The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-08

ardson's annual message was submit
ted to the Council Monday.
The document vas tabled and or
dered to be printed for the c~onsidera-
ton Ii detail at a later date.
The message calls attention to the
fact that the present bonded indebted
ness OF tho city has about reached me
limit prescribed by the Constitution
and charter of the city and suggests
tina 1t would be unwise to disregard
the inhibition of the Constitution BY
the issuance of bonds in excess OF the
limit prescribed.
~"There Is another consideration re-
iating to this subject worthy of your
attention. the message goes on to
say During the past year h city
paid the sum of .$5sS.f97.s0 for IN
terest and redemption, and this
amount will be increased this year to
$61S,600.0 S. This Is a fixed charge
and will continue for several years,
although not another bond may be Is
sued, as but few bonds will mature
until 1920.
ITO discharge this debt win take
nearly Is per cent. OF the current
revenues of the city, and, as the ex-
penses of the several departments In
crease with the growth OF the city. but
little will be left for the Improve
ments of streets and the OF
our school system. 1t is proper. how
ever, to say in this connection, that
while the bonded Indebtedness is
large. the city has tangible assets val
ued a nearly double the amount or
Its obligations, and live assets. or rev.
enue-producing utilities which could
readily be converted into money sutii-
cient to pay every dollar of indebted
ness 1t Is believed that the reassess-
ment of real estate to be made this
year will show an increase in values OF
nearly $I0~,o00,000."
Report on Delinquent Taxes.
Recommendation is made h a there
should be an ordinance requiring the
collector Of taxes to report annually
not only the amounts of money coll
lected, but the amounts of delinquent
bills for real and personal taxes.
1T Is not suggested that these de-
liuqnent taxes be carried as assets OF
the city," the message continues, but
the amounts should be reported In
order that SONS may be de-
vised for collection such collection
is barred by the statute of limitation
Continuing, the message says:
"The report OF the Commissioner Of
NAC AA1N& ttdt NAk -
assessment of s512,e35 upon e
buildings erected during the year, and
of s64,Ssa on personal property, or q
total OF sl.476.e22 in taxable values
The increase in license taxes
to s3,ss5.3S. The present taxaDie
values of real estate are Sse,14o.7si
and OF personal property s4s.522,ss2;
total. s10S. 663, 71s- The ratio OF the
assessment of personal property y
- L.. f[.K. an q Nnr yn = TIA Is
is LARGELY above the general average
of other cities. and Is an evidence OF
the integrity of our people as we'll rs
of the vigilance and faithfalness al
those charged with the assessments
Health OF the City.
Commenting upon the annual report
of Chief Health Officer Levy which
shows a marked Improvement In city
health conditions Mayor Richardson
has this Ia say
@The many subjects mentioned by
DR.. Levy have been so ably discussed
by him that Ii would weaken the force
to make extracts therefrom, and 9
careful reading OF this report II
The day has passed when the mar
who diaregards the rules of sanitation
ar tiae scafYer h processes to dis
believe in the virtues of vaccination
and-Inoculation can b e tolerated II
any community Jenner was scoffed
at as a IDOL. but only the fool would
now SCOT at Jenner or his disciples
The total expenses of the depart
ment during the year amounted to
~s34,s1s.12, and the board IL ~hanpered
in its work by the want of FUNDS
There Is no work more important, and
these efficient lahorers should be ade-
auateiy compensated. Money spent
for the preservation or health and the
saving of human lives Is not wasted,
and, while economy in the administra-
ton of the affairs of the city Is strong
~ urged. an appropriation to the
Health Department, which will enabie
1t to bring the work TO the highest
degree Of efficiency, Is as strongly
recommended
AThe lowering of the death rate
from typhoid alone during the past
years" comments Mayor Richardson
further, must convince the most
skeptical Of the value and Importance
OF our Health Department, This de
partment has done q vast amour OF
work in sanitation. In draining cess
pools. removing uoxioas u disease
breeding substances. closing wells
sub5rrt tn contamination IN guarding
the purity OF the milk furnished to
our citizens and has kept a careful
watch over u water supply"
streets and Gas
Regarding the wor OF the Street
Department, Mayer Richardson had
his to say.
The expenses OF this department
are already large and cannot Well he
increased out of n current reve-
nnes, and as the city continues to grow
this problem win be more difficult OF
solution. In some Of the cities the
removal of ashes, garbage. ETC., from
private premises and public buildings
il done by parties who contract with
the city to do the work, giving boad
with security. and they are liable to
fines for failure to comply with the
ordinance prescribing their duties. II
this could be done. then the Street
Cleaning Department could be held to
q s~tricter responsibility for the con-
dition of our streets
Mayor Richardson expresses the
opinion that the Gas Works is one of
the most valuable assets OF the city
and lis under very efficient manage
ment. He says that the superinten-
dent in his report makes several
recommendations which merit con-
sheraton.
In this connection. the mayor says
further:
Tho report shows thsre were 497,-
10000 feet of gas made during the
past year at a cost tnot including 'n-
terest) OF $2t0,179.19. This Ii an IN
crease OF l7.1aa.00H feet over 1908, ~
a decrease in costs Of $1.046.52, and
demonstrates the fact that with i'm
proved appliances and q larger out
put the proportionate costs OF produc-
-. ~