Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-29
WASHINGTON REDUCED
NSDEBT DURING 1908
One of Four Cities of More
Than 100000 Population
That Accomplished Feat.

Washington was one of the four cities
of more than 10000 population in this
country which reduced their net debts in
1908. according to the census bureaus re-
port on the statistics of cities, now in
press. The other cities that cut down
their indebtedness were: Kansas City,
Mo-: Paterson. n. j., and Cambridge,
Mass
The total net Indebtedness of the 15S
cities investigated at the close Of 1908 was
$1,71S,O0O,O00, and of this amount 1854,
100000. or 1913 per cent is credited to
New York city alone. That city had more
than seven times the indebtedness of any
other city. and more than one-half of the
total OF the twenty-nine largest cities OF
the country. The per capita net debt of
New York city was $157.74, and the only
ness of over 500 were Cincinnati,
$113.U; Portland, Me-, $1O741; Newton,
Mass, $106.13; Pueblo. Col, $1O4.81, and
Pawtucket r. l.. $103.7S
OF the cities of over 100000 estimated
population the city having the smallest
per capita net debt was Detroit. $4,000.
OF the cities having a population Of from
100000 to 100000 those with the smallest
per capita net debt were INDIANAPOLIS.
$17.43 and Scranton, $19.S2 OF the cities
having from 10000 to 100000 population
those having the smallest per capita net
lebt were: Joplin. $3.50; Erie, $1O.s8;
Johnstown,s $11.1O; Newcastle S12.45:
Terre Haute. $12.56; Davenport, $141 is,
and Peoria, $14.59
Increase in Net Debt.
The increase in the net debt for the fis-
cal year 1908 was $1s5,S77,S56, as COM
pared with similar increase for 1907 of
$l2O. $50, 631, more than three-fourths of
which increase is credited to the six
teen largest cities. and nearly one-half of
which is credited to New York city.
The only cities of less than 100000
population increasing their net debt by
more than $1,000 600 were Los Angeles.
Sc, 1905, 254, and Portland, Me-, $4,21O,922
In the latter city most Of this debt was
incurred by the water district
During the year thirty-five cities re-
duced their net Indebtedness, compared
with forty-two cities for 1907.
Payments on account OF OUTLAWS for new
properties. or new work, by the 15S larg-
est cities in the United States, each hay-
ing an estimated population of 10000 or
more in 1908, amounted in the aRgreeate
to 1915, OH, 695 for 1908. compared with
$244, Iii, 29S for 1907.
New York Paid one-Third.
Nearly one-third of the total, or $685.
AT ,149, was paid by New York city; Chi
cago spent $1S.O98, $3.50, and Philadelphia,
s14,473.1s4. Cities of less than 800, 900 in
habitants with the largest payments for
OUTLAWS were: Los Angeles, So, PSI, 500;
Seattle, So, 1866; Portland, Me-, $4.5s8,
903: Denver, 81. 7809O2, and Portland,
Ore, $2,644,7 27.
Nearly one-third of all outlays, or $50,
26O 139, was spent on public-service en-
terprises, nearly one-half Of the OUTLAWS
by New York city being of this charac-
ter. Nearly another third was spent for
highways, and more than one-seventh
went for schools and other educational
objects. Most Of the OUTLAWS reported for
Portland, Me-. were for the purchase by
the water district OF its water-supply sys-
tenn. and New York city spent more thar,
$1OO0O.O0O in the extension Of its water
system.