The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-03-07
BUDGET EXCEEDS
that OF LAST YEAR
RIG MoN-D. vA.-special-

K G H NJ o Nd, VA.-Special.-
The annual appropriation ordinance.
or budget. which was reported to the
Common Council last night by the
Committee on Finance, takes a seven,
league stride forward in the way OF
spending Richmonds money. 1t calls
for total outlay Of $3.35o. 3SI.S3-
the largest budget in the history OF
the city. This total exceeds that OF
last year by $2SS.494.26.
Under the rules the Council last
night was compelled to table the paper
without debate. though the papers
various features will come up for dis
cussion at the regular meeting of the
body next Monday.
Some Big Items
The budget. as ii stands now pro-
vides $4,000 for new armory for
the First Virginia Regiment. which
ultimately is to cost SIOs.Ooo: S2S.-
600 for new street cleaning depart
ment stables: $18,3I2 for new build
ing at the First Market; $4,000 for
purchase of rathskeliar property to
enlarge william Byrd Park; $47.531-10
TO open and widen Roseneath Road;
$4,000 for Rrchine over Bacon's
Quarter Branch;s $4,000 for smooth
paving OF Broad Street westwardIy
from Tenth Street: $4,000 for COM
pletion OF new Lester Street; $4,000
for granite paving on Broad Street,
west Of Harrison: $4,000 for memorial
gates at Bryan Park, and 100000 for
streets generally.
Provision is made for a new auto
mobile patrol wagon and a new auto
mobile ambulance: for another auto
mobile fire engine, and for three
motor cars for chiefs of the Fire be-
partment.
The only provision for increase in
pay not hitherto provided for by spe-
cial ordinance is in the case of school
teachers. where the fund for pay roll
at the hands Of the City School Board
Will provide for an increase averag-
ing 10 per cent.
Last years pay roll for the school
was $2O6.OO0. This years appropria-
lions viii raise the figure TO $26SOOO
an increase of $4,000. Provision
IS also made for the expenditure of
81 200 In free school books-a meve
recently sanctioned by specially
adopted ordinance.
No provision is made for the ex-
tension of the ornamental lights. as
the municipal electric plant already is
an expensive holding OF the city and
has somewhat taxed it's finances. For
this plant an appropriation of $4,000
is made.
Fight on Roseneath Road Matter.
1t is evident from things heard at
last nights meeting of the Council
that the item appropriating S4763I
for the opening and widening of Rose
meath Road will encounter strong OPP
position An effort will be made to
have this money applied to general
improvements in the way Of smooth
paving Particular objection is heard
in connection with the allowances of
the condemnation commissioners, and
especially in the case of w. S. Forbes
large tract of realty.
The commissioners. in the opinion
of many, have given full valuations
without allowing the city anything for
the enhancement of values by reason
of the improvements to be made.
An effort will also be made to have
the words smooth paving listed in
the items for streets generally. which
may now be expended only for grad
ing. graveiing. granite spall paving,
curbs and cutters. Objection is made
that all smooth paving should be from
a separate fund. and not at the ex-
pense Of the outlying districts, which
are struggling In impossible mud.
Auditor Warren's statement submit
ted in connection with the budget
says that his estimate of the 1911
revenues proved too conservative. He
the receipts. exclusive of bond sales
actually reached $3.iS5. 81O.92. Au-
ditor Warren estimates that Rich
mond's 1912 income will be $3.50
381.93. And this, by the way. Is the
exact amount which the Finance
Committee calls for In the budget
Special Accountant George 8. Cren-
shaw submitted in connection with
the appropriation bill a tabulation
showing the total expenditures for last
year. 1t appears elsewhere I'm these
columns.
Chairman II. r. Pollard. Jr.. of the
Finance Committee. last night called
attention to the heavy financial bur
den now imposed upon the city in the
way of interest on her debt and de-
mands for her sinking fund. The total
for interest and redemption items
amounts to 1928, 790.5S-nearly one
fourth of the aggregate sum asked by
the new budget Mr.. Pollard uses
these figures as his most potent argu-
ment against further bond issues at
this time except for revenue produc-
ing assets.
BY putting the office Of City Collec-
tor on a salary basis the city has re-
duced the cost of tax collection from
$3.50 to $500.
The budget leaves the questions of
acquiring the Richmond dock and the
erection of the new Bellevue School
for future action, as these OUTLAWS will
have to be financed by bonds.
1t institutes an important innova-
ton in the fire department payroll,
however. as 1t provides funds for MAX
ing sixteen call men full station en-
ployes. thus Offering fully manned
companies at all hours in the con-
gested sections. leaving the call system
to continue in the outlying section.
There are forty-eight call men in the
department. who have other employ
ment. are paid nominal salaries, and
come only when the fire bells ring
One-third OF these are now put on a
full time basis making three fully
manned companies In the central Sec
ton OF the city.
Rev. Wilbur r. Davis.