Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-02
BUDGET MAKERS To
PLAN FOR EXPENSES
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ILhv Un LM LlvULU
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are only a few of the new items that
Council are just talking about.
The anniversary of the inauguration
of the commission form of government
affords a chance to recall briefly just
what has been done by the various de-
partment heads under the new govern
ment. Among ther things the city
was able to wipe out some $4,000 or
$4,000 debts.
Department of Public Safety
In the public safety department
Commissioner II. +. Bowman has re-
duced, among other things. the mini
mum water rate from $6 to So per
year; installed new and more econo-
mical firing and boiler systems at the
pumping station and filter plant;
abolished the position of milk and
meat inspector and established office
of city bateriologist: created depart
ment of food inspection: provided as
sistant city health officer; laid thou
sands of feet of water pipe including
the extension of the new mains in
Front and Market streets; and was re-
sponsible for the cutting of about s2,
200 from the salary list in the city
treasury. The Board of Health was
retained as a bureau of health and
sanitation.
The Department of Streets
Under the supervision of Commits
sioner w. IL. Lynch. department of
streets and public improvements, ap-
proXimately 10000 yards of street paw
ing was put down and as much more
contracted for; the $4,000 voted for
the erection of an asphalt repair plant
was also provided for and the work on
the new plant will be started next
Spring; automatic street sweepers
were installed: the Dock street bridge
was completed; provision for erecting
bridges over Paxton creek at Reilly,
Cumberland, Walnut and Mulberry
streets was made: the operations on
the river dam, wall and Paxton creek
were carried on almost to completion.
The Board of Public Works was re-
tanned to assist in the completion of
the public Improvements.
The Park Department
While the important work mapped
out by City Commissioner NJ. Harvey
Taylor. parks and public property, is
vet to be done, some radical changes
were effected in that department Ad-
ditional help was provided by the en-
ployment of two new assistants. The
treating of the river front slopes was
begun. including the construction of
the depressed walk north of Hard
scrabble; the initial steps for the ell
mination of "Hardscrabble" were taken
by the introduction of an ordinance
authorizing the opening of Front
street from Herr to Calder streets. A
move was made to take over the re-
naming acquired park land through
an ordinance authorizing the city
to take the necessary steps to
acquire deeds. Commissioner Taylor
purchased the Sycamore and Four
teenth street Fairgrounds, began ne
gouations toward the requirement of
another in the upper end of the city:
is now engaged in planting several
hundred young trees in the various
parks; began the construction of
bridges in Wildwood and Cameron
parkway; built a new tennis club
house, and new shelter at Reservoir.
and has begun plans for a new golf
house at Reservoir; has negotiations
pending relative to acquiring the nee
essary links to connect up the Cam
eron parkway east of the city; ap-
pointed a city planning commission:
raised the salaries of the fire drivers;
created office of city forester.
Mr.. Gorgas and the Mayor
The work of Commissioner w. L.
Gorgas, superintendent of finance and
accounts has been more or less of a
routine character. He has inaugural
ed system whereby all funds chang
ed from one branch of a department
to another must first be transferred
to the general fund and then reap
propriated by resolution or ordinance;
he has had Council prepare the new
license tax ordinance and elect a Ii
cense tax officer; he has served as a
city controller. retaining Marion Ver-
beke to help out.
Mayor Royals activities have been
confined. too, to the police depart
ment. Under his jurisdiction by action
of Council. a captain of police has
been appointed; additional policemen
provided; a new ordinance offered to
provide street signs for all the high
ways in the city.
The Benefits
The City Commissioners did a
wwhole lot with the money at their
disposal. For instance, an accumu-
lation of $50, 900 for paving liens that
had been costly for years for interest
outlay was pay off; $4,000 in interest
and $4,000 in the sinking fund for the
fourth Improvement loan was provid-
ed for and accumulated debts in the
park, health, highway and printing
departments that dragged along from
year to year were cleared up. These
alone totaled close to $4,000, as fol-
lows: Parks, S3,236.94: health, ST.
37731; highway, s1,S35.27, and print