The Wrangell sentinel., 1933-03-31

interest to be met during the next
23 years, the amount of warrants
which are outstanding, due to the
city's acquisition of the light plant;
the remaining payments on the
light plant and the distribution
system and then say Wrangell is
in debt $4,000 or whatever amount
is figured out by persons who have
not full information on the subject.
Not Paying for Dead Horse
Wrangells indebtedness is not
| for a dead horse. We have a new
$4,000 school house with several
thousand dollars worth of equip
ment. We have a water system
which carries a book value of $780,,
600 but has an actual value of al
least $4,000. We have light plant
in which the city has invested to
date approximately $4,000, and
which citizens almost to a unit
would oppose selling for twice that
amount.
Returning A Profit
All of these public services are
returning a profit. The school is
going concern and is a source of
revenue just as valuable in it's way
as the light plant and the water
system which are returning in &C
tual cash a constant revenue eX-
ceptionally high for the amount in
vested.
Besides these assets the town
owns the city hall on Second Street,
it's Church street property which
the government nurse rents, the
main fire station on Front street,
and three sub stations, fire equip
ment, three fishermens floats. a
school gymnasium and various other
equipment and properties. The total
book value of city owned properly
is approximately $4,000, after
writing off substantial amounts for
depreciation and lowered present
day values.
Look at Assets
Looking at the subject in this
way how can anyone say that the
Town of Wrangell is in a bad shape
envy us and 1 think it is about
time we started to count our bless
ings; in other words to look at our
assets instead of future liabilities
alone. 1t is imperative that we adj
minister our city affairs with eau
ton. We must see to it that money
for every dollar spent we must get
a dollars value. We must keep the
town solvent and that means fur
Their reductions in city expenses
must be made, but at the same
time, in justice to ourselves we
must remember that we have sub
stantial assets.
There has been so much discus
sion over the cost of maintaining
the city hall, and the salaries paid
city employees that 1 should like to
take this opportunity to clear up
the misinformation which seems
to prevail.
City Hall Economies
In the first place, if the city
should vacate the city hall, the
property would depreciate very rap
idly, and after observing the situa-
ton for year l recommend that
various economies should be effect
ed, such as dispensing with janitor
services at $40 month, which
started before my administration,
and obtaining rentals for unoc-
cupied space.
After eliminating janitors wages
the only maintenance cost for the
city is fuel which amounts to about
SIC a month for heating the clerks
office and the public library. In my
estimation it would be poor econ
omy to make a change.
Salaries City Employees
In regard to city salaries: L. B.
Chisholm, city clerk, receives $162
a month for all his city duties.
Five years ago the council COM
bined all the city offices and hired
a full time man, believing that
such procedure was a distinct econ
omy and an increased public serv-
ice. Mr.. Chisholm is city clerk
treasurer, tax assessor, tax collect
or, librarian, building inspector,
and city magistrate. All water and
light records and collections for
these departments are a part of his
work.
For the past two years Mr.. CHS
holm has employed Miss Etolin
Coulter as clerical assistant. and
has paid her salary from his own
pocket. Contrary to the prevail