The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-06
DEBT DECREASES,
ASSETS INCREASE
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Special Accountant Crensllaw
Reports Oil Financial Con
dition of City.
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GREAT PROGRESS IN DECADE
Comparisons for Ten and Twenty
Years Show Period of
Greatest Growth.
GREAT PROGRESS IN DECADE

In view OF the fact that property
val,ies in tile city OF Richmond have
more than doubled In ten years, the
Finsnce Committee OF the City Coun-
ell proposes shortly to issue a
folder showing the citS's financial con-
dition In detail, which will prove OF
especial interest to investors In Rich
nond city bonds. Special Accountant
George s. Crenshaw has been at work
for the past week in making calcula-
tions based on the report OF the state
assessors filed with the clerk OF the
Hustings Court lest Monday, and the
table printed herewith shows the totals
of his figures, with comparative state
ment for the past ten and twenty
years The three columns show sig
n,ncantly that the entire growth or
Richmond in every instance has been
in the past ten years. in tho previous
decade there seems to have been a
stagnation that bordered on decline,
making the figures for the past ten
years much more starting IN thcif
showing than comparisons FOR the past
twenty years. The same may be SAD
. OF the past five years as compared
with the first five years of tho de-
cade.
Corporation Asse*sment.
After showing that the population
has increased more than one half, MT.
Crenshaw. from the basis or the new
State assessment. secured the actual
value OF property in the city, and adus
!. In the assessment of corporation prop,
erty. such as the street railways and
telephone lines, which property, by the
way. Is nearly ten times what 1t was
twenty years ago. showing the beilei
of capital that Richmond affords a
safe market for permanent investment
in public UTILITIES.
Mr.. Crenshaw has also tabulated
carefully figures to show the exempt
property on which no taxes are paid.
Churches, charities and educational In :
situations have shared in the general
prosperity. their property being now
valued In excess of 100000. or more
than double what 1t was twenty years
ago. Carrying out his calculations
with great accuracy, the Special Ac-
countant shows that the per capita
expenditure of the government of the
/ city of Richmond has increased from
1886 in 1900 to $3.50 this year,
part OF this years expenditures being
| provided by bond issues. While the
bonded debt of the city has increased
I several millions of dollars, the net
debt per capita shows an actual de-
crease. on the basis OF the new census
debt In 1900 being s7s.7T. while at
present 1t is but $7o.S2
Debt Decreases-.AsAets Increnne.
The estimates include all payments
! lOr the year lOT maintenance Oh gov
| eminent. betterment and permanent
! improvement. While the table shows
that the per capita assets for 1910 are
s130ls. as compared with the per cap
ita debt of s7os2, yet II must be re-
membered that IN making UP the
schedule of assets, no street or alley
paving or sidewalk Is included In tbs
list of city property. the assessors hav'
ing been limited strictly to such rea
or personal property as had an actua
present market value.
i While the most salient feature o.
the showing is the fact that propert!
values throughout the city of Rich
mond have more than doubled within
a single decade, yet the Special Ac
countant of the city calls attention t,
these points of interest in the compar
ative showing:
The per capita expenditure for 1911
is 500 greater than for 1900. funds t.
provide which increase having alread.
been provided by bond issue, and ar
included in the total statement o
debt; nevertheless. the per capita deb
has decreased in decade s7.o5.
He also calls attention TO the fac
that the city has per capita wealtl
of s130.1S. against a per capita deb
of s70.S2, aside from any street paw
ing or sidewalks. which are valuable
but unstable, assets.