The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-10
CITY STATISTICS
BY CENSUS BUREAU
Per Capita Net Debt of New York Is
S153o2, Mobile, Ala, Per Capita
Debt Is Only S6.s3.

showing the pTnelpal classes OF per
capita payments and receipts, and per
capita net debt, on revised estimate OF
population for 1905 based upon the 1910
census return.
In the main body of the report, the
populations for the cities covered had
necessarily to be estimated from the
figures shown by the census of 1890 and
1900, and some subsequent state cen
suses. Now that the figures for 1910 are
available, it is evident that the popula-
tons Of the cities in 1908 can be esti-
mated with a much greater degree Of ac-
curacy. For this reason the per capita
figures based upon such revised estimates
as shown in the appendix, will be Of
greater value for comparative purposes
than those shown in the body OF the
report.
Per Capita Net Debt.
The report explains that by net debt
is meant the gross debt less sinking fund
assets On the revised estimate cities
that have grown more rapidly than had
been allowed for by the earlier estimate
of the bureau have reduced their per
capita net debt Thus, the per capita
net debt for New York City at the close
of 1908 was Sl5302, instead Of Sl5774,
as previously announced; for Detroit,
S22.05 instead OF $500; and for Sacra-
mento, S2s.5s, instead OF S3777,
Those cities that have grown less rap
idly than had been anticipated have
correspondingly higher per capita net
debt on the revised estimate For ex-
ample, the revised per capita net debt for
st. Joseph, Mo, is S3695 instead OF
S22.s7, as previously announced; for
Butte, Mont, S2946, instead OF $3.50;
and for Joplin, Mo, sl2,67 instead OF
$3.50. The last-named city has been
credited with having had in 1908 the
smallest per capita net debt of any city
in the country Of more than 10000 popu.
lation, but on the revised estimate that
honor falls to Johnstown, Pa, with a
debt Of SOIL per capita.
On the revised estimate, the cities of
over 100000 population in 1908 with the
highest per capita net debt were: New
York, Sl53.02; Cincinnati, Sl2540; and
Boston, Sl463 Those with the lowest
per capita net debt were: Detroit, S220j;
and Milwaukee, S3l6s.
For cities Of 100000 to 100000 popula
ton in 1908 those with the highest per
capita net debt were Cambridge, Mass,
SsI 90; Jersey City, $69'T3; Syracuse,
S6s66; and those with the lowest were
indianapolis. SlS32 and Atlanta, S27.0l.
OF the cities OF less than 100000 popu-
lation in 1905. those with the largest
per capita net debt were Galveston,
SIl036; Portland Me, Sl07l6; and
Ne ton. Mass, Sl08S9; and those with
the smallest were Johnstown, Pa, SOIL;
Terre Haute, Sl2l7; and Joplin, No.
Sl2.67.
Per Capita Payments for Expenses.
The report states that in general the
ordinary expenses OF maintaining the dif-
ferent departments OF government ON q
per capita basis are greater in the larger
cities than in The smaller, though there
are many exceptions. Such per capita
expenses for the three largest cities of
Rhode Island for 1908 were Sl6IO for
Providence. Sl423 for Pawtueket and
S9I3 for Woonsocket; similar figures
for Georgia are SLIP for Atlanta. 5000
for Savannah and S774 for Macon.
OF the cities OF over 100000 population
those having the largest per capita pay
ments for expenses were; Boston, $3.50;
Washington, S2573; and New York City,
Sz409 Chicago and Philadelphia have
nearly the same per capita payments for
expenses, SlS.2s and SlS3S. respectively;
while Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and
Milwaukee have per capita payments
varying from 1881 to 1882.
BY comparing the pc. capita expenses
80 D.. l. NJ. 6 J.
facts are brought out in the
report. For instance, il is 70 be noted
that such expenses are generally higher
in the northern than in the southern
cities, the reason therefor being IN part
that the county bears a large part OF the
expense Of maintaining schools in south
em cities. But police protection also
costs less in many southern cities. espe-
cially in those Of the state of Texas,
while the per capita cost for maintain-
ing highway is also generally less,
Doubtless a generally smaller daily wage
in southern cities is an important factor
in this result.
For the 20 cities of Massachusetts Gov
cred by the report, the per capita ex-
penses are greatest for Boston, $3.50;
S2352; Springfield $3.50, and
HolyolSe, Sl7.9g; for the remaining cities
they range from Sl207 for Lawrence to
1854 for Cambridge On its fire de.
Lawrence and Someryille spent
each sl.l4 per capita, while Holyoke
and Springfield, cities Of approximately
the same size. spent S2.l0 and SOS, re-
Notably Low Per Capita Cities.
The per capita expenses of the cities
OF Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and Pitts t
burg excepted. are notably low. They /
range from 1921 for Johnstown TO Sl2.46 I
for McKeesport, Per capita expenses
for maintaining schools in the cities of /
are about the average of
the total cities OF the country, but for /
general government and police aud fire 4
they are all very low
other cities with remarkably low pay I
ments for expenses are Mobile, S6.S3; /
Wichita, $3.50; Little Rock. 81 .66, and I
Quincy, H.. S7.S2
Cities with small per capita payments [
for general government, including pay
ments for the council, all executive Of /
fees, courts. elections, etc, were; Nash /
Vile, $3.50; Terre Haute, $3.50; South (
Bend. $3.50; Fort Wayne, S04s; and /
Quincy, H.. SOFAS A difference in the
Of the city government and /
also i'm the relation of city to the county I
explains much of this condition. In i
some cities the cost of administration
for the sewer, highway, park and water 4
I q. ~. q =.