Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-08
Many Ind0rse His Advocation of
Planning Commission to
Look After City.
PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS;
MEADOWS, RECLAMATION
Says New York-Newark Subway
Will Not Solve Transporta-
ti0n Problem.

last night was more replete with good
sound recommendations than any of
his previous ones. Deep interest was
manifested during the reading of the
document, which is printed herewith In
full. The suggestion for the creation
of a city planning commission. looking
to the beautifying OF the city, was
favorably commented upon, as was the
relief from traffic congestion and the
reclamation of meadows suggestions.
The Mayors recommendation that
the Centre Market property be sold
and Commerce street widened and the
establishing of two public markets, one
in the eastern and the other in the
western section of the city, was also a
topic of favorable discussion. The city S
financial soundness was, of course, the
backbone to the message, the full text
of which follows;-
January Z, 1910.
To the Honorable the Common Council,
Newarh, N. j..
Dear Sirs--A comparison of the fig-
ures f5~ the year just ended with those
of the previous year shows Il redue-
tion in the gross bonded Indebtedness
of s435.000 and in the net debt of $4S2.-
376.05. During the year bonds amount-
ir3 to s735.000 We're redeemed and
amc nting to 100000 were issued. The
natural accretions in the sinking fund
ex. lain the excess of the decrease IN
the net debt over the gross debt.
Tho decrease in the debt however, Is
more apparent than real. for the Com
mon Council, at ito last session in 1909.
authorized the issue of school construc-
IL and site bonds to the amount of
81, ,2sc. 700, which, when sold, viii bear
date OF December. 81 1909. and will In
the future be considered as belonging
to the year just passed.
Leaving this particular issue out %
calculation for the present, il may bs
stated that the gross debt of $24, 264 Dot
represents less than 1ls per cent. oi
the tax ratables of the city in 1903
1927, ,926, $50. The net city debt of $ll.
172, 71148 represents less than 51s per
cent. of the ratables. A large part OF
the bonded indebtedness is made ul
OF water bonds and tax arrearase
bonds, which are not q charge on tht
taxpayer. The gross water debt is $12.-
3S7, 900, and the sinking fund holds
against this S4,054, 1888. The tax ar
rearage bonds amount to $2S6,0O0. and
the sinking fund on this account d
$326, Deducting the net water
and tax arrearage bonds amounting In
all to s2,29l,3 ,32s, the true net debt of the
city can he given as SS,SS1,3 which
is less than 2M per cent. of the ratables
From these figures it will be seen
that Newark occupies the same en-
viable financial position which has
gained her reputation in the past
The expenditures for school construc-
tions and sites chow substantial
diminution. Next year, I am assured
there will he a still greater reduction
under this head. and it will not be &
great while at the. present rate OF
progress before the city will be keep.
| ing pace with the needs of the schools
! But there are a number of large under
takings necessary to the city's health
progress and prosperity which will re-
quire bond issues in the near future.
Policy as TO Bond issues.
In concluding consideration OF the
ncial condition of the city, with a
survey of the prospective expenditure es
| il seems advisable to repeat an admo-
milton made in previous messages
against unnecessary issues of bonds
1t seems to be regarded in some quar-
ters as permissiblesto issue bonds II
any amount for any desirable purpose
provided only that the credit of the
city is not strained by the amount OF
| the Issue and that the work TO be done
| or the institution or utility to be pro
I yi@ed will be OF such q character thai
its benefit will be enjoyed for con
siderable number of years. This Il
arguing on the principle that IL is fai
| to make another generation share tn.
| expense of something that II will enjoy
as we'll as the present generation.
am of the opinion that we should draw
the line a little more sharply. SO tt
! speak. j think that bond issues ma,
we'll be limited to large public works II
| which the future generation shall ben
eft, and that small expenditures, eyer
1 If the benefits therefrom should extent
over a considerable period of years
| should be made fror current funds
1t will be found possible. / believe
| to provide for these smaller objects
from out of the annual revenues of TIN
city, without unduly increasing the ta1
| burdens, thus effecting considerabl
J savings IN interest ana SiIfkfiiB luis
charges. which If multiplied indefinite
ly will constitute a most severe loa'
for the citizens to bear.
Meadow Reclamation and Ship Canal.
In accordance with the request con
! tanned in my last annual message, was
| authorized by Common Council to en-
gage expert engineers to study thu
| plans which had been submitted fol
| the reclamation of a portion Of oul
vast tract of meadow land, and tn,
construction of ship canal in con
nection Herewith. engaged two gen
| tlernen of wide repute, Mr.. George 5
4 Greene, jr, of New York, and Mr.. Henr
4 s. Adams of Boston Mr.. Greene. il
substance, approved the plan whicI
had been submitted by the advisory
/ commission. appointed by the Board 0
street and Water Commissioners. Mr.
Adams disagreed on several materla
points with that commission. and sub
fConffnued ON THIRD Pnse.)