Year: 1879

our burden of district taxation. A
thorough examination OF this inn
portant branch of the city govern
ment is earnestly recommended.
Its management should be con-
trolled by the most rigid economy
consistent with the best interests
of those who cultivate the soil and
be made self-sustaining.


OF the outstanding debt of the
city $S0,00O is in 10 per cent. bonds,
which become dne in 1SS2-53. To
provide for the payment of these
bonds within the time now remain.
ing before their falling due will
impose burden upon the tax X-pay-
ers which, under their present cir
cumstances, they are i'll able to
sustain


therefore recommend that eff
forts be made to obtain the passage
of law by the Legislature author
izing the city to refund that por-
ton OF the city debt which is draw
ing ten per cent interest. II a loan
for this purpose could be negotiated
at the rate of seven per cent. an an
nual saving OF 50, 400 would result
as we'll as the postponement OF the
payment TO time when the city
will be in condition to meet the
payment with less Inconvenience
than could be done at this time.


From information received from
the report of the Chief of Police, as
we'll as what has fallen under my
own observation as Police Magis-
| Df hal
of all the arrests made by the po-
lice officers is attributable to in
tenn perate use of intoxicating Ii
quors. Much of the cost of main
tanning the necessary police force
and the expenses of the chain g lug
are owing to the intemper 20 use
of spirituous liquors. lne great
number Of places where intoxicat-
ing drinks are sold makes q larger
police force necessary than would
otherwise be required. Therefore L
would respectfully recommend
that the license lor selling spiritu-
GUS liquors be fixed ut not less than
$25 per month, and nat II new bond
be required of each person selling
liquors on and after January /, 1851,
so worded that the bondsmen shall
be held responsible for the good or
der of the house aud person con-
ducting the same, and that one per
son be Incompetent to act as bouds-
man for more than one dealer in
liquors. If it should be urged that
an increase in the rate OF this class
of license will by greatly lessening
the number issued diminish the
revenue, it might be answered that
the smaller the number of places
where Intoxicating liquors are sold
the less numbe of policemen will
be required to maintain peace and
good order and the cost OF the chain
gang be reduced in still greater pro-
portion.


L would also urge the passage of
all ordinance requiring the owners
OF property along the graded streets
TO plant out and maintain shade
trees along the front of their prop
erty, and to protect said property
owners from the dspredations of
loose animals. If this proposition
was successfully carried out it would
add to the beauty and health of our
lovely city one hundred fold aud
greatly enhance the valuo of prop
erty.


This community has, in common
with the people in general through
out the State, for some years past
suffered much from the diminish
ing value of real estate, the low
price of agricultural and other pro-
ducts, the paralization of industri
al pursuits, the want of employ
ment and the low rate of wages.
This condition OF things demands
the greatest economy in every
branch of the municipal govern
ment. All unnecessary expendi-
lures should be avoided and the
expenses of the different depart
msnts of the government should be
brought to the lowest possible
point consistent with the general
welfare of the inhabitants.


In the present financial condition
of the city, as well as the tax.pay-
ers, it is only by carefully hus-
banding resources and refraining
from all expenditures except tn ose
of urgent necessity, that we can
hope for a speedy return to pros
perity.


The industrial condition OF the
city and surrounding country at the
present time presents a more fiat
tering prospect than at any time
within the past three years. The
cultivation of the vine-one of the
material interests of Los Angeles
and which for number of years
past has not been remunerative-
has the past season rewarded the
lahorer, and the prospect of this
industry for the future is highly
encouraging. There are good rea-
sons for the anticipation that in
the near future the consumers of
wine and raisins not only of the
United States, but of other coun-
tries, will be in great measure
dependent upon California for sup
plying their wants.


Another ground for encourage
ment is the diminishing number of
Chinese within our borders. While
it is undeniable that the labor and
industry of this class have been in
many forms beneficial temporarily
to their employers, it requires no

argument to demonstrate the prop
osition that the presence of this
class of people in large numbers
amongst us is sore evil, the re-
moval of which will tend greatly
to our prosperity. It is believed
that there are at this time not more
than one-half as many Chinese in
this city rs there were two or three
years ago.


AS this class Of laborers disap-
pear their places will be filled by
those of our own race, the rewards
of whose industry, instead of being
sent to foreign country, will be-
used to build up homes for them
selves in our own country and in
our midst.


1t may not be improper for me to