Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-31
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Alexandra, Va, Aug 81 a9lz'

Editor Alexandria Gazette:
According to the official reports OIL
+be citv Engineer for the fiscal years
1eo9-11. the city has expended the sum
Of SIG, o29.95 for new streets. ms
official report for the fiscal year 19ll-
10 has not yet been completed, but
+he Chairman of the Committee on
Streets estimates the outlay on that
account for that year at S2O,oeo.oo'
In addition to these two sums, the
Chairman estimates that the railroads
have directly expended during the
wears 1902-12 the sum of $22,4oO,-
GOO. and he estimates that $27,OOO.OO
has been expended by the city dur
ing the same period for large general
repairs, and for the necessary tools
with which to work.
These various items aggregate
s195, 429.95 as the sum that has been
expended within the city for new
streets during the fiscal years 1912
~. The official reports of the same
official, show that during the ten years
19o2-11, we expended for new sewers
SsO,390.36; and Mr.. Leadbeater estl-
mates the outlay upon the same &C
count for the fiscal year 191l-l2 at
lO,OOO.O0O, bringing the aggregate to
the sum of seO,39O.96. He estimates
that $s9,OOO.OO of that aggregate has
been expended in putting in house
connections, and that $s1,390.36 rep
resents the cost of our six (6) miles of
new trunk and lateral sewers. At the
beginning of the iscale year 1902 we
had a fraction over three miles of
trunk and lateral sewers; at the close
of the fiscal year 1911-12 we have a
fraction over nine miles of such sew
ers. According to the auditors Off
ciai report for the fiscal year 1902
~ the taxpayers have paid into the
city treasury, in cash, on account of
new streets, the sum of S48241.O0;
and for the privilege of tapping the
sewers the sum in cash of $28,857.-
81. This is exclusive of any notes not
yet due which have been given for
street improvements. Deducting the
amounts paid into the treasury in
cash by the taxpayers, from the sums
actually expended by the city for new
streets and new sewers leaves ap-
proximately SAT, 1885 on account of
streets; and S61,532.49 on account of
sewers, total of $208,721.44 as the
approximate amount actually advanc-
ed By the city upon these two accounts.
The auditors reports show that on
May 81, 1901, the city's debt amounted
to the sum of $79S,3OO.O0;an that on
May 81. 1912 it amounted to the sum
of $7s1, 1000, a decrease of S17,3oO!oo;
notwithstanding the fact that in the
interim we have issued S50,000.00
worth of new bonds. The same report
shwcd that on May 81, 1901, the city's
liabilities exceeded it's assets by the
sum of S475,4OO.0O; and that on May
/, 1912, the liabilities exceeded the as
sets by 1891, 100000 decrease Of SID
10000 or in other words, an estl-
matad increase in our assets of that
amount. The foregoing statement COM
piled from the official reports OF the
city, reflects credit upon the citizens
of this community; speaks well OF
their thrift and land as mat
ter of public justice should be made
known.
Mr.. Fred j. Paff was elected presi-
dent of the Common Council in June,
1901. and Mayor in 1904; Mr.. Edward
S. Leadbeater has served as chairman
of the committee on streets since
June, 1901; both gentlemen will retire
upon September LIST. ALL of our citl-
zens are familiar with the part each OF
these officials have taken in the up
building of our city. With the forego-
ing brief statement of the work &C
complished brought to his knowledge
each citizen will be equally qualified tc
approximately determine the amount
Of credit due to each of our retiring
officials. From my personal knowledge
of their labors I say swell done gooc
and faithful servants" and / believe
that but echo the hearty sentiments
Of each of their fellow citizens.
JAMES BAYNE.
BUMPER CROPS.