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Financial Statement 1874-187518'74-5. CITY OF Statcutent, -)UBUQUF,. .a CLASS BOOK earnegie=Stout'free Library DUBUQUE, IOWA. L FINANCIAL REPORT. To the Honorable City Council of Dubuque : GENTLEn EN: —I herewith submit for your information and careful consideration, the reports of the Auditor, City Engineer, and the Chief Engineer of Fire Depart- ment, accompanied with a report of all orders outstand- ing March 1, 1875, and expense of the City for the year ending same month. For the first time, in many years, the City has met all obligations due in the months of Jan- uary, February and March, without borrowing from our banks; have also anticipated the last payment which was due on the I. Haynor judgment in May. The whole may besummarized as follows: CURRENT EXPENSES OF CITY FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1875. Streets and Roads, $27,482 44 Less Special Assessments on Streets, 16,524 58 Leaves for Streets and Roads, $10,957 86 Police and Gas, 15,004 54 Expense, . 45,365 44 Total expenses of City, $71,327 84 OUTSTANDING ORDERS. ROAD. One to Dubuque Harbor Co. which is to be taken up in taxes on their property, $4,758 05 All others, same fund, . 15 95 2 SPECIAL INTEREST. One to Coral Nat'l Bank for * 7,564 10 All others, same fund, 5 30 EXPENSE. Order for H. & L. Truck, payable Jan. 1876, without interest, Order for repairing steamer Sol Turek, due Jan. 1876 All others in this fund, Deduct all orders not now due as above, Leaving balance outstanding March 1, 18'15, Balance outstanding March 1, 1874, Balance outstanding March 1, 1875, Difference in favor of 1875, 1,200 00 1,000 00 441 80 $14,985 20 14,522 15 463 05 $32,642 52 463 05 .$32,179 47 This showing I most respectfully submit as,a satisfac- tory one. A. H. PEASLEE, Mayor. *This order is claimed in full by the City, and is now in the Supreme Court on an agreed case. AUDITOR'S REPORT. CITY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, March 15th, A.D. 1875. To the Honorable the Mayor and Aldermen of the City Council of the City of Dubuque: GENTLEMEN —AS the 28th of February, 1875, closed the fiscal year, I herewith enclose to your Honorable Body a full and detailed statement of receipts and expenditures at the City Treasurer's office for the term, commencing March 1, 1874, and ending as above. This report shows the receipts and disbursements by months, for the reason that the Treasurer reports monthly to this office. It is pleasanter for those who wish to examine with minuteness these monthly returns and of what they are composed. They show every possible source of revenue, whence it comes and for what; and each item is backed by a corres- ponding duplicate on file in this office. The disbursing side of the account is represented by orders on the vari- ous funds, coupons and bonds, taken up, so that each item in the disbursing side of the account is sustained by a corresponding voucher therefor, returned by the Trea- surer with his monthly reports, as the evidence of his dis- bursements. The report thus submitted in detail, closes with a re- capitulation, which condenses the whole year's showing on a single page, for ready reference as to monthly ag- gregates and the year's sum total, with the balance that should be in the Treasurer's hands on the 1st day of March, the present month. This balance is thus shown to be $21,034.65. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. D. JENNINGS, AUDITOR. 4 MARCH-1874. Balance in the Treasury March 1, 1874, as shown by the records and books in this office, and as certified to by James Beach, Esq., Chairman of the then Finance Com- mittee City Scales Pork Packing Licenses Shows Rent of Market. Butchers' C6 Peddlers' « Special Tax Fines Justice's Court Numbering houses Hotel Licenses Saloon “ Linwood Lots Cemetery Taxes of 1864 1865 1866 1867.... 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873... Receipts of the Month. Receipts. Disbursements 813,118 01 118 47 20 00 10 00 50 00 50 00 3 00 16 53 1 00 11 20 15 00 4,560 00 30 75 73 50 4 00 50 2 56 40 36 46 56 43 142 86 581 32 3,866 01 Total receipts $9,649 99 Disbursements for the Month. Road Orders Redeemed Poli-ce and Gas Orders Redeemed Cemetery a Coupons taken up Special Interest Orders Expense << 46, •6{ Total disbursements.... $ 601 48 839 05 50 00 4,043 98 2,421 05 2,070 73 $10,026 29 APRIL-1874. GRISWOLD'S FINAL REPORT. Receipts of the Month. Pork Packers' Licenses Special Tax $ 40 00 184 00 Butchers' Licenses Sidewalks Saloon Licenses Taxes of 1859 5 1860 1861 1862. 1864 1868 1870 1871 1872 1873 Receipts. Disbursements 50 00 3 40 641 00 10 10 30 30 2 85 50 2 00 30 30 39 20 988 10 Total receipts $1,992 05 Disbursements up to April 14th, 1874, by H. W. Griswold, Retiring Treasurer. Road Orders Redeemed Police " Wharfage Orders Redeemed Special Interest " Coupons taken up. Expense Orders redeemed Exhibit "D," paid on Grand View Avenue, Order No. 98 Exhibit "F," City Orders $49. $50. $8.25 973, 931, 1219 Orders due for the following various sums, to -wit : Exhibit "A," Daniel Riordan's receipt "B," S. Turek, receipt endorsed by Finance Committee. "C," Jno. Pier, am't p'd for spec'l tax "E," Tax receipts untaken up but charged to me "G," Receipt from 1st Nat. Bank for Ex. & Ex. on Coup's "H," Exchange on Coupons "I & J," For am't in hands of Beach unreported on "K," Doubtful money taken in office, "L," Certificate ordered canceled af- ter giving receipt "M," Order due me as per Chairm'n Finance Committee "N," Obligation due me for return of special interest, No. 96, out $ 121 05 320 00 413 35 1,572 70 45 00 1,130 15 1,630 00 107 25 695 97 500 00 148 60 99 76 76 66 6 35 15 16 52 00 75 71 60 00 7,564 10 Cash of Treasurer Saloon Licenses Theatre " Boarding House Licenses. Rent of Market House Cellar. Poor Relief from County Tax of 1873. 1872. 1871. 1870. "0," For tax certificates for sale o No. 91, x27x 190 "P," For services in clearing up books Total disbursement NoTE.—Of the above items of disburse- ments, the Finance Committee have refused to allow the following, viz: Exhibit "K," «p $ 52 60 228 150 True credits as allowed by Fin. Committee.. Receipts. Disbursements f 228 00 150 00 $15.012 31 490 00 $14,522 31 APRIL-1874. RIORDAN'S FIRST REPORT. Receipts for the Month. Griswold. $ 695 97 1,295 00 5 00 15 00 9 00 237 30 4,872 10 2 30 4 08 28 26 Total receipts $7,164 01 Disbursements. Orders redeemed —Expense Fund. " Cemetery Fund. Special Interest Fund.... Total disbursements..... MAY-1874. Receipts for the Month. City Scales West Dubuque Scales First Ward Scales. Improvements on 17th street. Digging graves $ 28 35 2 60 4 50 40 00 36 00 $3,760 60 23 25 4 50 $3,788 35 Receipts. Disbursements 00 Potter's Field 7 7 00 Sale of Old Hose 1003 00 . Cleaning Alleys. 0 75 Rent of Engine House 00 Peddlers' Licenses 84 0 00 Team (Wagon) Licenses 180 00 Theatre and Circus Licenses 75 18 75 Linwood Cemetery Lots. Cemetery Lots 2,291 75 Saloon Licenses.593 12 139 90 373 28 2,304 86 313 33 14 00 Tax of 1870, &c. 1871 1872 1873 Interest on taxes Costs. Total receipts Disbursements. Orders, &c., Redeemed: Police and Gas Orders. Cemetery.. Special Interest Orders Expense " Road `. Coupons redeemed Int. on Expense Orders. Total disbursements JUNE-1874. Receipts of the Month. Theatre and Circus Licenses.. $ Hucksters' Stands Hay Scales. Teams or Wagon Licenses Auctioneer Butchers' Saloon "' Peddlers and Dollar Store License Boarding Houses, &c., License. Livery License Brokers' " Billiards " Ferry " • • • Hacks and Omnibus License Confiscations . $6,483 84 87 50 100 00 56 35 210 00 100 00 400 00 1,400 00 37 50 75 00 100 00 200 00 20 00 150 00 15 00 1 10 $ 868 40 58 60 373 90 1,639 85 997 95 474 34 75 $4,413 79 Cleaning Alleys Receipts. Disbursements 155 00 126 55 13 50 8 75 77 00 74 10 120 60 249 10 .. 2,212 20 4 42 220 26 20 20 Total receipts $6,234 13 Disbursements. Police and Gas Orders redeemed Cemetery- 66 66 Special Interest 66 Expense 66 Road 66 One Thompson Bond Coupons Interest on above orders Total disbursements.. . Poor Relief. Fines from Justices Linwood Cemetery Cemetery Taxes of 1870 and prior years 1871 1872 1873 Special Assessments. Interest on Taxes. Advertising costs Saloon Licenses Team Peddlers 66 Butchers 66 Circus 66 66 66 " 66 JULY-1874. Receipts of the Month. ..$ Hacks Dog 66 Streets Nines City Marshal Deputy Sheriff Cleaning Alleys, Street Commissioner Costs Illinois Central Railroad Company Sale of Hose Cart, Alderman Cooper Taxes 1870 1871 1872 1873 Interest on above years. 200 00 120 00 44 50 100 00 50 00 5 00 8 00 2 00 6 00 10 00 21 00 21 10 150 00 63 05 1,796 70 1,332 50 2.986 60 638 70 Total receipts $7 555 15 $1,016 00 50 00 3,085 33 2,918 65 2,335 65 100 00 209 00 12 70 $9,727 33 66 66 66 9 Receipts. Disbursements Disbursements. Police and Gas Orders redeemed Cemetery Special In ter est Expense Road Coupons Interest on above 6• 6 66 i6 Total disbursements AUGUST-1874. Receipts of the Month. Peddlers' Licenses Dog 6l Saloon Circus " First Ward Scales City West Dub. " Fines from Justices a6 City Marshal Deputy Sheriff Hucksters' Stands Rent of Engine House Tax Deeds Costs Linwood Cemetery Cemetery Taxes of 1870 and prior years 1871 1872 1873 Special Taxes Interest on Taxes Total receipts Disbursements. Police and Gas Orders Redeemed Special Interest " Expense Road Cemetery Wharfage Coupons Interest '' Total disbursements 11 00 4 00 95 00 40 00 8 43 21 15 2 80 15 00 5 00 3 00 61 00 18 75 3 00 20 147 50 133 75 67 60 114 30 60 60 2,391 24 8 82 309 39 $3,523 53 $1,249 83 5" nn 27 ba 1,828 10 2,176 20 688 6.0 22 46 $6,043 04 912 00 46 03 1,952 74 1,477 20 354 62 15 00 254 17 7 30 $5,019 06 i i! I 10 SEPTEMBER-1874. Receipts of the Montle. Butchers' Peddlers' Licenses „ Receipts. Disbursements $ 9 00 Livery 44 50 00 50 00 ...................... Wagon (( ...... Theatre (( 75 00 City Scales........... .... ...' ' ' ' ' . 800 Hucksters ................................... 89 62 62 Stands............ Cleaning Streets.... """...... •• 111 50 Gift Enter r' ........................... 6 25 p ise............ Sale of Pamphlet ordinances........ ................ 22 00 Linwood Cemetery Lots,,, 75 Cemetery Lots . 121 50 Taxes of 1870 and "..121 50 187.1.,.....rior years 129 85 1872................................................. 35 20 1873.................. .............. 143 80 Special Tax..,.. ..... 1,640 20 Interest ........."". 293 00 on taxes ....... Costs.... ..,................. 231 86 .................... Total receipts .......... $3,182 80 Disbursements. redeemed.. (( •......... $ 847 50 98 37 ..................... 111 10 ................... 1,425 35 .................. 1,461 20 Interest on order......., • .."""""••• 15 00 65 Total disbursements Police and Gas Orders Cemetery Special Interest. General Expense Road Wharfage OCTOBER-1874. Receipts of the Month. Saloon Licenses.......,,, Livery (( $ 50 00 ................... Theatre . 50 00 Team (( 30 00 ............... • ................. Sale PeddlersEngine16 00 Hand Fire "" West Dubuque .....""""""' 99 60 Scales ..................................... Fines from Justices....................................""""• 7 50 Street Commissioner •••• 7 50 missioner...,.,,. $3,959 17 Receipts.. Disbursements Taxes of 1870 and prior years 56 25 " 1871 181 85 1872 366 25 1873 4,679 66 Special tax 100 00 Interest on taxes 810 23 Costs 47 80 Total receipts Disbursements. Police and Gas orders redeemed.. Cemetery 44 Expense Road Wharfage Interest on (( Total disbursements $6,513 84 NOVEMBER-1874. Receipts for the Month. $ 500 00 Scales 65 05 Fines, &c 12 65 37 50 376 50 41 65 166 65 113 00 Cemetery Lots • 80 00 Taxes of 1870 and prior years 93 95 1871 188 10 1872 486 96 1873 3,763 20 Tax sales 4,182 44 Interest on taxes 1,543 40 121 01 Sale of hand fire engine Rent of Engine House .. I11. Central Railroad Company Saloon Licenses Butchers' Licenses Linwood Cemetery Lots. Costs Total Receipts Disbursements. Paid out on Police and Gas orders. ( Cemetery Special Interest General Expense Road Coupon Wharfage (( (( $11,772 06 1,962 85 113 35 2,506 12 1,381 50 15 00 17 24 $5,996 06 $ 1,244 35 129 10 242 49 3,119 47 4,531 66 319 88 35 00 12 Interest on orders presented for payment Total Disbursements Receipts. Disbursements 26 51 DECEMBER-1874. Rent Receipts of the Month. Scales Cleaning streets Fines Butchers' Licenses.. Billiard « Saloon 66 Peddlers' tt Boarding House Licenses Theatre Licenses `• Pork Packers' Licenses Cemetery Lots Linwood Cemetery Lots Taxes of 1870 and prior years 1872 1873 1874. Interest on taxes. Costs 79 15 100 97 20 00 25 150 00 35 00 85 83 4 00 30 00 30 00 80 00 43 50 37 25 8 20 582 20 526 00 60,607 60 259 05 80 Total receipts $62,679 80 Disbursements. Police and Gas Orders redeemed. Cemetery tG Special Interest. " . . . . . • General Expense " Road 66 Bond (Thompson's) Coupons Wharfage Interest on order Poor Relief Scales Saloon Licenses Inkeepers Licenses G6 66 66 Total disbursements JANUARY.-1875. Receipts of the Month. $ 44 00 172 26 200 00 90 00 $8,648 46 $1,799 50 81 05 2,627 20 7,770 34 7,867 62 100 00 1,044 82 20 00 283 77 $21,594 30 44 66 bt 4.6 66 t6 Rent from Am. Ex. Co. (barn) City Scales Fines from Justices. Butchers' Licenses Theatre " Billiard 66 Team Saloon 13 Billiard Licenses, Butchers' " Theatre Peddlers Expre: s f6 Linwood Cemetery Cemetery Fines.. Special Taxes Taxes of 1870 and prior years 1871 1872 1873 1874 Interest.. Costs Receipts. Disbursements 126 65 12 50 5 00 1 00 85 26 25 62 50 11 75 109 44 2 23 6 50 8 40 167 00 81,545 81 32 62 1 20 Total receipts $82,625 96 Disbursements. Police and Gas Orders redeemed. Cemetery Special Interest Expense Road Bond (Thompson's) Coupons Interest Total disbursements...... FEBRUARY-1875. Receipts of the Month. $ 1.5 00 169 65 Linwood Cemetery Lots Cemetery Lots Taxes of 1870 and prior years 1872 1873 1874 Tax Sales 16 90 50 00 22 00 40 00 10 00 25 00 11 65 48 00 6 00 20 70 68 40 5,620 12 135 83 $ 2,201 00 62 50 38,452 10 10,341 68 2,923 05 100 00 8,380 06 2,401 29 $64,861 68 14 Interest on taxes Costs . Total receipts Police and Gas Orders Cemetery.. Special Interest Expense Road Coupons redeemed Interest Disbursements. Orders. c. Total disbursements.... . RECAPITULATION. Balance March 1, 1874, Receipts of the month of Marcb, 1874 Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of April, 1874 Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of May, 1874 Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of June Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of July Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of August Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of September Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of October Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of November Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of December. Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of January, 1875 Disbursements of same Receipts of the month of February Disbursements of same Balance March 1, A. D. 1875 Proof Receipts. Disbursements 71 63 19 20 $6,350 08 $ 13,118 01 9,649 99 9,156 06 6,483 84 6,234 13 7,555 15 3,523 53 3,182 80 6,513 84 11,772 06 62,679 80 82,625 96 6,350 08 $1,744 06 70 37 19,048 20 4,901 66 2,607 88 20,112 48 726 08• $49,210 73 10,026 29 18,310 66 4,413 79 9,727 33 6,043 04 5,019 06 3,959 17 5,996 06 8,648 46 21,594 30 64,861 68 49,210 73 $228,845 25 -._ $207,810 57 21,034 68 $228,845 25 CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT. To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Dubuque: GENTLEMEN -Herewith I submit my second annual re- port of street improvements placed under my supervision for the year ending April 1, 1875. The following table shows the names of streets and alleys that have been curbed, guttered and macadamized. Appended is a brief statement of the total amount and cost of all improve ments placed under my charge during the year. co r�PWcc -70 C cr °dam r n 0- CI) C m 0 coo -• m: - m � J - 0 "7 "'S ni CD CD 0 0 e- 0 0 CD CD 0 n r. W r' �* •�+ cK- c* 0 5 0 0 r_ 0 td 0 0 0 0 pr, _,.„ i! 'n 0, ° a : - .- g): : ",- r. ,c/ `4: pr:'' ''.3:7;jt sl_ 7?-6-,.., .t),..,e:i t : CHI : : ' , °Pc '1 C) t-1 1 R° L-i � `t " " `�' `yam wy eCi °�� m x MCnM<w , M7• .- , m m 7 m '' F' o 0' ° • C ' BB5� 5�B �b aPtd' 5`cB'°ti p ^5'5c0 0 ° P c°0� R°C oti ( 0 CD s m :st P••0 0 c 0 •saolouaquop H H 0 Lt �y 16 Total amount of grading, estimated, Total cost of grading Average cost per cubic yard 19i cents. Total amount of curbing set Total cost of curbing set Average cost per lineal foot 75 cents. Total amount of gutters laid Total cost of gutters laid Average cost per square yard 71 o cents Total amount of macadam broken on streets.......8,588 cubic yards Total cost of macadam broken on streets . $10,405 55 Average cost per cubic yard $1,21. Total distance macadamized 8,033 feet or la tulles. Total amount of masonry used for retaining walls ....847. o perches Total cost of same $928 55 Average cost per perch 8 1,09. 6,547 cubic yards $1,273 57 4,101i lineal feet $3,076 52 2,945 o square yards $2,103 69 SEWERS. Seventeenth Street sewer from Main street west 100i feet..$402 00 One-half paid by City, balance paid by Wm. Rebman. Julien Avenue brick sewer, 130 feet long, First Street brick sewer, 514 feet long, Second Street culverts, 215 o feet long, $354 90 $3,209 73 $462 68 Total cost of work under my supervision, ...$22,217 29 Of this amount 816,524 58 has been assessed against abutting property owners, or was otherwise provided for by special con- tract. The balance, $5,692 71, was paid by the City. This amount comprises the following items, viz : One-half 17th Street sewer, $201 00 Julien Avenue brick sewer, Total amount of grading estimated during this year, .....$1,273 57 Balance on First Street brick sewer, $354 90 " Seventeenth Street improvement, $1,7 54 $2,54 7 70 Total, $5,692 71 It will be seen that the average cost of curbing and gut- tering exceeds that of last year. This is owing to the ex- pensive curbing and guttering used in 17th Street im- provement. Macadamizing, however, is considerably below the aver- age cost of last year, reaching the very low figure of $1.21 per cubic yard. Seventeenth street has been completed from White to Iowa street, at a total cost of $4,834.30. Of this amount 17 $2,286.60 has been assessed to abutting property, the bal- ance, $2,54'7.70, has been paid by the City. This includes the total cost of rebuilding the retaining walls on each side of 17th Street, lowering grade of Clay, Iowa and Seminary streets, to correspond with changed grade of 17th Street. This work has been done in a thorough manner, and thus far gives evidence of answering the purposei ntended. During the present year, the first step has been taken towards permanent sewerage, although but a small one it is in the right direction. The brick sewer on First Street is in every respect equal to those constructed in eastern cities. Most of the bricks used in the sewer were from Mr. Ham's yard, at Eagle Point, and were of a superior quality for this purpose, The clay of which they are made, is capable of being subjected to intense heat without injury to the form of the brick. Total cost of building the sewer $3,209 54. Of this amount the I. C. R. R. Co., the C. C. & D. R. R. Co. and the D. & D. Bridge Co. pay $1,894 19, leaving a balance of $1,315 35 paid by the City. I must again urge upon your attention, the necessity of procuring a road roller for rolling newly macadamized streets. I would not recomend an expensive outlay in this direction, as one can be constructed at a small cost, that will answer every purpose, and would pay first cost in one season. It sometimes occurs that newly made streets receive injuries from floods or excessive use, while new, that could easily be avoided by using a roller. If a street is packed hard and smooth before being used it will wear smooth and consequently much longer without repairs. I wish to call the attention of the City Council to the filthy condition in which many of the alleys are during the summer season, in the thickly settled portions of the City. As these alleys are not improved it is impossible for the Street Commissioner to keep them clean, without incurring to much expense upon the City. Although quite a number of alleys were improved last season, there are CITY ENGINEER'S OFFICE, Dubuque, Iowa, March 31, 1875. 18 many more that should receive your attention. As a sanitary measure this should not be overlooked. The Record Map of the City of Dubuque, spoken of in my last annual report, is now completed and mounted in a convenient and substantial manner. I have spared rp-;ither pains or labor in making this work thorough and complete. It has been necessary to make many surveys, and to spend much time searching records, deeds. &c., in order to make the work reliable. I will not occupy your time with a detailed description of this work, as it is a matter of public record, and can be examined at any time. I take pleasure, however, in pre- senting this work for your inspection, and can but feel, knowing the labor it has cost me, that it will meet with your hearty approval. I take pleasure in acknowledging the many favors re- ceived at your hands. Respectfully submitted, W. H. KNOWLTON, City Engineer. CHIEF ENGINEER'S REPORT. DuBUQUE, MARCH 29, 1875. To the Honorable Mayor and City Council of the City of Dubuque : GENTLEMEN: I herewith submit a statement of the con- dition of the property connected with the Fire Department of the City, and such other information relating to the same as, in my opinion, should be of interest to your honorable body and the citizens at large. Sol Turck Engine House, No. 1, located on Iowa, be- tween Fourth and Fifth streets, is a two story brick build- ing 25x50 feet. We have in this building one of H. C. Silsby's first class steamers, recently thoroughly over- hauled, and is in as good condition, if not better, as when new; also, hose cart and 1800 feet of first class hose. J. K. Graves Engine House, No. 2, located on Iowa, be- tween Eighth and Ninth streets, is a three story brick building, 23x40. In this building we have one of Silsby's second class steamers, with hose cart and 1800 feet of first class hose; also, heater attached to boiler for keeping the water hot at all times. Hook and Ladder Truck, No. 1, (a Babcock B. truck) recently purchased, is located on the corner of Fourth and Locust streets, in a temporary building, which is not large enough, as we are compelled to remove the tongue to get it into the building. The FifthWard Hose Company is located on Eighteenth and Clay streets, in a one story frame building, 18x40 ft. We have in this building a light hose reel and 500 feet of Clark's linen hose. The Third Ward Hose Company is located on Ninth and Jackson streets, with light reel and 300 feet of linen hose. 20 The entire property for extinguishing fires is in good order and ready at any time. It is a well established fact that rapidity in reaching a fire is the most essential feature of action. In my opin- ion this is the most glaring defect in our organization, and calls loudly for a remedy. Five minutes gained in the start of a fire often decides the fate of thousands of dollars worth of property. Fifty per cent of the fires are discovered when they could easily be put out with a few pails of water; give them five minute's time and you re- duce your chances fifty per cent; give them ten minutes and your chances are not one in ten of putting them out before the building in which it originated is consumed, and other property endangered. This being true, it seems to me that any reasonable expense incurred, to enable the fire department to reach a fire in from three to five min- utes, would be economy in the long run. Feeling that a great responsibility rests upon me as Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, it has been my aim, and will continue to be while holding this impor- tant position, to perform the duties pertaining to the office to the satisfaction of your honorable body and the de- partment. In conclusion I would respectfully present the following recommendations for your early consideration, some of which having been presented by me before: First, that suitable buildings be erected. Second, that horses should be purchased. Third, that a few men should be employed permanently and kept on duty at all hours. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. T. COOK, Chief Engineer.