The Washington times., 1923-09-25

Neighboring Municipality Is
Spending S77,75o,ooo
for Improvements.
By VINCENT 3. callahan.

By VINCENT F. CALLAHAN.
Baltimore is going forward. Il
Is developing its municipal prof
ects, keeping pace with the rest
Of America.
Baltimore is not as beautiful
% Washington, but it is more
progressive in the way of city
improvements. Il is spending
millions Of dollars to make Baiti-
more a better city. Washington
Is only spending thousands of dol
lars.
Definite Program.
The Monumental City is the near
est large community to washing
ton. It has a population of $780,
900 compared to about $50 900 in
Washington. Proportionately. Bal
timore should be spending nearly
twice as much as washington in
the way Of improvements. Facts
and figures show the city is spend
ing more than ten times as much
As soon as the war ended, BaIti-
more adopted a definite and far
reaching program OF Improvement.
SIS, O0O, 900 IN Bonds Issued.
In 1922. Baltimore was authorized
70 issue bonds totalling 51,75O, 900.
a few months later another bond
issue of $4,000, 900 was authorized.
Today another $l1 900 900 bond is
sue is being considered.
Washington in the meantime Sc
cured several million dollars TO
make permanent improvements.
sufficient to permit the city to
keep pace with Baltimore, but was
not enough to permit 1t to make
improvements which were an abb
e01ute necessity.
In 1922, Baltimore, taking cogni-
xance OF a situation resulting from
the war, obtained approval of the
State legislature for the floating of
. $26,OOD. 900 general Improvement
bond issue with interest at 5 per
cent.
OF this money, a greater part
has been spent. Baltimore is using
the money in this way:
Schools, $1,000, 900.
Sewerage. $S,000.000.
Paving. $500. 900.
Harbor improvements. $1,000. 900.
Conduits. $1,150,00o.
Police stations and fire engine
houses, $3.50 900.
This loan natures in 1913.
In the same year Baltimore
aWoke to the realization that its
water system needed extension. AS
Q result, a bond issue of SIS, 900. 900
was authorized. This loan natures
IN 1861.
Again In the same year Balti.
more felt the need of a contagious
disease hospital and a S75O. 900
bond issue was authorized, to ma.
ture in 194S.
In 1922 also, a $4,000, 900 bond
Issue for harbor improvements
was authorized, to mature in 1861.
$22,OOO, 900 for Schools.
The 100000 in the general i'm
provement loan will build about
ten schools for the city. Seven of
these schools are now under con.
tract; two will be under contract
shortly and action on the tenth has
been deferred.
Baltimore. however, felt. that the
100000 would be insufficient to
give the schools all of the needed
facilities and recently q $4,000. OOO
bond issue was authorized, to ma.
ture in 1861. The city expects to
build thirty more schools with this
money, and some Of them are now
under contract.
The Monumental City now wants
additional water facilities and
another $4,000. 900 bond issue viii
De voted on by the people In the
near future.
Another 100000 bond issue 70,
police stations is being considered
Debt Is .$11S, 200, 900.
In all, Baltimore has author,zA6
s bond issues within the past severaI
years totallinR see. 750. 600 viii
$11 100000 to be added to this
amount, a grand total Of $77.75
900.
The total funded debt OF Balti
more is about Sis, 200. 900 wifi
$3T 900 900 in its sinking fund.
Baltimore, unlike Washington. 4,
letting the. next generation pa,
part OF the cost Of needed improve
ments.
There are many other improve
ments being made in Baltimore Hou
Of current tax receipts.
The fire and police department,
- Baltimore are much larger thar
IN Washington. Although they serv,
an area only about rs per cent largel
than WaabinetOn thaas dspastuosnt.