Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-07

foregoing Indebtedness covers the eos
of the city hall, but the detail, if pres
ent in the city records, is so difficult
to find that it has not been secured
1t is also not material to this purpose
Running Expenses.
(b) During the past year the city
has run within the amount of money
appropriated by the last council anc
has met out of these funds some few
extra emergency expenses and retired
$4,000 of the bonded indebtedness OF
the city which matured in November
1912. Some of the subdivisions of the
general fund were exceeded and Others
showed a surplus indicating that the
budget as prepared in 1912 was accur.
ately made. Some items in respect to
printing, special elections and fire de.
partment expenses could not be accur-
ately foreseen and were replenished
from other subdivisions of the general
fund, but on the whole we have lived
well within our income. Owing to the
fact that provision was made for re-
firing the $4,000 bond issue referred
to above, we were unable to make the
usual reduction in the amount of out
standing warrants against the street
fund and as a consequence the indebt.
edness in this department of the city $
work has shown an increase of about
$4,000 over and and above the 116 mill
levied in 1912, but the street depart.
ment as a matter of fact, has run at
an expense Of about $1,000 less than
was provided for in the budget and
would have made better showing if
it had not assisted other funds. / can.
not help saying that the economy and
good work done in this department is
due very largely to the efficient and
experienced service of the chairman of
the street committee. I refer to retir-
ing alderman Gideon Stolz.
I find that there is also surplus in
the bridge appropriation of about $2500
which is a part of the street fund levy
and | wish to give credit for the excel
lent condition of the bridge funds and
the class of work done, to the thought.
fulness and skill of the bridge com.
mittee during its work the past year.
At this point I wish to say that by
March l we will probably have out
standing about $4,000 of street fund
indebtedness in the form Of floating
warrants and indebtedness to our sink
ing funds, drawn upon to take up such
warrants from time to time. While it
is true we have provided about $4,000
to take up good deal of this indebted.
ness the net amount of reduction at the
end of the year is bound to be only
about $4,000 because the revenue de-
rived from the limited tax of 11a mills
by the charter which will
produce only about $4,000 is insult
ficient to meet the total expense of
running the department which will be
nearly $4,000 figuring on the basis of
last year s showing. This being the
case ] wish to again admonish the
council of the necessity of rigid econ
Omy in this department and in all
others for each is dependent upon the
other for its savings and as having a
bearing upon the economy which | wish
to practice | earnestly commend to
your consideration the necessity Of
reducing the temperature" Of the
street Improvement fever which has
had the city in its grasp for the past
six years. Nearly all of the main thor
Dughfares are now bard surfaced and
lt least one main thoroughfare lead
ing out to the surrounding country in
each direction, and while | have no de.
sire to advocate "stand pat policy,
nevertheless / believe it is time to
pause and take stock Of exactly what
our condition may be at this time. !
will touch upon this point elsewhere.
There is little more to be said with
relation to the running expenses Of the
city as the same has been thoughtfully
considered in the preparation Of the
budget by the outgoing council which
will limit our expenditures This year.
The detail Of this viii bc before you in
printed form by next meeting
Public improvements
Second. (a) The public improve
nents executed this year which are
worthy Of note may be enumerated as
follows; First bridges. Second street
improvements, and third, public i'm.
orovements Of public nature not
made by the city.
First, bridges, regard the Liberty
street bridge constructed under n city
contract at an expense Of approximate
y $500 as being one Of the most i'm.