with that, everything progressive and good is possible. So the budget is the index of a city's character in every way.
 As already stated. our financial bud get of the city for this year-and for this matter, that of last year-shows this characteristic anc, with other things, it shows that Douglas city Is a desirable place in which to live, from both business and social standpoints.
 The council. in considering the bud get Monday evening, took up each item separately. In the treatment of each, there was no apparent attempt at lodging any of the requirements Of the city life; nor any attempt to minimize them, looking forward in the present year; nor to juggle figures, accounts, or facts. In every case II was clearly shown what are the prob able requirements for the present year. now on. and where the money would come from for them.
 The result is credit to the council men. to Mayor Greene. and more es- pecialIy to the city clerk. It is good to read and to preserve. As such we present it on another page of this is- sue. We think it justifies the state ment made by City Attorney Lock wood at the time, that Douglas is at the head of the list of cities in Arizona in financial condition, and in some other respects.