Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-03
MONEY IS FOUND
FOR IMPROVEMENTS
[Continued From First Page.l

which will leave at least So, 500 in the
fund.
The total sum on hand in surpluses
| and available balances, is $30,563.10
and with all possible accounts
charged up against this amount there
still remains at hand close to $4,000
that may be appropriated for general
| purposes and which C, ,uld be, there
| fore used to complete the improve
ments. This is more than needed.
In addition there has not been taken
into calculation the possibility of d
surplus in the general fund at the
! close of the year. The average sur
plus at the close of the citys fiscal
year for long time has been $1,000
and not infrequently it has run be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000.
Gorgas Admits Correctness of Figures
The correctness of these figures was
admitted by Commissioner Gorgas
who, in response to a resolution adopt
ed last week, submitted report show
ing the total outstanding interest fund
since April l, 1908. The balance was
shown to be $20,SS5.3S on January l,
1915. In submitting his report Mr..
! Gorgas said:
I'm answer to the above resolution
| might state that this is the first time
have been called upon since a men,
Der of this Council, to make a report,
outside of the one made annually and
A
street or pick it up where it is not
lost, any quicker than my neighbor.
If the above resolution has back of 1t
some such purpose 1 will utterly fail
] in its answer"
The balance April /. 1914, was
shown to have been $45,165.1S, and in
explaining the difference in the total
of the first of April, 1914, and the first
of January, 1915, Mr.. Gorgas said:
"On the 14th day of July, 1914, by
an Ordinance of Council, SIS, 1000, was
taken from this fund and appropriated
to the completion of the dam in the
Susquehanna River; $1,000 was taken
to complete Paxton creek improve
ment, and $4,000 was taken to pay
the citys share of laying asphaltum
paVements. The change of the fiscal
year from April to January had some-
thing to do with the amount entering
into that fund so that with the be-
ginning of this year it had $5,SS5.3S
cash, and $4,000 bonds or a total of
$20,SS5.3S, out of which the coupons
not yet presented for payment before
January l, 1915, are to be paid. 1t
appears there is a balance of $20,SS5.-
3S, but from book in the City Treas
urer's office, in which the coupons
paid are entered since the improve
ment loan was started in 1902, about
$4,000 have not yet made their ap-
'pearance, leaving an apparent surplus
of $12,SS5.3S."
In conclusion Mr.. Gorgas' report
stated:
The whole amount of the appropri-
alton of $4,000 to pay the interest on
the loan of $500, 900, authorized in
1913 may not be needed for that pur-
pose, as only about half of bonds au-
thorized have been issued-this be-
cause the Sinking Fund Commission
ers did not deem it wise to Issue the
total amount until the money was act
lually needed, thus saving interest on
the bonds instead of having the money
lying idle in bank. But the amount OF
money yet needed to carry on the city
government should enter into the
amount this appropriation could be
depleted.
The water department. at the be-
ginning of the year. had a cash balance
of $82,316.64 and $4,000 invested in
our own bonds. 1 have been told the
law will not allow any of these funds
to be used but for water purposes
only"
Balances Available
From time to time both the mayor
and Mr.. Gorgas questioned the ball
ances which Messrs. Bowman, Lynch
and Taylor pointed out as available.
The three, however, had Mr.. Gorgas'
last annual report right at hand and
supported their statements by the
figures.
Mr.. Taylor finally figured out the
total balance available from these
sources: Dog licenses, s44S.4S; milk
and meat licenses, S1.216.78; fines and
forfeitures, $1071.26; outstanding in
terest funds, $4,000; state tax re-
serve, $1,246.25, total of SI6,9S2.T7.
The amount thus realized will be
a trifle more than sufficient 10 pay for
the completion of the River Wall in
cluding the gap at Market street.
Commissioner Taylor started the
| ball rolling when he suggested that
inasmuch as I'VE are all of one mind
in this matter, so far as the cont
the money can be found, let us try
to find the money"
Then item by item Commissioners
Bowman, Lynch and Taylor pointed
out where the necessary balances
could be found. Mayor Royal OBJ
jected first to the balance in the fines
and forfeiture fund. Then he found
fault with the balance that remained
in the dog license fund. In the former
fund the mayor pointed out that the
years expense had not been COM
puted as yet and that he didn't know
what the fines and forfeitures for this
year will amount to.
But the fund is self-sustaining isn't
it?" inquired Mr.. Taylor, I've heard
you say that on previous occasions
"Oh, yes, I know" said the mayor.
"And you still believe 1t is self-sus-
taining?" added Mr.. Bowman.
Yes. I believe So" said the mayor.
Then" replied Mr.. Bowman, there
is still this balance available"
Commissioner Taylor next offered
the plan worked out by Messrs. Bow
man, Lynch and himself to complete
the big public improvement along the
| River Front.
OpDerman Interest Reduced
At their request, Mr.. Taylor said,
City Solicitor Seitz had conferred with
w. II. Opperman and company's coun-
sci and the latter agreed to charge the
city only 500 interest on the unpaid
award of $22,767.O9 of the arbitra-
tors. The total interest would amount
to about $500.
Now we have the money" said he,
I"why not provide for the completion
of this work? We've all said we want
to see the work completed and you.
Mr.. President, and Mr.. Gorgas, have
declared yourselves for the completion
of the work if the money can be
found"
Have you known of a time, Mr..
Taylor, when Council figured so close
to its appropriation as this?'' inquired
Mr.. Gorgas.
1--WE appropriated under the old
council more than 100000 beyond our