Evening journal., 1913-02-21
rarHr xzrnr~rnHr
WlLWINUIUN
GOVERNMENT
ECONOMICAL
Census Bureau Shows $l2.52
Per CAPITA Expense
in 1910
CITY OWNED PROPERTY
IS VALUED AT $l,0ll,7Il

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Feb. 21-
Wilmington has the distinction Of be-
ing one OF the most economically run
cities in the United States. accord
ing to data gathered by Director
Durand. OF the Bureau Of Census. and
being prepared in a special report by
lie Grand Powers, Chief Statistician
for Finance and Municipal Statis-
tics The cost per capita for the gov
ernment Of the city OF Wilmington is
S1252 yearly, while the cost for the
same in Springfield, Mass, and Des
Moincs. Iowa. two cities Of about the
same number of population, is S2S.2S
and S2216, respectively. The per
capita debt of the city is S43.lS gross
and Sf2.0S net
The report Is based on information
gathered at the last census and II
shows that the total revenue of the
city is S1.O93 .97S. This revenue is
received in the following manner:
Property, business and poll taxes,
S702.Sf7; licenses and permits. ST.
O94. special assessments, $66 400,
department fees. charges, rents and
sales. SS,6S6; fines, forfelts and es-
cheats, SS.792: subventons and
grants. s3ii55: interest. ss.Ss9;
rents and privileges. S26,497; public
service enterprises S232,61S.
The expenses OF the city at the time
of the last census was 1921 .503 yearly
which is disposed OF in the following
manner: other than public service
enterprises, S704,729; OF public SER
vice enterprises, s75,949; interest
charges. S140,S25.
While the cost of running the gov
ernment Is S1252 for every man, wo-
man and child in the city. that money
is derived from the following sources
Property, business and poll tax, SS.04
licenses and permits sos; special
assessments. S.76: department fees,
charges rent and sales. $40; sub
vention and grants, S.39; public ser
vice enterprises, $3.50; interest rents
and privileges. S3S, fines, forfeits
and escheants, $40: interest, SOL
The total value of city property in
Wilmington. is S1.S11711 divided as
follows: Schools. s1,056.257. city
government buildings. S101 ,S75: po-
lice department, $4,000; sewer and
subway department, S33.579 The bal
ance is made up in city property other
than real estate.
The total debt of the city at the
time of last census was S3.774,260. the
per capita Indebtedness being S431S
gross and S42.0S net, the latter
meaning less sinking fund and other
provisions for meeting the bonded in
dehtednoss.
The report presents in considerable
detail the receipts. payments, assessed
valuation, rates and levios, indebted
ness, and values of public properties
and public improvements i'm 145 cities
with a population of more than 10000
The increasing governmental costs
OF cities and a corresponding increase
In revenue receipts is shown in this
report by a comparative summary of
the revenue receipts and government
al cost payments for 145 cities for
the years 1902 10 1910.
During those years the revenue re-
cclpts Of the cities increased from
&4ia.2ia.na1 To Szlz $50 222 aa IN
crease Of 66.6 per cent. and the pay
ments for permanent public improve
ments increased from SIPS. .0S3.243 to
$26b,24407S, an increase of 1879 per
cent These increases we're greater
imam the corresponding increase In
the population, as is evidenced by tho
increase I'm the per capita revenue re-
ceipis from S2012 TO S2724. a gain
Of 354 per cent
The per capita payments for ex-
pensos and interest increased from
S16.S7 TO S20.53, an increase OF 25.4I
per cent. and the per capita pay
ments for permanent properties and
improvements increased from S613 to
Sl0.2f. an increase OF SIS per cent
The governmental cost payments of
the cities amounted to SS55.599, 1872,
Of which s449.219.7S9 was for ex-
pensos other than OF public service
enterprises, $92.S47 PAS for interest.
and S279,l45,S99 for OUTLAWS. The
governmental cost payments OF the
cities exceeded their revenue receipts
by S95.656,747 thought their revenue
receipts exceeded their payments for
expenses and interest by s1S3. .4S9 1872:
from which il appears that. with
slight modification for changes I'm
cash balances at the beginning and
close of the year Of the costs of per-
manent properties acquired and con-
sirucied during the year 65.7 nor
cent was paid from revenues and
5f3 per cent directly or Indirectly
from nom -royouun rorofnfc