[35 £. 077 : M I Sir ir* " ' r ■ A. ?V * ' "... V-- 1 . • iii . ' ' £ > SSS^-: •* . ■' : if timm® k\_ : > v W' y 3. '■ • ■ 'Ic- -V.' ■• r MESSAGE OF MAYOR JOHN CORSCOT, DELIVERED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADISON, April 17 , 1894 . A •. ft. V MAYOR’S MESSAGE. DELIVERED APRIL 17, 1894. Gentlemen of the Common Council: To us has been confided for the coming year the man¬ agement of the business affairs of the city of Madison, and before entering upon the discharge of those duties it is proper that we should consider the financial condition of the city. Your attention is therefore respectfully called to the Clerk’s Statement of the receipts and expenditures of the city for the year last past as well as to the present condition of the City Treasury: The funds in the treasury April 10, 1893, were as follows: Poll-tax funds. ... $85 00 Interest on refunding bonds..•. 7,625 00 Interest on water bonds. 1,600 00 Bond fund. 8,660 97 Dane county — fines. 451 00 Forest Hill cemetery fund. 3,339 77 Free Library fund. 4,277 73 Special sidewalk fund. 88 47 Water fund. 2,427 39 Special street funds. 8,122 33 General fund. 12,117 93 Total $48,795 59 The receipts from all sources from April 10, 1893, to April 10, 1894, have been as follows: General Fund Receipts. Liquor licenses. . Tax for general city purposes. Dane county — one-half expenses municipal court $17,783 01 38,291 01 377 05 Billiard licenses.. Licenses to sell on streets. Show licenses. Hack licenses... Steamboat licenses. Costs and fees collected in municipal court. Fines collected in city cases, municipal court. . Sewer permits. Drainage licenses. Proceeds of entertainments for the benefit of the contagious hospital. Collected from patients at hospital. Young Ladies’ Missionary Society of Madison, donation to city hospital. Andrew Kinnair, payment on quarry contract. C. F. Harrington, team bought of Fire Department. Jas. M. Kelly, use of steam roller. Board of Education, paid for grading. Village of Prairie du Sac, old hose reel...,. By Martin Hinrichs, Street Superintendent, for stone and granite sold: Sullivan, $5; McCarthy, $106.75; Soelch,* $4.36; Miller, $4.86. By Martin Hinrichs, Street Superintendent, from sundry parties for removing rubbish, snow or ice, grading side¬ walks, etc. Total. Special Fund Receipts. Board of Education, tax 1893. Water fund — Extension bonds sold. Water fund — Tax 1893 . . Water fund — Water rents collected... Water fund — Water permits collected. Water fund — Supplies sold. Dane county — State and county taxes. Special street repair fund — Bonds sold. Bond fund (sinking fund), tax 1893. Interest on water bonds, tax 1893... . Interest on street repair bonds, tax 1893. Interest on refunding bonds, tax 1893... Dane county — Fines in state cases. Special street repair fund — Paid by Madison City Railway Co. for macadam between tracks. $511 40 139 00 112 00 90 00 85 00 253 05 425 00 40 00 15 00 571 47 23 00 27 00 400 00 125 00 100 00 180 25 20 00 120 97 27 87 $59,717 08 $34,585 32 10,000 00 10,000 00 17,633 80 284 00 266 65 42,487 65 15,000 00 2,888 24 1,400 00 337 50 7,625 00 1,153 00 600 00 3 « Forest Hill cemetery fund, tax 1893. $500 00 Forest Hill cemetery fund, sale of lots, etc. 988 61 Free library fund, tax 1893. 2,500 00 Free library fund, fines and dues. 70 00 Special sidewalk taxes. 1,132 93 Special sewer tax. 2,002 68 Tax for judgments... 5,705 06 Langdon street special fund, tax, etc. 143 91 N. Carroll “ “ “ “ 383 16 Gilman “ “ “ “ 883 74 E. Gorham “ “ “ “ 497 35 W. Gorham “ *‘ “ “ 613 98 State “ “ “ . 738 84 Pinckney “ “ “ “ 222 22 S. Carroll “ “ “ “ (Main to Doty). 67 17 Butler “ “ “ “ 319 88 Murray “ “ “ “ 134 88 Lake “ “ “ “ 425 12 Wilson “ “ “ “ 4,828 57 Francis “ “ “ “ 792 54 W. Johnson “ “ “ tax and bonds. 7,516 08 E. Johnson “ “ “ “ “ 3,700 07 N. Hancock “ “ “ “ . 974 69 N. Butler “ “ “ “ “ 1,922 60 Henry “ “ “ “ “ 3,511 10 Park “ “ “ “ “ 3,180 30 S. Carroll “ “ “ “ (Doty to Lake) 1,949 55 Patterson “ “ “ “ “ 1,835 96 Mendota Court “ “ “ “ . 758 52 Mifflin street fund — Bonds. 2,000 00 _ Total .. $194,560 67 The expenditures from April 10, 1893, to April 10, 1894, have been as follows: General Fund Expenditures. Expended for labor and material on general street improve¬ ments, street cleaning, repairs. $12,043 30 Street lighting — Electric light, $6,131.75; gas, $2,056.50; oil lamps, $840. 9,028 25 Salaries — City Surveyor, $1,000; Street Superintendent, $1,000 . 2,000 00 Care and subsistence city teams, drivers' pay, feed, shoeing, etc, 2,360 33 4 Expenses at city hall, janitor, fuel, light, etc. Printing. . Expenses prosecutions under city ordinances, judge’s and clerk’s salaries, stationery, blanks, etc. City Clerk’s salary. City Treasurer’s salary. Legal services, City Attorney’s salary, etc. . Expenses assessment and collection of taxes. Election expenses. Pound expenses.. Costs in suits. . Fire department expenses. Electric fire alarm. Police expenses. Health expenses, including City Hospital expenses. Sewerage repairs. Abating nuisances. Refunded taxes. Land for sewage disposal plant.. Payment on lots bought of Mrs. Mack. Paid Dr. O. M. Twitchell in settlement ... Paid Mrs. A. E. Pettengill for injury. Weed Commissioner’s salary. Paid Samantha Emmons in settlement. Roofing election booths .... Steamboat inspection. Printing bonds. Expenses at Orton Park. Special Fund Expendituees. Dane county — State and county taxes . Board of Education. Water-works, construction. Water-works, operating expenses. Water-wmrks, repairs... Dane county — State fines. Water bonds paid . . Judgment paid—Marcia Reed. Judgment paid — August Laue. Special street repair fund — Expended for labor and ma- I terial. Free Library fund — Vouchers paid. $1,585 27 708 77 1,706 92 1,200 00 1,200 00 975 64 1,129 82 795 12 365 00 122 00 6,269 66 2,691 50 5,840 45 4,434 06 601 40 17 00 19 71 1,620 00 500 00 100 00 75 00 52 50 250 00 163 25 42 50 23 00 13 50 $57,928 95 $42,487 65 34,585 32 25,004 87 9,814 44 43 01 1,595 00 8,500 00 3,387 97 2,251 87 12,351 54 . 2,370 31 Forest Hill cemetery fund _ $1,214 42 •Special sidewalk fund - — Paid to contractors 731 72 Special sewer tax — Paid to contractors.. .. 1,871 39 Langdon street special fund — Bonds and interest paid 129 20 N. Carroll “ 66 66 66 -4 4 44 308 00 Gilman “ a * 66 4 4 U 44 888 00 E. Gorham “ 44 44 44 44 4 k 686 00 W. Gorham “ u 44 44 44 44 616 00 State “ 44 66 ■ 44 44 . . -o • 584 00 Pinckney “ -44 44 66 44 44 184 00 S. Carroll “ -44 44 ■66 44 44 . . . • - 24 00 Butler “ 66 44 66 44 44 901 23 Murray “ 66 44 66 44 44 224 50 Lake “ .66 44 4 4 44 44 360 00 Wilson “ .66 4 » • 44 44 44 7,793 76 Francis “ 66 .6 6 44 -44 44 1,180 10 W. Johnson “ 66 66 44 44 44 5,444 45 E. Johnson “ 66 44 -4 4 •4 4 44 2,655 49 N. Hancock “ 66 4-4 44 44 -44 863 41 N. Butler “ 66 4 * 44 44 44 1,580 24 Henry street special fund—Paid contractors. . 2,776 10 Park “ “ 44 44 44 2,496 41 •S. Carroll “ “ .44 44 6 % 1,797 19 Patterson “ “ 44 44 44 2,076 04 Mendota Court “ • 44 44 44 589 78 Mifflin street “ 4-4 66 44 1,909 23 Paid interest on water bonds 1,600 00 Paid interest on refunding bonds . 7,625 00 Total ... $191,501 64 Recapitulation. Balance on hand April 10, 1893 . General fund receipts . Special fund receipts. General fund expenditures. Special fund expenditures. On hand April 10, 1894. $48,795 59 59,717 08 194,560 67 $57,928 95 191,501 64 53,642 75 There was transferred during the year: $303,073 34 $303,073 34 From the water fund to the bond fund From poll-tax fund to general fund... . $5,000 00 85 00 6 The funds in the treasury April 10, 1894, belong to funds as follows r Interest on refunding bonds.. $7,625 00 Interest on special street repair bonds... 387 50 Interest on water bonds..•. 1,400 0b Bond fund.... .... 8,049 21 Dane county, fines.. 170 00 Forest Hill cemetery fund.'. 3,613 96 Free Library fund. 4,477 42 Special sidewalk fund. 489 68 Special sewer tax fund. 131 29 Water fund. 749 52 Special street repair fund. 3,248 46 * Special street funds.. 10,159 58 General fund. 13,191 18 $53,642 75 The balance now in the general fund will, it is estimated, be increased prior to the next tax levy by receipts from the following sources: Liquor licenses. $15,000 00 Show licenses. 150 00 Billiard licenses. 400 00 Hack licenses. 100 00 Steamboat licenses. 75 00 Total . $15,725 00 Adding the balance now in the general fund.. 13,191 13 Makes the total amount available for general city purposes. $28,916 13 The expenses for the month of March for which accounts have been allowed out of the general fund by the council since April 10th amount to. $4,877 54 And the estimated expenses for the first half of April. 1,500 00 Making the sum of. $6,377 54 To be deducted, which leaves the net available - amount. $22,538 59 As it requires about $3,000 per month to pay the running expenses of the city for the seven months before the next tax becomes available, it will be seen that the amount available for general street improvements is quite insignificant. 7 The bonded indebtedness of the city on the 1st day of April, 1894, was: Watertown Railroad bond (outlawed). $1,000 00 Original water bonds. 23,500 00 Water-works extension bonds. 10,000 00 Refunding bonds. 152,500 00 Special street improvement and repairbonds. 65,800 00 Board of Education indebtedness. 51,000 00 Total. $303',800 00 On the 2d day of April there was deposited in the State Bank by the city $8,000 to take up water bonds called in for payment, and special street improvement bonds to the amount of $4,900 have bepn taken up and paid in full since that date, leaving the total indebtedness at this writing $290,900. From the preceding statement it appears that the whole amount of money available for general city purposes prior to the next tax levy will be $22,538.59, of which $21,000 will be required to pay the running expenses of the city, leaving the sum of $1,538.59 for city improvements, which sum, together with an unexpended balance of about $3,500 of the $15,000 borrowed last year, comprises the whole amount applicable to permanent city improvements during the present year. The tax for general city purposes one year ago was $39,822.04, while that for the past year was $38,291.01, indi¬ cating that as the city’s needs increase its revenues for gen¬ eral city purposes decrease; and this is liable to be the case so long as the demands of the State, County, Board of Edu¬ cation, interest and indebtedness must first be taken care of, no matter what amount is demanded, and the balance (whatever, can be levied within the two per cent, author¬ ized by law) constitutes the general fund. In other words, the common council has to content itself with so much of the two per cent, tax as other needs do not exact, and with that sum carry on the city government as best it can, and make such improvements as its limited means will allow, patiently waiting for a natural increase in the city valuation 8 of property or a diminution of the annual fixed charges against the receipts from the tax roll. The streets of the city as a whole were never in as good condition as at the present time, a fact largely due to a lib¬ eral public policy and private enterprise. The city now has over twelve miles of paved streets, and the good work still goes on, and should meet our hearty encouragement. In connection with street paving the question of street sprink¬ ling at the expense of private property should receive at¬ tention, as it is believed more advantageous rates could be obtained by the city than by private individuals, and a majority or two-thirds of the property owners on any street should have the power through the common council to re¬ quire their less enterprising neighbors to render pecuniary aid in contributing to the general comfort. No good reason seems to exist why the common council should not order and contract for the sprinkling of the streets in the same manner as sidewalks are ordered constructed and repaired. An examination of the sidewalks in the citv will bear out the statement that the walks were never in better condi¬ tion generally than at the present time, and that they may be kept so will require the diligent efforts of the proper city officers, and the hearty aid and co-operation of citizens and tax-payers. The necessity of keeping sidewalks in re¬ pair should be impressed upon the mind of every freeholder, for at no time in municipal history has the occupation of seeking cause for damages against cities been in a more apparently healthy and flourishing condition, here and else¬ where, than within the past few years, and the constant care and watchfulness of city officers, and the tax-payers who are called to pa} r these damages, should be exercised in limiting the field of this growing occupation. One year ago attention was called to the necessity of tak¬ ing the sewage of the city out of the lakes and disposing of it in some other way than fouling the waters within the i 9 city limits. The last council had plans prepared for con¬ ducting- the sewage from the lake ends of the present sew¬ ers to a point beyond the Yahara river, where chemical purification is contemplated, and where grounds for precip¬ itation works were purchased by our predecessors. The plans for this needed improvement are on file for your ex¬ amination, and it is urged that the proper committee and the council give to this subject the prompt attention which its merits demand, and that an early beginning be made in the effort to restore and preserve the purity and healthful¬ ness of the waters surrounding the city. The public school accommodations have been increased the past year by doubling the capacity of the Third ward building, which has relieved to a marked degree the over¬ crowded condition of many of the other ward-school build¬ ings. A new eight-room building is now in course of con¬ struction in the Sixth ward. This is an improvement long needed, and when completed will be the finest and most complete ward-school building in the city. For these im¬ provements funds were borrowed from the State, and the annual instalments of tax levied to pay principal and in¬ terest of these loans curtails to that extent the amount of money coming into the general fund; but as the money is spent in educating the future citizens of Madison, we of to-day should take pride in being able to contribute toward the preparation of those who will soon take our places, and who by our liberality will be better equipped to do the work they will be called on to perform. The attendance on the public schools seems to be increas¬ ing, indicating the high favor in which the schools are held as well as the steady growth of the city. The Free City Library in an unobtrusive way continues to aid and supplement the work of the schools, and affords a pleasant and instructive resort for young and old in leis¬ ure hours. The means set apart for its maintenance and 10 extension seem inadequate, and should be increased if pos¬ sible. The city water system is steadily increasing in patronage. The water takers October 1st last numbered 1,701, and the total cost of the works to that date was $271,435.96. The receipts for water rents and permits for the year ending October 1,1893, were $16,499.70, and the operating expenses during the same period were $10,458.79. Inasmuch as the city is now well provided with fire hydrants, water mains should not be laid except in places where sufficient number of consumers can be obtained to pay interest on the invest¬ ment ; and it is believed that the water rents should pay the operating expenses and all needed extensions without an¬ nual taxation. Two new wells were added to the system the past year, making ten in all, and it is believed that the water supply will be sufficient for the next four or five years unless wastefully used. The Fire Department has during the past year been sup¬ plied with the Gamewell fire-alarm system and additional hose, and is in fine working condition. Every citizen feels pride in the harmony prevailing among companies, officers and members, and in the promptness with which calls to duty are responded to. Every reasonable demand to pre¬ serve its efficiency and extend its usefulness should be cheerfully met. In conclusion, I trust that harmony and good feeling will characterize our meetings during the coming year, and that in the discharge of our respective duties we shall be ani¬ mated to serve the people to the best of our abilities. JOHN CORSCOT. /