The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-05


90 TO 80 cents. acquisition OF the Hich-
nIOnd DOCK. a new tree bridge. pub
lie library and number OF other puo.
lie improvements Ore RECOMMENDED IN
tn. aunuu message ut Mayor Rtch-
.,rdscn. submitted to tho Common
Council last night The Mayor es-
pcciaily commenLs the intelligence and
pat.iousm OF tn. city Cuunc!i "a pav-
ing the way for 4 slnipllnca form ot
city government. even though many
members In voting for the plan voted
themselves cut OF once. Ilr rrvicwa
br ely tho growth and progress "
llchmond during the past year as hay
!ns been steady AMI progressive along
conservative lines. such as give as
sUrance vt pcrmuncncc. While This
prosperity Is attributed primarily To u
favorable situation and natural adj
Nantages, much credit IS given 10 the
civic spirit and enthusiasm ana to the
corporation of al business orguniza-
tions with the city government ia
making the city known. III stimulating
manufacturing and trade. and ia se
curing adoption OF those measures
which VIII promote tiu moral and
material welfare OF the oeoplc =
IA bic Is submitted showing til. in
crease in Joining, manufacturing. and
bank business and to the Increase IN
building operations.
I,Ichmond'> PuhIir Debt.
Tho Mayor reports that tho finances
o. tile city have hccn ably and con
scrvativcly managed los tho Finance
,:ommitrcu OF tn. Ciiy Council. ifc
makes the following report AZ 10 the
G.bt Of the city
ne present bonded indebt
:dness 81 tho city !s,...Si! HAAS ~
reduct cash aad securi
ties III the Sinking Fund 2.237.7s3 5S
Lcsyin1 tile not bonded
indebtedness outstanding sa.lGI,974 So
ts!uc; cash In treasury
January 81. 1917 .....-. i6i.a37 -
IOtn liabilities of the
city less cash ana 81.
auTitics ......,........ sS,G55,12T 81
IIy tho Constitution and charter. the
rondcd indebtedness OF the city is linn
tied to ) per cent OF the assessed
value OF the real estate. THIS assessed
Naiu. is ss3.O3i,257.
5 per cent. OF ;hc. same is.Sli,9i6,i6a sc
bcdGct bonded indebted
ness NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ll.4i9.i5S so
Leaving margin of.. sa.ios,7Il Sc
II the amount Of cash and securities
in the Sinking Fund (s2,2s7,7s36s) is
deducted, the city will then have
margin OF s5,7Si,i95,oi.
penditures of the city, according 10
summaries OF tho AUDITORS ana Treas
urer's reports. already published. are
appended, showing total payments from
the city treasury for all purposes last
ycar OF s:.l03,ll2S2.
The City's Finances.
The more important features of the
message follow:
The tangible assets OF the city arc
now valued at more than SEQ 900. 900
more than double the amount CT out.
standing liabilities
Tn. City Collector has collected and
paid TO the Treasurer the sum of
s2.iiS193.SS, which is the largest sum
OF money ever collected through that
Office. The Collector of Delinquent
Taxes has collected and paid over the
sum of s96735.7i, which is also an
increase over the collections OF last
Year.
The Special Accountant has exam.
ined the financial transactions in all
the departments and has verified this
accounts for the payment of S4103.
il2.S2 during the year. lie has also
acted clerk OF the Finance Commit
tee and has rendered valuabla services
III making up nncial and statistical
statements for members OF the Council
officers of the city and citizens and In
answering communications relative 70
the affairs of the city. He again calls
particular attention to tho necessity
of keeping an accurate account of the
operations of the electric plant by
charging it with all appropriations and
giving it credit for It's output of cleo
tricity for power and light This
should he done, for without This ac-
counting it Will bc impossible to ascer-
tain the value of this plant TO ths city.
| lie asks that The adylsa bilitv M u,,h
fishing u weekly or monthly bulletin
to give information rs to the work Of
the city and to advertise II, be consid.
cred by the Council Such a bulletin,
If edited with discrimination, would
u, of great value to the city. and Tim
present Special Accountant would 10
the most suitable person to edit and
manage such a publication He again
recommends the appointment OF "A pur