Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-29

r -HHF :
s144 TOO would never brought sl39, 18l
and accumulated interest. This puts
great obligation upon us, and we
should see to it, that these bonds ad
vance in value, rather than depreci
ate.
The temporary loan of 1000
made after January /, 1911, and car.
ried in the receipts for the year end
ing May 81. 1911, was made necessary
for the following purposes; city Jal
improvements, $4,000, extra appro'
priation for public schools $4,000 anc
streets and sewers, $4,000, total Of
s22 200. This loan was, of course
carried in the appropriation bill fol
1911-12. The estimated receipts ard
the appropriations for the year 1911
IL were about even. The only pro-
vision made for street work was So,
S85 land northwest sewer $1,890, a
total of $5,775, and just here it may
be stated, $26. 700, or $4,000 in excess
Of S5,775 was expended on streets and
sewers.
The $4,000 loan which has been
much discussed, was authorized June
13, 1911, and was made possible for
this reason, which 1 have just stated.
that only s5,775 was available to be
used on street and sewer work. 1t
was proposed to pave the following
streets, four squares on Washington
street, Duke to Queen, three squares
On Cameron, Royal to Washington,
four squares on Alfred street, King
to Wilkes and one square Duke street,
Royal to Fairfax, twelve squares in
all, of which ten have been completed,
and while two named have not been,
the city has paved two other squares
instead, one on Patrick street, Prince
to Duke, and one on Fairfax street,
Prince to Duke, and in addition two
squares, Alfred street Wilkes to
Franklin.
It was certainly the idea of the FL
nance committee when consenting to
and asking the authority of Council
to borrow $4,000 tnat this sum
was to cover the cost of these four
teen squares. The cost of these four
teen squares to date, from figures Of
The City Engineer amount to $4S,-
O6S.49. and Mr.. Dunn estimates at
least $500 to complete Al
fred street work. This make sa to-
tai Of $51,3os.es, expended on new
streets laid under the resolution of
June 13, 1911, when the loan of $780,
BOO was authorized the assessments
against the $51, ,56849, will not equal
,ne-ffth of the cost. The collector has
had placed in his hands for all street
wor, notes to the amount of S9,003.O9
and has collected to January IA, 1913,
So ,2OO,so beyond controversy We have
paid out $4S,O00 on these streets,
exclusive of sewer construction.
Aside from this it is unquestioned,
that in the appropriation bill for 1912
i3, amounting to $148,O00, no mention
T.. street and sewer work is found,
:, 5 and none of the appropriations in
that ordinance have been exhausted,
It is appropriate that we should en-
phasize this fact, that each year when
ended, closes the account for that
year, and hence the loan was for
streets and sewers.
The only safe guide in making up
your yearly fiscal affairs is to esti-
mate as best you can, the probable re-
ceipts for the coming year, and place
against it, what you must set aside
for fixed or positive expenditures.
For the present year the committee
estimates the receipts at S152,OOO
lit may be more), which shows mar
gin of $4,000 only, yet during the sew
en- months, June /, to December 81,
1912 there is charged Exclusive OF
cleaning and repairing streets) for
sewers S6,715.47, and streets $685.
043.08, making total Of S44,758.55'
This will not be all, as both street
and sewer work will be done by the
City Engineer under authority al
ready given, and streets cannot be
improved before sewer and gas pipes
are laid in the ground.
With others l voted for these i'm
provements, and also for the author
ity to borrow the money to pay for
them. There will be no money for
much street or sewer work next year
unless we continue the policy of be-
ginning each year with a temporary
loan, and / for one, do not think this
is the best thing to do, l think we
should proceed slowly.
Mr.. Dunn has given the cost Of