Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, May 11, 1880, Page 9

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1880—TWELVE PAGES. HE COUNCIL. Mayor Harrison’s Annual Message Presented and Read. te ‘ The city’s Finatices Reported to Be In Good Con- dition. ut A Policy of Retrenchment and Saving Steadily, Ad- hered To. \ Suggestions in Regard to Streot- Pavements and Other Subjects. Failure of the Movement to Ex« pel James H. Hil- dreth. Btralghtening the “South Branch—Tho Chivago & Western Indlana, The List of Committees Does Not Prove Satisfactory. ‘Tho regular weekly meeting of thoCity Council was held Inst evening, the special feature boing the ushering out of the old and the ushering In of thonew mombers. Allof tho old or retiring members wero present to wolcomo thoir suc- + cessors, and a large lobby was on band, also, to cheer the beginners and sympathize with thoso retiring from office, Mayor Harrison wasn tho chair. Ald. Rawleigh moved that tho outgoing mom- bers vacate tholr sents, which was seconded by Ald. Knopf, and provailod, ‘Tho Clerk then announced that all of tho new members bud beon sworn in, whereupon the roll of tho now members wascalled, and all answored except Ald. Shorey, who appeared ut o lator hour and took part In tho proceedings. bee J. 1. HILDRETH, ‘The members thon took thoir sents, and Ald. Tiallard aroso and sald ho bud an important mat- tertopresent, Hehad no fcoling in the matter, but wasculled pon to protest against the nd- inission of Ald, James H. Hildroth in tho inter~ est of morality. Ald, Poovy sald ho had sutlclpated the point, and moved that tho wholo question bo dofcrrod until the proper time, Ald. Hullard insisted that now was the time to scttle impending dimcultics, and, after somo furl Hear anita introduced tho following, which “WHEREAS, It appears from a canvass of tho returns of tho votes onstin the Soyonth Ward for tho oflice of Alderman at tho city clection, held on the 6th of April, 1880, that James H, Ildreth reee! en majority ‘of tho votes cast und KBAR, It further uppears, from a report: of tho Judicliry Committee of a former Council of tho City of Chicago In tho your 1877, that tho antl James H. H)nreth was, prior to sald oloc- Hon, convisted In the District Court of tho United States, Northern District of Iilinols, of malfensnnce in ollice; thorefore, be It © Resolved, That tho said James H. Hildreth, by reason of such conviction, fa, and he is horeby deelared, Ineligible for the ollice of Alderman from tho Boventh Ward of the City of Chicayo, and that ho ts not outitied to seat 4n tho City yattnel ae 5 et Peevey moved that the resolutions bo id, Bullard insisted that from one of tho pro- clucts there had been nu returns, and, boalde the: i Hdreth’s charactor, thore wis the question of frand in the olection us an addition- wl neice why bo should not be admitted toa Sone furthor discussion followed, and finally Ald, Poovuy's motion to table the resolutions ‘was put, and prevulled by the following voto: - Yeas—Wickorsbatn, Dixon, Sandors; McAuley, Burke, Culterton, Riordan, iwi -Purgoll, Sinyth, Peevoy, McNurney,. Schroedor,. Swift, Everutt, Tiulbytty Moyer, Young, Imboif, Bare hy—21, : Noyi—tiflard, Clark, Granule, Watkins, Alt- 9 result had boo: Aid, Hitdreth got off miata ste Pay MATDEN SPEECIT, z 2 which was decidedly “monumental.” Ho ox- ‘pressed surprise that bo Rhould have been at- licked #8 he bad, and, referring to tho pust, sald that 1 sinllar move two years ago had robbed. tue peoplo of his ward of proper representation, Which hy thought should not occur again, Ho entd he had not moval tho office, that ha was-an honcat: mun, aa Aldormiun ho proposed to do his duty to tho poople, and . espvotall to tho. want ho wus to represent. His specc! was greeted with ed by tha lobby, und at ite ore elon n felond assed Bim, B handsomo ich ornamonted bis desk dt reat of the even! arin the ing, Ald, Sinith eubinittod the following ie List oF commrrrens for tho now Counell, which was rend: Fin v] y Ul peguuncer Swift, Cullerton, Clark, Sanders, and piittronds—Smyth, Swift, Dixon, Riordan, and Judicinry—s aids ie vt ere Cullerton, Young, Clark, Hire and Water—Tho: Dullurd, and Bleauloys oem Pareolls Hulbert, yechee! s—Evorutt, Thurtoy, Burko, Brady, and Wharliug Privilegos— Meicr, and Schnolder, Habe anes EUs ey ppltects and Alloys—South Division; Clark, Pikan, Hauora, Grannis, and MoAuloy. West ? wa lone Lawler, Altpotor, Hildreth, Peovey, Hes penay, Hiond, Murphy, Hurke, and Hlordan, Se oraviston: McCormick, Imhot, Barrett, Whurves and Publle G Poor Murphy, thurke, and Ronin coves* Bonds velo ad eta Burloy, Bmyth, with and County folntl Wi awicr, Hooves, Hentluse aud Sarpy ant encores Thompson, Burrott, Murphy, Harbury ond Hridges—liordad, Altpeter, Moy Watkins, und Senrocdor, pbluctions—Harrett, Hulbert, = Wickorsham, wit and Young, * ayutlte—Dixon, Stauber, Bond, Thompson, and aad thn ove Wickorshum, Batlurd, Shorey, rilewe! P U1 ey aa et ‘urecll, Hulbert, Stauber, Subnoid> art Ad plus, BMeCormick, Grannis, s1l- dings — By aimee Heer, tot, tu a Hid geeks SeNt They, Altpeter, Purcoll, Brady, Ald. Altpetor thought tho list of C a ars and moved that the Waatmiattes wai ayant too speulal vommittoe, hoe Het ec ge ‘hivement of the Communists, and ewe Would nat tolurnte such 1 inovement. ape a val Nothing for bimself, but he dit wunt, Ps we Communists represented, . Wiekersham wanted to see u fall and freo Febresentation to all, and if the Communiste bud Fie lgmarstnated gaint he would nut voto Ald. Everett sald ho had over seen the I Jet Ho bupedt fe would by disposed OF ue aneott ey ixon thought the Mayor should bavo ra pulsed Jn tho formution of the Commilt= oe waa in favor of referring tho muttor un celvo bla suyyestions, and suggested thut COMITTER We MADE Ur OF ALL THE Aitae SuurTioan ELEMENTH, , ler thought the Committcos, as ree Ported, wore wll taht, and was in favor of the Ald. Hildreth sald he belonged t tho Inde- i ca HEE pnd, seichiaut, Knowlby. avian ho as pressed was chtirely autisied with the ttt Altpoter—ts your purty a recognized par Alt Yistdroth—Y ee, at Yes, alr, (Laughter. ant Stuuber sult Ho Tia per aank an ything, bag, wel sett thuthe hud been lett where he abuse ct would keep hint away from certala “erauable assoclutions, pa iggatglor took substantial: pe _eROuALE the Communiste Hud” been treated vanes in fx 1 Com ene UE hud been sorry for ble ‘conduet over Sum turthor discusslo In followed, and tho re~ whee that Ald, Dixon's motion to rofer tho eae eer Prevalied by the following votus 4 Wi ckershain, Dixon, Bullard, Chirk, tell, raunis, Watking, Buirke, Alipeter, Pur +. urney, Schrocder, Bund, Susiber, Mey uth), Youn, Meter Sixtounth), 1mnolf, tenho soy . Lawite, i, v4 cAuloy, Iordun, Wildroth, aRwlet, Binyth, buevey, bi BV Thowpson, Heady, sePeeitiy Brora Mutbors 3 THY MAYOK'S MPBXAGE, ras atten being wottlod, tho Mayor sug- delivered Bunual wiesduge wus ready to si. Everett aasd bo bad re 083i | at tt could be roforred Wiioution rire ct been p tea aT AEST Ae sco il A eee tho samo viow, simply garbled eopy, which had been unfalrly obttined, and for whieh neither ho nor none of Wild subordiaates had bean responsible, Id, Dixon insisted upon tho message bolng rent, and Ald. Lawier thought it would bo out- tugcous to Huprivg the Mayorof the oppnruinity to entertain the Council and gratify hiinsalf, Some furthor disuussion followed, whereupon tho Clerk ws ordored to read the document, but ho complimented the Mayor upon his familtarit with it, and askod him to rend It, which he: did, eoupy tig thirty-five minutos, It was aa fol ols CENT RMeN oF Tie Orry Councis: One of tho duties enjoined upon the Mayor of this olty hy the charter Is tho, prosentation of a résumé of tho oporntions of the yurlour depurtinents at thy close of the facut yonr, and, in vompiiance thorowlth, Ihave the honor to submit on this ovension sitch facts ns ire of Interest, not only to qa raclves as ropresentutives of tho city, but tothe people, who are futereated in knowlog how thelr monoy haa been expended, In alurge and enterprising city like Chicago, (here ato 8 great omuny "things | that transpire, snail thumgvlyes, but urge whon reaults ara taken tute conalderation, but owlng to the turrov finitts to whieh in mies BigY Must necussurily bu contined, EF xhnil only bu thle tu give the niore sullont fentures of tha events that hive occurred during the yeur, and, offer puch sitgyestions and recommendations 88 circutustunces iniy warrant, ome outset perinit ine to congratulate you VUMBENT PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE OITY'R A¥PAIN, and mesure you that never in tho history of Chicago was its vredit bettor und onn tere subatintini footlig than now. When the present Administration eume into powor we found =o grioves leguey of scrip, all the employés — unpalil for weeks, and vontractors © churglng — exorbitant prices for thelr’ wares and work for the reuson that thoy figured on payments ina pas per of depreciated value, To-day the cursu of serip bua been so neucly wiped out thut wo cin now ohverfully look forward toa very eurly day when crsh alone will liquidate oll current expenses; und already IT cun felicltute you on tho fuct that the city’s employes have been puld promptly, aud have not been forced to huwk their paper upon tho streuts to tho bigh- est bidder. ‘The ulfairs of tho city have beon mannged for nearly three-quariers uf the past fiseul-year on tho cash busis, and the Gnly trite systen,—" pay as you go,"—Iniugirated in atl Important con- tructs, Tho results have been a large saving to. the city, more citicient service in the depurt+ ments, and a better class of work on publig ime provernonta ut a less vost. These changes have not been effected with- out considerable trouble and sueriiice, When instelled into ollice, found that futir months of the year had been run on n buals of about 00 percent of tho nppropriation for the your, Instend of 85, aud L waa ut onee forced to ive within the Intter limit iu order to carry out tho policy of retrenchincnt so os to secure t surplua for tho resumption of cush-payments, In June, I discovered that a luw hid been hur- riedly passed by the Leylaluture restrieting the issuance of warrants or serip to 7 por vent of tho tux-levy, and learned from tho Law Depart- ment that this Hinitution operated upon tho ens tire year of 180. There wae wan a luv pursed to restrict the tax-levy tu per cont, exclusive of « lovy for tho payment of bonds or Interest thereon and fur schoo) purposes, and with there yurlous restrictions I had ty set to work to cur- tullexpenditures, Limnicdintoly brought nbout a reduction in salacics in wil the dopurtmenta and had employés whose services were tot needed to.tho city dischurged, The reductions went into effuct July 1,and consequently thy dlsagree= ablo burdon full on the lust half of the sent yent, the expenses up to June having been at Hbout tho rate of 00 pur cent on the total appro- priation for the your, : ‘TNE DEPARTMENTS WERE REORGANIZED, and the samo clos and exacting attention to duty was required us in privaty corporations, Tho opinion that eficlunt service cannot be sus cured from uimployés inn yabite corpurntion I chavo looked upon as entirely wrong, 1 am awaro that in this viow of thocuse I run counter to tho sontinent prorelicy inthis olty to a Jere, extent as to publi servica, and, in illustration, I noed only to refor to the appli- cations of hundreds who seek places fur which thoy are .not fitted, but. to which thoy uapire simply bociuse thoy belivve thom slnecures and rewards for polition! work. ‘Postion nnd sal- ary, but no work," has been n ery to which alto- wother too mitvh heed has been paid in tho past. The corporation, whethor Nations, 8tate, ar lo- cul, has been too frequently rewarded AA ih tg greyution especiully croated for “biceding" purposes, and the nim of omployés has been to sco, not how much Inbor thoy cauld rendorin ro. turn for thoir salurics, but how little could be done, This loosoness hus been tompting to. the and indolent, and bnyo been” anxious to) abandon gvod situations for tho more eagy Hfe of 4 public po- sition, oven in the fuco of possible removal on the chungo of nan Admintatration. [took the position thnt tho cmployés in tho departments dboutd bo treated tho snmons thogo ongaged with private firms, and to-day every ono working for be wity - {6 required to report promptly for duty, and render full service fur bis salary, and, inthe aso of tho heads of subordinate dopartmonts, thoy nrv obliged to roport’ to tholr superiors tho -duify dispogition of tholr force and the work nc- compllabed undgr them, and thoy to the Mayor, ; The contractors wore also duait.with on a dif- :ferent -plan from that. formerly in: -vogua, and | cam spalltic we had = ‘some * % cra bound to respect. Combinations. fostored by indifference on the part of ‘oMotuls, havo been broken up, -prices have been reduces all around, In spite of tho advance in the valuo of matoriul and tho wigesof lwbor; nnd the work of the olty is being done under a healthful ays- tom of falr and independent compotition in pro- posnis. i arn rigid oconomy in the Departments, a we ee . ; REVENUES HAVA BEEN COLLECTED PROMPTLY * AND IMPANTIALLY. Favoritism should hayo no placa in amunictpal corporation. ‘Tho extension of favors should not bo displayed in violntion of Inws and ordinances of the city, but all, from the humblost to’ the most oxnltod, should Ms trented alike: and hunco thy. collections havo proceeded during tho your throughout all the channels, Irrespoutive of per- sons or partics. to tha utmost penny demanded hy tho Iawa. ‘The returns vonsequently show tt decided increase over previous yours in the amounta yuthored intu tho Treasury from all classes of persons who ore required todo busi- ness under op. Ileonso; and, altbanat tho strict collections may havo worked u hurdsbip in somo Instances, the complaints wore scurvoly hoard whon it became known thut all were served allko under imperative laws whieh wy, onth of offey compelled mo to oxecute, My sunse of sympathy —oftimes —_diotatod Jouiency, but duty could my sense of discover no claaticity iu tho flaws and ordinunees for special cnses. With such Sermcny: ns I havo outlined and the prompt collection of all revenucs, the savings AVE ranched into thousands of dollars, aud tho purples of funds acuumulated thereby hua put: us ina porition of not only being ablo to meet a Jurge portion of cur exponditures with'cash, but to Bu Catubilish contidenco among monoyed men as to plico our bonds tn the murket ata mito of: interest nearly the samo us that pald by the most favared Enstorn citics, In lustration of whut hns been accomplished, Linvitu your curnest consideration to TUX FOLLOWING FINANCIAL EXHIBIT prepared by Controller Gurney; Honded devs Noo. i, 167, Of which Is duu July J, I8O Interont on bonds due July 1 axes collected during 1870s For years prior to 1874, principally from tax, deeds and tax purchasers, U For yours pring to 2 y Cullouturs yeaa net Volloctore, Fa rior iu Joctirs., Deol ta must @f which 18 supposed to be ultimately” Tollectatilog : 1sTL Combrneedt in tax doode held by the city). 8 15,06 1874 (part umbrucud in tnx deous held by the city, anle enjoined, now In inde of Law Dos [UFTIIUDB teserevene, wh deta ial pet; i. (furfeited and oxteuded 1st. turtolied und oxt 15)... a ime (ue 5 19 Colloctor).. Old tuxes ou! Wotalere, orteenenene OF 179 tnx thera has beon collected und pald Ploarta Cry brommurar Any [el vvevest tons 61 OMO28E Upto same dute tat yuar be had’ yecuived Agron taxon of V8 ajar pald during abiounr of in toute Cenoral bunt, Fire-Departniont Bund, iis, bowurage Fund, t9) Departmunt Publlu Works, ta Stroutelainp Fund, 18: Polteo Fund, wie, BenvotPux Fund, Contingent Sit Publie library Fun Buworauy-'Va: ‘and, Ciiy-Hiail Fund, isi Puy ereseae i lre-Liepar! Boweraye Fund, 18y, Sownenge/t'ex Fun Department Punto x Fund, I nid, THY, Fu ip. Jabrary Fund, 187 Furfottures a 107 and 181 Tatler, Fund: 1879, nop Pebite Wer Sownmge Fund... | Sg Kowa Pontes eens Boe Fire Dep't Fi Parent Lara nd, 32500) Pubite tibmnry Fund = 300 Intarert necount,. G8, Genorsl Fund KOU ssapeaseerevceesorse PONT 187 Total.,,, (00 rosorvod fur Weat Division Police Btation, bt} ofauts reserved for amount duo Wust Bide Gas’ PANT. 30 Fosorved for interest unpaid. WATER DEPARTMENT, Mike" ‘Water ronts collected. Pperatiny expense Intorost paid... 614,761 Surplus. iat Water rents collected. Dporating exponses. Intarent pad. aa - Water rents collected... pxpens Mperatingt flcareat pa Surplus, Water rents collectod,.. GOporaling exponses, Intoroat puidese Burptus..A. Water ronte collected. yporating expense: Interest pales Surplus, ‘This branch of the city's aervice, to which our people closely look for protection to thoir prop- Vs porsonsy and ives, is in a woll-organized andeliiciont state. Strict discipline ns been mufntained throughout the force, and the spirit of emulation encouraged among the mon by na eave niticn of a full nttontion to duty.and good joe, sory! Tho good work accomplished can no better bo shown than by n tabulated statement of tle value of property reported stolen and tho value of recoveries nade during the liral four tnonthys: of tho past your and the ilrst four months of tho presunt year and aeverul years back, Value of + Vitlue of rf stolen property Fecurered, enon gE 8 ana Ri “synp: Binrea 92 TNE £0 aniDs “paiaio2 nv fo fys9 aro fornyoa oes | ssodoue 300y fo ono, s Ey Pe [td F250] - RI] BS 78 T69}6 80,730] 05S Teed Ma Tn this oxhibit tha Ilnois Contral Hailrond robbery, whiob ocourrod {11 Juno lnat, {a not ine cluded. | ‘Tho rogson why ft fs ornittod In becuuso: no report waa over mado by the rallroud officials to tho police authoritics, and the amount is aline ply conjoutural, various sums baving, boun given. Norecord thorofore hia beon kopt in tho Dopartinont. Tho robbery and recovery of tho proporty and arrest of tho thioves occurred so near togothor—within thonty-four hour of tho ovent—that neithar the Mou, Acting Supcr- intendont nor tho rallrond pooplo thought it saab: tho while apparently to make any note of it. ‘Taking tho years nbove aRiven, I find that In 1873-'74 $130,004 worth of property, which had buon reported stolon, waa not recoverod; tn 1877 $23,473 not recovered; 1878 $40,SI1 not recovered; and in 187) the Department was only $1204 be- hind. During tho last yeur, consequently, the yutud of stolon property recovered was Intquly in excess of any provious yeur, Thoamount res Ported stolen was considerably loss than that of nny provious year, og 1 glance at tho totals will Indicuts, During tho frat four months of 1870 tho yiiue of Broperty, roportod stulen nmounted to $47,810, and the value of stolon-propurty ro- coversd $25,704, loaving the Dopartinont 822,054 bobind ints recovorics, During the frst four months of the present. Your tho valuo of prop- orty' stoton reuched $42.60.59, and of property recovored $5,810.00, Wo hnyo thus ictually ro- covered $17,288.50 mioro worth of property, both of Whit waa reported and unreported. This Invge oxcesd of rocoveries over tho nmount to) A Rppoars on fits- {aco somowhut Ainge and absurd, but when it is takon Into considera- Uon that tho recoverics nuted incline proporty of which no ro} wore mude, and which wis rovovered outuide of tho elty, and property that was stolen during the past and prior yours, the statement becomes pluin ond intelligible. It convineingly domonstrates the jncronsed em. eloney of tho force, and curries ovidence of tho strict honcaty of tho Depurtment tn its dealings ‘with the thloves and urlminaly of tho city, BOARD GF PUBLIC-WORKS DePartrMENT. Inno brinch of tho. public service has thoro bewn greater improvement than tu this Dopart- ment Everything was found inn somewhit: dlgurganized oandition, and steps wore at once taken to reorganize and improve at all possible olnts, ‘this was expecially the cose in tho Water Offlee, Although nvarly vw iniliton of dol- luvs was being annually collected from water nites, the numer of keeping the sccounts wis fo tlevald of gyal end the necessary checks to provent crromt and to detect dishoncaty, us to present strony temptations for tho euiles- dlomont of the olty'a money A thorough overbuling of the udcaunts for three or four yours buvk sans peataptly, inetituted, and renvit~ ed in bringing fo Hyhtthe fact tint one of tho dlvision tories bad “stolen about 819,000 during this tine, while fn tho accounts of two of tha ry inaluing three divisions ft wus found that from B1,200) ter $1.00) pat annuin bud been abstracted, Dut such wus thy loose and uneertaly manner o! keoplng the books that the wuilty partiva equld not bi certalaly fdentiled and aide Hatile, Tho RUW 9 return Hawg jon, fs aw vomplote ei oo pone is allowed to receive monuy. but the casblor, who fs under beavy bonds, and the checks upon bim are 80 complete thet overy cent received ia checked up, batanced, aud cigidly accounted for cach day. Whilo the now ayatoin instituted fs thus mommy: the runs Hing oxpenses of tho nltico have been reduced pearly one-half by tho dischares of forty-three yee which reduction may be briuily shows as allows Whon tho present Administration came Into powor the outire pay-roil of the Water Depurtment amounted por month to $0,440.74, which pur anuin ‘Tho reduced Itt and catimatessubialt- ted by tho Commbatoncr for tho year 1880 us gulllciont to cover tho outire pay-roll for this ycar, and for which only an aggregate appropriution wus asked and grant), amounts Werevvenr Difference and saving to tho city per ANNUM 6s seoerere ene veseore + 853,108.13 ‘Tho vullcetions have also boon more rigidly en- forced undor the now systum than formorly, aa de shown by the folluwlog: Woole amuunt callcoted from water rates for, fis zoar eudlng Bees WM, scoe esses tes Whulu amount coloctad ‘fruit wutor rants (or the yeur ending Duc. 3, 197, natwithatunding tha faduction uf 25 pur cout on tho frontage J, aad now in full opern> at of at firsteclias ban 77,908.8 45,288.78 22,011 Which proves that tho collections have boon jure, If tigured on tho sauo basis, thar reba) 101 4 in 1878, thus showing the pul; aifeot bly improvement ted by the reorgenizat if ie HB of thia Depart: mont A great improvement was also accomplished 4n other directions, LY REPORTS 4 GRNENAL BYVTEM OF D, Was tostitnuied wae requ. faroughout tbe vwhole Department ftom tho varlous foramen over outdvor work for. tho elty, The nen ene Haged In atrevt: repairing wil cleaning, in eew- erigo-work,: laying Witler-pipes, ute, wero Hee counted for In dota roporta whieh aro nld upon the Cotniniasiongr’a desk exch day. These reports show the number of incon and teams en- gaged in each Job, tho locality, charnoter, and extent. of tho ‘work from diy tu day,. Tho tnonthly.pay-rolla are checked by thoso dilly ro- porta, and useloss aid unteeesanry men and teams dotected aod Mapensed with promptly, Full qnd* regular reports urv algo abred of ‘all’ wator ands sewerngo pipes, brick, cement, hunber. atiddothor material pirebased and used by the elty, A atrict account is kent ‘and prompt reports made of the several quantl- tea: ree d, the quintitica used and where used, and quantities remalning on hand, so that nothlng {a allowed to be wasted, ovarlooked, or 0s THE CONTRACTORS were nlao dealt mh on a differant principio from that proviously fn force. The Comraladions .or took the groutid br tho start that he would have nu seeret dealings with the contractont: that ait his acts would bv open nid fre to the {uspection of every “ime who cured to know nbout them. Io favsted the fullest and freest compotition, nseuring every ono that no favorite ism would be show, and thit no influence or gonsideration of auy sort would keep him front making the award honestly in every ena, tu the lowest responsible bidder, Ho hn steut: ily bold to this promfxe, ard eonsequuntiy the bidding for the elty’s work Is wow full and apire Jantmiuts are cdrefully druwn to eS thy ited, ‘clearly and exactly tho rear inne, eity complies faithfuily with all ita promin reqitires ench com or to do the sane, this course fulthfully inalntalned, luwaults bave ‘eon avolded, and any thansands of dollars’ suved ty the city. Rerides, combinations buve been severed, und notably Ut organized to en trol the sewer-pipe purchases. In the purchase of theso pipes luet wenson, ft wis dis- after the bids lind) been ree colved, that there was # combination among tho Weatern: pipe manufacturers. All the bids were set aside, and now Propreats in- yited by sollulting Eastern computition, Dy this courso $12,000 was sived to the elty in this one Item ef matorin’ purchased for tho city's use. Within tbe past fow days another come Dination was discovered, which we wore dettre nilned snoutd be brokdn, and hope to suve thore- -by tnany thousand dollars, ‘Subsequent events have shown that the com- Dinution was a formidable one, but it bus since beon successfully benten, After reudvertising -for new proposals for Iron water-pipes, in spite of protosta and thredts of injunction, tho De- partment secured more favorubly bids, and de- elded to awnrd tho contrict totho lowest bidder, Sat nfiyure $22,600 less thin tho next lowest and &33,00u lower than the combination bid. The suecessful bidders are responsible mon, and will sfurnish first-clasa yautity of pipe, a In humber, brick, coment. iron, water-pl ete, tho city ia a heavy purehasor, Tnatond of requiring eich bid to lie fur the wholo quantity advertised, thus shutting out bidders of Minited mand and restricting the competition to a faw heavy deitlons, the door was thrown opon to ull, Uids “being nltowed to be made for a pure orallas suited tho couvenionce and ability of those bidding, the Commissioner reserving tho right to seleut and make awards on bids fu detail ur iu the aygremute, us proved best for tho city. An instance of the udvuntuge ot the Bys- tein may be given: In the carly days of the presont Administration on advertisement wis put in for 900,000 fect of heavy onk. lumber. A. wontlemnny enlled at tho ollice to say that he had 100,000 foot that would exactly sult and he would selltt chomp, but hy could not furnish the whol Amount asked, aud supposed, therefore, that ho could not bid. He wag told to put tn bls bid for what lumber ho had. . When (tho — bids were opened this bid was tor $1150 1,000. while tho” next Jowest wns Nt $18.50 per 1,000, and-thus tho city saved 8500 in this onu {tom nlone, and tho man considored tho privilege to bid a favor. . : ¢ STILL ANOTHER COMBINATION . waa discoverod and routed. This was on tho substitution of granit for Uodfurd atone for the columns aud pilisters on tho new City-Hutl, In tho carly part of last suminer tho City-Hall cun- trootars proposed to the Bulldiny Committee to furnish granit columns and pilnsters for tho sum of $109,000 in- addition to thelr existing contracts, und subsequently tho, Committee recommended the nccepmico of the prop- osition to tho Council. The recommendition was concurred inj bute boing sntigfer: that tho muattor hud been hastily considered, T sent Inu veto, Tho Council thun adopted i resoli- tlon dircoting the Comnilssioner ot Public Works to entor into neyotlations with tho contractors, and, in necordance thoresith, ho hotd suvant in- terviows with tha gentidmen, but. Snding that thoy were disposed to adhere to tho tlyures reu= omtnonded by tho Counell, he declined to make torms with them and ‘discontinuad the negotiu- Hons. The Cummissioncr und myself took the ground that granite pilasters were not destrablo,. corsidoring tho. diiferonce in prico, and that tho dark Belford tong: in contrast with the granit columhs would looklas woll, if not. butter, thie Bpunlt: pilasters: . Tho rosilt was, that on tho 4th df December, last tho Commisstonor and miysalf-auccocdad In entering Into un ayreemunt and contruut with tho contructors to: furnish iy columns of tho same quility and exactly those on the county. slde for $37,000, Ppaesteal ted euving to tho city of 871, forbnce botwoon $108,000 and $37,000. . Tho sang -rato.of pyymant’ would +have -procured~ granit, (637,000), Would mui 2 saving a i 2 th alty aver tho contract directed : b: 1 el, -In all other contracta, tho intoresta of the city” have been Hkewlse subsorvod, nnd thus -in less than ono year woveral hundred thousand dollars havo boon saved, y ‘While on this subsoct of contracts,-I deetro to , call your attention to the delusive and pornt- clous systom of allowing nee PIUVATE, CONTRACTS FOI PAVING BTRERTS, Quite a number of atroots were paved jn 1879 and the work done by private contrnot. Tha method of scouring this work is somothing ke tho followings. A contractar will get up a form of contract for paying n stroct in the manner that will pay him tho best proiit, stating a prico in sald contract for the work per Hnoul foob or aquary yard, He thon canvaxses the streot, to get tho signatures of tho lot-owners, rankie such private terms and side agroomonts with tho intiuentinl portion especially as will inuace thom toslyn the contract, Whon tho signatures of the ogners of throv-fourths of tho luta aru obtained, an application is mado to this Council for an order requiring an agsesamont to be nada. ‘on tho romuining lot-owners for tholr sharo of the dmproveawnt and directing tho Commisston- er of Publis Works to let this purt of tho work, and olso tho city's portion for tho intersections, to tho party holding the three-fourths contract, atiprice not Sasera tan, that stated in suid con- truut. This restricts the letting to this | gHe AEE, and really fixes the price, if the order of tha Counoil be strictly obeyed, for tho sume price is not jn exeess, and, having no competitor, it must be lot to blin at this igure.. Alt thls ia alle ruotly fn violation of the general law, which re- quiroy all the contracts for vlty work tabu lect to tho lowest blider, and T do not believe that tho assevamentsugninst thoremalning ownorscan be loyally collected unless the work f4 thug let. Tho Commissioner has refused to lot to such partios In apy euso oxeopt they carne down to tho. lowost bidd the Department had intoly recotvod for almilar work. *Tho cinse- uence hia beon, us atitod by the Superintend= ont ot Btreeta in hia report: for 187, tint the prices named in privatecontracts have avoraged 2 per cunt inore thin tho Contmixsionor nilawod orpald for tho vory samo work on tho same strouta and done at the same time, ‘Thy wholo sytem Ought to be changed, and I woul reeoni= mond that your honorable body tuke some totion in the matter, In this vonnection, I would alao recommend thutyou pass an ordis Mithco directing that no person or persona be nl. flowed lo open any. paved street for laying water or mis connections, private drains, or far any othor ike purpose, Unless auch person or persons shall bave frst deposited with ihe wlty a Bum of money sullicicnt to enuble the elty.to restora such street when so opened, T make thia recommendation because f hive seon that in no way are our paved strecta more seriously damuged than by Chu presont system of restora= thon udopted by the private pours or persons making the rer ie ‘The elty shoutd haye ene tire control of the paved streets, should make wins, und bo beld respontblo for thelr condiden, THK FUOMLEM OF THE BEST HYSTEM OF BTUKKTS PAVING, for tho city a yet unvolved, Lut the city fs to do congratulited upon the fact that the uilserge ble ehostof pine-bluck paving tag lost favor with noarty the entire community. Rven tuiter- extod vontrictors are ushuned longer ta nilvos ente lt, Whuether cedir blocks shall meet the sane verdiut remains to be told only by thn ‘This, Uke other wooten-blouk paving, hawt merit of comparative cheapness, wud uf being noiseless, and, exeept In gold weather when the: round fe trogen, not injured to tho hare Sut, kis all woodurn prevent, It in not Ate} ceptible to repaly, White new ith good, but when, mi Uneven there ts bat one seeds: that ta, 20 endure uxlong as possible, und tobuld anew, Tt baw been Found that on our goft sol {C14 tinprictleable to lay any syatew of blovkigy without a board or tu foundudon, ‘The biowka, bolog of uneven luxture, do not wear alike, ‘Tho result ia that one becuwed more worn thin ite holybbor, ‘Cho wheel oF u beavy van drops upon the lower one with w heavy poundige, hud wen ing and Sastroy ling it the more rapid We To litt the worn-out block und repluct it with a naw one woul require that euch tiew Dloak ebould be cut to suit the hight of the old block next ti a. Vhis would by nearly If not quite as oustly gh isi Baw nue, ik A or is curefius study of tho queation, Iam lol tothink that forthe aks buwitwas etreota tthe heart of tho vlty a more durable puyement and ‘ONG Inory BUNCEDLIbIo to condtant and watehtul repair should be adopted, fa nuarly nll tha Kutopeun cities the Belgian block ty now being ned for all huavy tratiie treats, This block, when worn, wun be lifted reudily, and a tithe sind beneath hfts itp to wn even surfucr, When tho hesavy-tratile of tho day pnids, tho. Rtrect mung coos Wong with a fow stonos und 4 hand-curt of sand, wand buture dark the: streut ta nade 4s yuod wx now. Asphalt blocks could be repaired In the same way, ¥ a ‘THK ONINOTION TO TIM BELGIAN BLOCK frit, that it fa noisy. ‘That fa moro in s f funoy than in reality, rhe oar rapidly Saoones accustomed to ow regulur poise, so that absenoe of It bocomes itlvagresable, Inthe depthy of the Mammoth Cave the tourist tn aalnea he hears the painful ailonce, and when be comes out tho din of tho world Jen pwouk ict 2 reg Pet datiebitene: ofa rurale is ri vise ulty struct awake, walle the sayiager wep soundly tho coluinins! sido of his thundering engine, and awakens when tt slows ip more thin usual, The dent. ren of a narrow street In Cologne siceps Ike a babe, though a hundred wagons tre rattting long the rough stony streets, Our streets nro so wido that we would not care much for tho nolsc, Field & Leiter sro not at all disturbed ry tho noise from tho cobble-stone pavement on jarket street. « Anothur objection to the Belgian block f6 that itis injurious to tho horses, except whon mov- ing ata modorate galt. ‘Chis is un objection (that fas moro than a compensating bonefit, The heurt of Chicago ts already very inuch crowided, Inn fow years the trata In ft willbe unsur- eee by that in nny other elty., Fast traveliug, if posite, will ba dangerous, A pavement. which will force tho owner Of n fnat horse to slow up to savy his animal will be a great pros eee uthors among and through whom he t ‘The noxt objection to the pavement is Its cost. JAMneas, T° recomnisud that the city sand Its nue thorities urge upon tho Genoral Assembly next cwlnter that It pasa in law that whenever 1 at ‘uf purterastrect shalt be paved tn on permanent manner by the owners of the Mront- Ore, thet such dtreot of part of u street shall be ‘anvepted by tho city, und forever thorenftar koptin repair trom tho General Fund. Che heart of thoulty Is used by the wholo city. If the owner of lot in it spends enough to lay at Permanent aud costly pavement, the remainder ext wlord to keep ft. up, aunt, na such heart grows; permanent streets will spread undil the whole city hecomes well puived. Tf owners are tnwiiling to Inv) permanent pavements, then let them put down tholr codar Dlocks, Init forces thom to renew a4 fast ue It becomes rouh, MY DEFINITION OF PEIMANENT PAVEMENT An welleind ono whieh | udinits pady repair, whether the sume bo stone nsphult blocks, of & deep wand heavy Acadiin, For streeta not heavily traveled 1 Dellove no prvement 90 good as a deep, well-tald macadan It isof atl others the least lojurivus to the borse and adiuite of the fhatost seeding over Tt. It ean always he repaired. To have such nstrect vccopted by the elty ft should be lad at lenst two feet deep, be thoronyhly rolled: a heavy steum roller, and have cobble or Bul- i ft blouk gutters, By baying it suy four juches wiow grade, it will bo ready fur wo block pavernent on top whenever the atroct on which it shall be dnd roquires, by ita becoming. heavily. tratfieked, such more lasting - pavement, Olllcors and — engivors of many other elties hive been to sce me within tho past ycar, and, with tow exceptions, wil azree that good mtacadum G4 the best pavement fur all outur strovts and wll inner stroats over which fust locomotion is necessary.” Chivago overs a lurge territory. Leading stroeta ruach|rue from the centre of town to the varlous siburbs or outer Units as urteries inust de paved in such a manner ag ty admit of mipltd locomotion. We should have two or more such streets running from the centro to tho Imita in eneh quurter of the town, laid with heavy tac adnin. ‘Thedo should be frat Inid by the prop- gety-owners, but afterwards thoy shuuld be pipe up by gununtl taxntion, They will be for tho beneltt of all, and should be maintained by alt. Itisn great burdebip to make a lot-owner keep up a pavement for tho benulitof Pha palita ‘Woat Adiune street, from the bridge to Mutsted strect, hus been worn uut by the public, and yet tho rents along it do not pay much more thin taxation takes from the owner. Cheap houses cantot be created on ft, and good improvements woul) be wasted Investment, Such an stroct, after once permanently Improved, should be kopt up by the public. Until some such a system: be adopted we wilt continue to huve chenp pave- iments und disgraceful atreets. Until tho pres- ent system of paying by especial nssesenionts consus to by the on one, wo will buve constant remonstrances tyalnst now faproveimene. und Ratrintia Aldormon yletding to the demands of ‘ho objectors. --In connection with a thorough system of street-paving there should also be inaugurated a system which will force : MROAD TINGS ‘upon trucks and wagons used forearrying hen’ Jouds. Many: waons naw in Chicago bear fonds of from 10,000 tu 16,000 pounds. Our level grades. perintt mauak heavier froightuge than Is pusal- bly upon the Uneven grades of othor citics. a. wagon bearing 12,000 pounds, or six tons, throws a weight of 4, pounds on eich sheet, Tho wheel on ascation of tatrect elevated even an Inch falls upon the next section with 1 pound- ago of grent force. Wheels should havo tires of a width proportionate to tho welghts to be ear- ried, Six inches is hantly wide enough for mony of the vans used by our rout =o merchnnt houses and by" stone. lowers. A ayatem of Heenses should ‘be Iiawzurated, the cost of Neenso to be lower ag tho tires of wheels are wider, A Jaw to this of- fect should tuke effect at some future diy to onnble owners of tennis to propare for it, I have seon 8 Van on our strecta with a tlre two and a hf inches wide bearhig a Jond sila to be of H,- 000 pounds, ord,400 pounds to the wheel, Sich n toad drawn over miny of tho streets docs more damago than fifty ordinary loads.’ In European oities wide tires are exucted on ull such wagons, andthe system is being introduced In some Aimerlean eftios, Alaw will havo to be obtained to bring about this much-needed reform, ‘With the appropriition mado for 1879, and tho requirement for reductionaein the different de- partinonta, rae é ONLY A:FEW STREETS LOMPAUAEIV Roy WERE IM- i very ritovaD during tho fae ar.,- Tho whole longth of tho atrdets |mproved-reabhed only sdven iniles, : and those Inf ingstly-in'thd business portions of | tho city,, Nomerons complaints wers made of} tha dbploralile oindition df muny streots, and} tho demands for ‘inprovemonts were urgent, Dut 93 so many of them, had been. curried ; aver, from, prior; yours: it was Jimpossibta | wo gomply, with \them?! all... the -"iimitad | means... wita> a idoguey -.of---a former régime, and congoquently tho Superintendent of Btreots hud ply hands tied, thereby’ consider obic extent. aut, to Agi ‘ete During the Rreper year, ‘howeyor, ; the im- rovemonts will bo mimerous and: oxtunsive. dinanocs have nlready Bean’ pi that will gnabdle- him to fmpreve between - twenty, aod twonty-five mites of streets. Sphcifculioms have ulrsady been prepared for gruding, curh- ing. and paving forty-clyht blocks In the South Division, the sime number. in tho West. Diyis- jon, ‘and twelve blocks in, tho North Divis- fon, and tho papers for the rest of tho: improvements will he prepared” ag soon as practicable, The cost of nil theso {in- rovements will bo in tho’ nelghhorbood of $io00,000, of which tho city’s portion will bo ubout $151,000 for tho intersections, .... . 4 7s HE SIDEWALKS + wore found ina brokon-np vondition In many parts of shecity, andthe work: of repair, tae gressed a8 rapidly as the Department could gut at thom by the usual alow course losd out by the luw.” Thare wore fifty-une miles of sidewalks rebullt, repuired, and put down new, . This year the nuimbor of mlles ome to be greter, and thug accommodations will be extended ton reat muny who hive valuly pleaded for the Improvements for years, . ‘he appropriation subject to the use and re- quiremunts of the Public Works Departinent. IN, except for tho construvtion of tho new City-Hall, was na follows; $1,008,648 Total AMOWUNE. .ceseeerseres: Of this waa expenited during tho year 2 TBS Leaving a balance unexponded,,,,.8 22,816 Tho fund set valde for the City-Hull was as follows: Amount appropriated by City Counoll Amount rovuive Fuud,. 8200,000 TOtil resssesvesreres Of this wasexpondud an > Loaving unoxpendedt.. THY FIG. DRVANTMENT, ‘The Fire Dopartimont ty in excellent. condition, Tta officers aro active und onorgetie, the men bers well trained and eificlent, and the {tp paratus In asd good working order is could be expected, considering tho age of the engl Tn so important an ari of the minilolpal service na this Department the ntinoat hirmat, wud good-will ought ta.extat throughout, and, Hi yeh wellght rancor uxisted mone curtain the outset of my adtuinistmition, 1a ny to state (hit never win tho Dopartaont #0 harmeniouw, so woll disciplined, and so effeuttve a3 it tho prosent thaw, ‘Tho Marshal bax demonstrated bia ubility to mange and andle the fore, and, with’ the abolishment of the titles among the nedistuats In thelr being: placed an equal. footlig and sutury, thotr cobperation hus heen prompt, cheertal, and hearty, With this teveting of rank a prolitls seures of intricie nad geheming has been ces moved, vod thore da now witheased a remtler dieposition mmoryg the wits to de thelr full duty, Ti tecordaned with the neceniltios for reducm tan fexponsed al trond, the Surshal inaiugics ated na 4 wat rghl economy. The peechnas OF mupplied were reatrle hes eataatleat spine titles posalbeley, bub aeven thin was wot dibs aut. Aiviont to Keep the expenses of the Depuriinent within the’ Hint, und the elty was accordingly forved ta wk the members te agrees ten redugtion of f per Pho men res oguleed the emergency, © and willingly signed the agreaunat, While it wast tempor rary Inconvonienee, eubeuquent beneiite trom cuah payments more thin eounterbalinend it Guid demonstrated tho noawsalty and wielom of m aeHtints eee following tabulated states incorporate the invut trom the roport of the PirgeMunibul, and Yon 1870 from It you will olisorve that + TUB VUES OF LOxeKR are consiferubly below those of S677 although the number of flees iy linger thin for thu two yours previous, and a the sverige ta ovly takon of tres actually bivolying Jom if [Nuwaj falae) A ‘auf falae) Atnount | Avera uf No. iN Year, fires, | alarm, f (uaa, fuss. 31 6500 a bast 1 Loy pescerred bie ut ‘y und Say,” 4 totut loss of GIGS, ant two m0re: ity November, javolving & loa of only #87000, ‘Tho atber tires of the your were sui aeris ute Jond of Ya2L 18s worth of property Vakiow the whole Inte necount, the uxtruoniinary low aver nyeot §500 por tire is secured, ‘Whe numbur of Dulldings at the el of, 1878 wan 125,10 the huwaber rected in 1870 GG, and uumbor de- atroyed 40, ‘Waiting tho total cout af jmutntains Jog the Dupartnont, the coat of Ari-protection was only a trille over 8.23 por bullulg, of tuk- Jug the oout of Nro-protoctlon Ree dollar of ta seasuvle property, only throy mills. ‘Tho recons- mendation of tho Marshul for fre-wlurni vol~ nectlons aeatly, between | svhovl-bouses, oburvhos pluvea Of = nususcmIENT a Involvlug and) tbo = Dopartment I concur In, and fool ritisied that when this Improvement ia mado the danger to human life in vase of o firo and pinta will be greutly diminished. I ul4o commend the muygestion for some action fookehong tothe laying of telegruph wircs ground, The Depurtment is hampered hy the network of wires on tho poles in yetting Ind- ders ton burning building, and fora long tinte 1 have held that sume mensures ought to be adopted to elthor lessen or nbate tho nuisance, The Counoil ought also to oxtublish additional hatemands along tho river and In tho lumber districts and owners of bulldiugsahould be com- polled ty have tholr shutters opened from tho outside, so that’ watchmen and others could bo able to detect tires inore readily ‘Thre sre 16,680 feet of boro {n use in: the Dre Partinent, and tho total value of All kinds a grupestys real ustate, buildings, apparatus, 8 Thore aro 432 miles and 8,707 feet o mali and distelbuting pipes in the olty and 2,21 bytranta, as will be moro Lully seon In tho Marebal's annual report, Thu total appropriation was... Loss cash upproprinted,.. Approprinted by tax-tov Less Tuustion of so per cont, e + S2RLOT7 Cash approprinteds...sssseeseepseresee eons BIO Cash by' salu'of condemned property, O80 Cush from pravious npproprlalionsccc., 10207 , Amount at disponal of the Department, $424,853 ‘THR PUNE Limtany. : Tho Public Library te {na prospero ind @x- cellent condition. Ie_number of volumes in the Library Mas dt, 1870, was 00,423, and thore have been added sloce G12) volumes, making the toll nt tho prosent thine OF.544. Tho muitn= ver of new cards issued to book-borrowers #i1ce: June 1 ta 8.051, and tore than 20,000 persona nro now drawing houks froin the Library. Tho titin- bur of volttines elreututed contintes, [etn fti= formed by the Librarian, tu be the Jurzest of nuy Ubrary In tho United States exeapt tho Hon. ton Public Library, and tho use of books for reference Is constintly Incrensiug, ‘This ta du eldedly — encouraging, and. iudicaters that tho desira for knowledye ts a deep (hold upon the community, grandly accomplishing the ends of tho projectors and the purposes for whlelty the imonuy of the taxpayors {8 buing expended. Tho pressing want of the [brary tan ster and moro nevessible bullding.—ane that shall be practically tlre-proof and nearer the ground, nm not uware of any other instance where n city ilbrary 1s kept in the third story of n rented inilding ovcupled by twenty other tenants und Mable nt any-moment to be of a fire it would be impossible to save any Biitcrabia rtion of the books, which, {1 pendent of thy. nasoclations connected with many of them as«itts contributed tu the city after tho great fire, have n peountary valuo of oyer $100,000, A bullding or any com bustible mateclul may be casily replnced, but a library destroyed {9 hard to replonish. Our: Librury is tho pride of our elty, tho repository of Tiny rire, choice, and valuable worke in hiv tory, poetry, science, and urt, and their deatrug- tion could not be fully yulued in dollace and centa, Should the bufidiog in which the Library in lucated bedestroyed, tho indifference of tho authorities would bo condyumned in unmensured terms. While itis yet time to provide neuinst contingonclen, I would suggest to your honur- able body that suine safor and botter location bo secured. THE LAW DEPARTMENT, ‘Tho legal business of the city hus boon In ex- cellent hands, and the interests ar the city well attonded to tn the Courts, Quite a number of importent suits bave been tried and won for the city during the past yunr, The moat notably ones are tho aults Involving, the constitutlonal- ity Of the net of 1877 legalizing the levy of the tuxes of 187 und 1874 and the Guye defilcution, ‘by which two cases the clty bus been put in a position to cover into the Trensury several hun- dred thousand dollars, the Supreine Court huv- ing, In cach Instance, oflemed tho clans of the elly, Thero were 25 sults pending in the vartous Courts, The greatest number was for damages by rensou uf dofcctive sidewalks, and tho amount involved was $218,500, in which judgments were rendered to the amount of only $18,W2. One vf those verdicts for $1,500 hue deen sot nelde und a new trial granted, ‘Two for 000 now stand on appeal, Tho slow process of making and colleuting assessments betore sidewalks Undly damaged cnn bo repaired has made thom fruitful sources of accident, and, to have us few sults ns posslbio In this direction, L would suggest that tho ordjuancos be 60 amended as to onable tha alte. to employ men gud wagons with boards, planks, and nnils uirned up. In ensue ne to travel the streets und ropair side walks where ‘neceasury, Buch @ course would -onuble tho city to dn the work far moro expeditiously andatun outlay fur leaw than undur tho existing condition of things. An ordinance might algo be passed which would onable tho city to muke repairs ut cost mich Jesa than can be done by individual owners, wha have to pay’ for cartuge und logy time by going to.and cowing from purticular placcs, Tthink a plan could be iuuugurated under which the olty, after making ropuirs, could col- lect from tho owners, and, if 9 considerable faz of tho cost fuil of collection, the anving of lawsults und ditmares would moro than rake up for lost collections. ‘THY GAS DEPARTMENT. , ‘Tho Gas-In: tor, on ontering uprm hiadutics : ‘in tho dust weak of “Deoomber, found: the office | and photomotrical ‘rpome In -u disorderod und colifuspd astute. Many of tho fustrumonta wore | “broken and wholly useless for the purposoa for (which thay wore destined, und tho work. of re- ‘pulr bad to be {mmmodiatoly undortakan in order to make .tho. uflice of some use.ta tho city. Everything fa now tn excellent working order. A photomuter hos bees udded to the ~photomut- rleal rooin, and by ite use the Inspector -Is on abied to ascertain the Hlumninating power of gna | fn’each division of tho city. Ongof his iret aud Important dutics wos ta detormine the pressure tho Gus Company susinined at nll tines, This waa done at different places in tho elty, varying from Ita centro to the extreme Mailta, north, south, and west, and at all hours of the day and night. ‘The burners on tho test-lamps were all tested, and found to burn lesa than tho standard fixed by tho ordinances,—four cuble fect per hour, the bonofite huve thorefore been wholly un tho sidv of the GusCompany rid agalnat tho city, ‘Tne consumption of gis in the tunnels bie and all the light required bo eatly reduced, in various portions of tho elty bas been given by’ a cloge observation uf tha weather. On partinlly cloudy nights and on nighte when the ground wus Covered with snow, he his aitved the clly thousands ‘of dollurs by doclining to give ordors for tho Nghting of wil the utrest-lnmpa, A oottte lote record is now kept in the Departmont per- Yatntog to tho preasure, consumption, ete, of giaand condition of the lamps and burners, tind the results given by tho test-lumps, ‘Tho showing is a very favorable one, and, judelng from the receipts of the past fuspadior, us shuwn ju tho Controfler's bouls, It appears thut tho present Inapeetar hus teste nor private juetors In tho four months le has been In offov than hind boon Suspected in tho past threo years. When all the changes which he de- sired ind oxpects to muke ore nade, he feels confident that tho anving to the elty will bo still greater, and the conmiuers supplied with not oniy muro, but a batter quallty of gus. ‘THE NRALTH DEPARTMENT, Although the forces omployed Inst year was less than that of the preceding year, the ine ereased uetivity of (hose romalatig rendered the work of this Departinent more olfective nnd successful, and tho ollicers ire entitled to great credit for (hele prompt and declalyo mensures in reatrlotlng tho varluus sources which breed disease and death, During the teal year, the number of deaths from all gauses” was 8.014, by ing nt the rite of 1723 ta cach 1,000 population, For tho last five yenrs, the mimber hit been as follows: 1874, SU.2u; WANE UST, 20.413 1857, 18.24; 18TH, 10.50. From this oxhibit, it will boobs sorved that tho death-rate for 1870 was tho toweat ever recorded it this ety, with the exception of that of 187% Thu comparative death-rate por 1,000 population In other entles is us followas Chuciinath, 18.88; New York, 25. Brookiyn, 2040; Boston, 1.03; Vhllidetphin, Welt: Bult fore, Ws Pittabury, 20.02; ant Wastington, A Thoro wore LOS formal wotices ta ntnity Tulauuces served by the Sanitary luxpaectars, raid a record kept onthe; dee pormnds ar ment, suitry, and fh wore found be slvagitare Fouses, and oinarketa and condemned ns unit for food, and thrown: inte rene doring “tanks, ‘There re OM privigs cleaned by the removal of 12,008 cuble yards of nihisoll; KN tons of freablyewlukud dtu were seattered, fn the ditches, wuttors, anttlow ured during the montts af daly aud August: 4,008 Lenemnont-houxes ware oxiitined dnd each house mide n subject of repy i Inany aanitiry Hupravements made . Five ofticerseime mounted ire kept bitay alge and day ot the Stok eborhood, wit through thelr ciforts er areat ulfenve, from that loenlity hus Us tuted ay to give the publlo ne grauied Maint. The exe penges of the Bupurtin Trom the ate Anal appropriation, Sah worgenuy, 87,° BTS, making t touil of Fb, THE PUNEIG SCHOOLER, The schools have bata very prosperous year, The fnvrvaso In daily membership of pupils over The previcus sear Was ADOUL TUM, and required the Ginployinent of aixty) additional teachers. Awa achoolenites wore purchased iu tho Nort Diviaton, ong an the Rauth Divoiion, and func ty the Waal Diviion,and tires new bulldinugs with gusmmmodations for 2 tt pupils haya taut eamnplated and poeupled during tha yuur, vive inthe West Dividon undone ia the south viddin. The completion thoxe bulldiiyed bes enabled the Doard of Kdueation to give ap Tire Fonled bulldiag, one ih the Routh division tid the other in the Weat Division. Wwe titteons ron buildings will tw opens at tho Commencommnt of tho next torn, May 3, bath li thy West Divison: ‘The opentiyr of those bullde tugs will ullaw the Bourd, Fam informed by the Prexidont, (ojave up thre reuted buiidinies tn ant Davias hwo bwelvesroorn Hhuilaioury, date 700 puplid enet, will be ry ut are Negtnn ie ms oe wol-your, Septarnbur, ne dn tho ya ttislon Met tho wtnur 10 the North Divi font ‘The ocvupucey of thea buihiors will ends blo’ the Bound to give ap ony ty the West Dilys fon gud another ii the North Divito For the. é runt sehoal-year, hugluning Bop telnber, $870, to this dite, there ure enratled be tween 88,000 mal AT000- pila. he lnereuse for the your ordi Mirch v2, 1880, hud bev O40, ‘tho nurubor uf regular teachers crmployed bus bull Deon WS. iw nUIEINNG HEPAUTNRT. ‘The operations of this Dupartment have been wane whut Ale erg url spe nual your than for the proce your, bide froin '- init for iaproviag aud unlarglu old Duuiataws, " , | f ¥ ‘ 9 i at = 1 tho Issuanco of permita for new end permanent |: strictures has been ns follows forthe pastfour + years: N Bulldings, | Cost. | 3 OS n40 18% 8,261,600 It will bo observed that whilo the num- her of new buildings for 1870 is Inreer than that for 1878, the value is nourly 800,000 losa. his - discrepanoy ts ttecounted for by the fact that, sinov nearly all the arethl- teats have disvovered that tho‘vatno given by. thy owners {8 copied Into the nascssmont books for dssossment for taxes tho cost haw been Plieed ata firuro i reat deal load than the net- unl value, Tho buildings erected in 1870 wero Jnrger, on tho whole, thin in tho provious year, ‘The reason why a considerably turger numberof peerilta Wis tot issued over tho proviotts year, jt view of tho Increased neotivity in nll kinds of business, 16 wo doubt found in the fact that the price of labor aud material experionecd a very: marked upward tendancy, prompting a great many to delay operations until thers was evidence of oa deeline. In | apita or tho ou waged oeondition of af fata this tho indfentions — are Is vent, that tara wilt he avery active building aeason, - and that the nuniber of permite and the churnes ter of buildings wil by hirgely in oxcesd of thuse of any prior your for several yeurs past. In te fustrition of. the tn 4 progress for the present year, F have only toatate that upto date the nuniter of parmits issued wore 1,181. while. for the eorresponiing poriod of inst year tho nutiber was ouly Wl. - THE WOUSE OF CONNECTION, * The annual report of tho Superintendont of the House of Correetion shows it very satlaruce tory exhibit, and fully evinces his. ex ne munazement. 'Tho fatal cash expenditire the year 1479 were S2005.02, of which $64) was for works of tt minont chanmpeter, leave tg for fe eruh expt: E05 nd tha re- ceipts during the year wery &@2502), which shows an exe of reevipts over peneral ux- penses OF $1908. ‘There were fn the institution yAnS pridoners, of whom G.00L were dischurg? by parton, payment. of fine. or expiration of term of sentence. The price path prior tu the appointment oof _ the present Buperintendent in January. 1872, wis conta per day for board for eaeh prisane: When tho systont was changed on bls Ina on, aud tho city charged what It netually cost to feed the prisoners, instead of the stipulated price tu tho Superintendent, there was atoned B great saying to tho eity, and tho ayguregnta, ng shown in the annual report, hag mounted ia elght yoars to $180,465.68. Tho henith of the Ine stitution, according to the report or the City Phyaleluh. bas been excellent, nat, an the whole, the two officers dvgerve a grent deni of pralse. THE FULLERTON AVENUE CONDUIT. ‘The Fuilorton avenue conduit and pumpings works were comploted about, the beginning of and the first trial of their me Mt tn luat Fobruary. The works performed their task admirably, and started 0 current through the North Branoh of the river that moved the iuky, odorous, and silimy waters of lung stagnation to the entire sntisfaection of all obdervers. There was only one. objection subsequently mised aginst thelr contliied operations, und that was that the fou) musa roached the Crib und was ruturned to the wutor consumors of thocity by tho Water- Works, After the works hid beon runt for a number of daysan impression previlled that the murky condition: of tho Inko water was wholly due to the punip- ing gutof tho North Brinch; and, to detinitty Wetermine that guestion and allay nll fears, operations were dixcantinued, The cesantion a} the pumping developed no improvement In the water, and, after Jnvestigution, I am filly satiae fled that tha impurities of our water supply came not from tho effects of tho new works, but from tho sewuge omptying into the Matn and South Branches of the river. We have had a very open winter and nutnerous ralnfalls, ond. all” this hus had tho effect of sending the putrid waters to tho Jake, and not to tho cannt, If skeptien! people till consult the rec~ ord, they will tind that our drinking watur hing not been any worse this year than in previous years during tha months of Februury, March, and April, when the fenaent showers Awell tha ° waters of tho river afd send tha current cast~ ward. Tam content that tho Inke wator wilt Jn nowiso be uffected by the Fullerton avenue conduit in ordinury sersons. . TE nnInaEs. When the bridges wero inapocted Inst year, tho Bridge Superintendent discovered that thoy were nll ina poor and unsafe condition, It wis soon learned that for years previous i¢ had been tho custein to almply inake surfaco repairs, and, while to the casunt Observor tho Strnatungs ai poured solid and substantial, they were renlly dilapidated and worn out underneath. The foundation work wag uctually rotten on a werent inany Drldges, and ie was dificult, in many th atunces, ty mike tho stringers hold tho nits with whieh tho planks wore fastaned jn tholr glee ‘The protections to the bridges wore nlso wonyod, and, oyruat immy cusoy, & in r tho plics for the auperstructurces had been Jere without avy protection whatever. ‘Tho’ timber and planklog Mkewlse yuve ovidonce of disdo-. lution, and all over wore traces af muufeuk and earvlesnoxs, The bridyes bad evidently been left. to the mercics of wind, weathor, and storm, and tho weur snd tear inuidental to the heavy truco and truvel ovor them, fur tho sako af showing, penanamys and ;-prodioing:-a = small mancial bud Pe a Tho Superintendant sot at work to overhanl tho most ‘dilaplduted ones, and tho result bona been that nbuut twenty of tha bridyes hayy been thoroughly improved and rupatred. ‘bere fice ntlit others inn bad condition, but thoy aro being overhauled ns Tapidly, us clreumatances and means will permit. Had proper care and attention beon given these bridges in 1878, tho outlay would have. been Jess during the | pst runt, and the falas economy’ of saving 8,000 ron the bridge appropriation in that year would not now be charged up: to bad manage mont. With the small means nt hand {1 prouie: tion to the work to bu done, tha Superintesdent exporlonced «-a gront - deal “of difficulty in prosecuting — the the puat yene, bit, the neecasitios of tho ence” belnig: great, tho money, deficjonoies (are auppiied by the application of neaua from the special funds. Among tha bridges improved wore the Stato street belts, on which tho pro- teetions were antirely rebuilt nt a cost of SU; the Adhime street brkige, on whish also the pro teetlons were rebuilt at tost of 3700; gud the South UMulgted street tridye, on which the re-. bullding of thy protentions cost $140. Bealita the dilupidated condition of the bridges, thoro were fifteen bridges and vinducts which had not eon painted fora long the, and rome of these ind not even seen a coat of patut for ninayonrs. These were wil painted and tho moucs taken from the unexpended balanceof the Elghtoouth street bride, With the appropriation this year, the work of overhauling und repairing will be yiqurously: rogecuted, ag the grunt strain upon the various ridges requires that wil possible aafesuards aloud be thrown wrouind humm Ifo xt those polnta. = AUCTIONEERS, : Assourco of consiternble trouble to, the Mayor's alliao bas beon the Indciinitness of the: Ordinance roulatiig auctioneers, When L use sumed the Mayoralty J fund that it bud beon the custom in the pust to allow auotioncers with wiicenge to sell i any pirtet tho elty and ab uny tine. ‘This pructico ind inteeduced v grew imainy abuses of the priviloge, ind inatoud of | the auctioncors tutking sulog tn a legitimate wy tnany of them hud furmed out thelr icensos to nen who curried on business the year round without betug obliged to, take out a Ueenae by the payment of tha sax fea into the Clty ‘Trensury. For instanee, a gentio-. man had been (nthe habit of eouduotlng t horse sule once fn two weeks, and, not caring ta piv thy S20, hud sought nv telendty auetonser and by payiig hint pereentage on xalea seeured thy re vilege of balms made a clock and running the puaineas through the indifference of wtilotils, In this tustunee, und several others which thine and pave pro| Ktepped In a nontiontng, L and succeeded Sn inuking the partica: take out ow regular leense, | Ag tho ardle wines Je not ns explielt as it might . ha mpd, I. woukl reaent fly, recominend to your honorably bedy that it be wo amended’ ag to allow regularly: Hoenged auctioneers to ito adles outside of the's pluce of busiest 11 Loudubold wonds ure to bo Bold 1 une, hotel, or publld place where partios’ ure bratkiig up it hadsekeuplng or bushiess, 16 Blues oF pluchs whore tho proprivtors po clove ing out thelr bushiess, and la munufactories - whore old stack {6 tu bo cleared ant, and thon hy Buch cased only Is tho nale to bo made by ono of tho elurks or copertaers of the frat having tho sale Aig tty afler huving test scoured a permit nin the Mayor. recone conelwdltug, T desire torenew iny forisor recommmundation for ADDITIONAL PUMPING-ENGINES at thy West Side Water Works. On tho 4th of Auwust hint} aent to your honoribie body a vommiuplention in reference to the matter cai contingencies that wight arlar, which wontd leave the yeutre-Sunply ule trols inadequate to ineut the wants of the city, and Tor ny rewions In fuver of the addition t respeot fully to refer to that comunuulca- Hon, T have xeon no reasons for Ghungta the views [ then entortuined, and, therofory, wk your varnest colnilderation of tho sane.” Tn tuet, omy convictions | bava, xrown stronger on tho question, ‘and, ~be~ ing thus mor? carneat than over, F trust my recommandations will result in defnit and fuyorable netion at your gartiost conventonce, Inconelusion, I destro ‘to return my thanks for tha saute. kind courtoalos dhown ing by this Couned while presiding over ith dotiboralions, antl to the heads of tha diferent Dopartinents tor thelr prompt codpurntion in carcyluy out all TouMre cuter teal Ee ECHL, tha peacg aud welfare af the city, + “At tho coneluslon of tho reading, Ald. Wickers ny passed an ettlogy upon tho-messare, wid on bis motion the dociiment was split up and re- ferred tu uppropriate cumumittecs. ‘he Mayor then announced the Committce to aclect the Btanding Committcos of the Courcll, ne follows, which wus vathor ‘rough on Atd, Dixon; Ald, Altpeter, Wickersbum, Clark, Pure coll, BwIft, and Burley, ‘ Ald, Meler introduced the following, which was rerreal a thy Comuilttes on Elections, when appointed: ta * ‘ cwlved, That permission is horeby ylvon to the City Clork to open tho cnyelupes contalning: the ballots of the last olty vlvetion from the Seventh Preclact of tho Fourteenth Wand, to bo ‘used ut tho trial of the Judyea of sald procinct, ‘The rules were thon suspended, aud uutulahed business wus taken up. A.KEW POLICH COURT, Ald, Riordan Introduced the following ondls Bunce, Which was adopted bya vote of Wtos $ Pree rowed Eee er ae a eee) {inprovementa during. - ne i i 1 i