USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. II. Second Edition > Part 31
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It is this inattention to small matters in the beginning, which has been the cause of rolling up this large debt against the city, and to cancel which all our energies should now be directe,d
During the past year it became necessary to renew some of the loans of the city, and for that purpose stock was issued amounting.
360
Statistics.
to $50,000 bearing an interest of 6 per cent. This loan was taken by Watts Sherman, Esq., of this city, and upon which the city real- ized a premium of 14 per cent, being the first premium ever re- ceived by the city.
During the month of May last, a further loan was negotiated with the same gentleman for $100,000 of the city bonds, bearing an interest of 5 per cent. This loan was taken at par, and the amount realized therefrom is to be applied to the payment of city bonds, bearing an interest of 7 per cent, and falling due during the present and ensuing years.
To provide means for the gradual payment of our present debt, and the necessary increase which must inevitably follow, when the water law is carried into effect, requires the board to be firm in the discharge of their duty, and to be governed and directed by the restraining law of 1848, before referred to, and all other laws which may tend to the same result.
The character and prosperity of our city depend, in a great measure, upon the faithful discharge of the trust committed to our care ; and it is for us to determine by our acts, whether the credit which our city now enjoys shall continue to grow and flourish, or be reduced to that low standard under which we, groaned a few years since.
ASSESSORS' VALUATION. From the Albany Evening Journal.
From many untoward and disastrous circumstances, the citizens of Albany, for several years past, have been burthened with what may be very justly termed most enormous rates of taxation ; . reaching a point far exceeding that of any city in the Union. The causes which have produced such results have been numerous and in many instances, unavoidable ; while, in other cases, it has been the. result of mismanagement and political manœuvering. The failure.of. the Canal Bank was a sad blow to the moneyed interests of our city, and coming at a time, too, when we were sorely scourged by conflagrations, the finale to which was the devastation of nearly. one-eighth of our city. The basin assessment has been hanging over our heads like a leaden weight, completely crushing us and retarding our progress. From these and other numerous causes, rates of our taxation have been ranging from two to two and a quarter per cent, and on one occasion going beyond even that high figure. It will. be a matter of congratulation to every Albanian, that we have at last emerged from the woods, and are now so firmly esta- blished on a good, sound basis, that we can rejoice at our deliver- ance, and look with bright hopes to the future. We have recovered from all our disasters; that, incubus, the. basin assessment, is wiped away ; our limits are extending on every. side ; the last ves. tiges of the fire of 1848 are rapidly disappearing, and our popula- tion has, in spite of all the stumbling blocks cast in our way, reached over 50,000, an increase of over 12,000 since the last census.
1
361
Statistics.
We feel that we have a right to rejoice for all these favorable re- sults, and should any of our friends need additional cause for such manifestations, we have only to call their attention to the returns of the Assessors for the present year.
In the year 1849, the entire amount of real and personal property returned as assessed by the common council, amounted to $11,971,- 274.38. For the present year the amount returned is $12,602,284 .- 85, or an increase of $630,415.47 over the year 1849. The increase over 1849, when distributed among the wards of the city is as for- lows :
REAL ESTATE.
1st Ward
1850
$422,665
1849
400,880
$21,785.00
2d
66
1850
602,010
10,570.00
3d
1850
903,186
29,171.00
4th
1850
1,925,175
45,727.00
5th
1850
1,916,196
3,890.00
6th
1850
1,003,360
73,210.00
7th
1850
583,289
514,935
68,354.00
8th
1850
387,635
35,775,00
9th
1850
853,009
66
1849
814,993
38,016.00
10th
1850
833,575
1849
781,365
52,210.00
Total increase of real estate,
PERSONAL ESTATE.
1st Ward
1850
$5,500
1849
4,455
$1,045.00
2d
1850
32,300
3d
66
1850
92,200
53,700.00
4th
1850
766,822
1849
713,666
53,156.00
5th
1850
1,928,617
.. 66
1849
1,896,240
32,377.00
6th
1850
151,950
1849
123,450
28,500.00
7th
1850
44,200
Annals, ii.
. 31
$378,708.00
1849
27,300
5,000.00
1849
38,500
1849
930,050
1849
1849
351,860
1849
1,879,448
1849
1,912,306
1849
874,015
1849
591,440
362
Statistics.
7th Ward
1849
$17,000
$27,200.00
8th
1850
6,500
1849
6,800
9th
1850
103,500
40,500.00
10th .
1850
40,000
1849
29,500
10,500.00
Total increase of personal estate, " real estate
378,738.00
Total excess,
$630,415.47
TOTAL VALUATION.
1st Ward
$428,165,00
6th
1,155,310.00
2d
634,310.00
7th
·
627,489.00
3d
995,386.00
8th
..
394,135.00
4th
66
2,691,997.00
9th
956,509.00 .
5th
3,844,813.00
10th
873,575.00
Total,
$12,601,689.85
The above statement gives us ample cause for congratulation, and although we have been groping in darkness for a long time, the day is breaking and light is pouring in upon us. As another gratifying evidence of our progress we would state that the rate of assessment will be about 1.70, where it was $2 to $2.25 last season
THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT ON THE FINANCIAL CONDI- TION OF THE CITY.
Mayor's Office, Albany, May 25, 1850.
WATTS SHERMAN, ESQ.,
Sir, In accordance with your request, I. take pleasure in present- ing to you the following statement of the financial condition of the city of Albany :
For many years prior to 1847, the public debt of the city had been gradually rolling up, from the operation of the same causes which produce individual embarrassment ; an expenditure greater than the resources, and a reluctance to resort to those trenchant and restrictive measures necessary, as well to reduce the evil as to prevent its recurrence. But in the year 1847, the finance commit- tee of the common council, convinced of the necessity of preventing any additions being made to the debt, and also of providing for its liquidation, recommended a restraining law, which was passed by the legislature of the state in 1848.
1849
63,000
$251,978.00
363
Statistics.
This law is one of the most restrictive character : requiring that all expenses of the city government, and the deficiencies arising from the non-payment of assessments for street improvements, to- gether with the interest and ten thousand dollars of the principal of the debt, shall be raised by taxation annually : and also provid- ing that no expenditure of the public money, except for the ordinary expenses, which with the amounts, are specified in the law, shall be made, unless the appropriations for the same shall have been passed by the votes of two-thirds of all the members of the common council.
On the first day of May, 1848, the debt of the city (exclusive of the loans made to the Western Rail Road Corporation, and to the Albany and Schenectady Rail Road Company, both of which are so amply secured that they can not be considered absolute liabili- ties of the city), amounted to $752,896.93. Since that date, this debt has been reduced $211,764.90 ; and the exact amount of the same at this present time, is $541.132.03.
This rapid extinguishment of so large a portion of the debt, re- sulted from the assumption by the state of a part of the expenses which the city had incurred for the excavation of the basin at the eastern termination of the Erie and Champlain canals, and from the effect of the restraining law before alluded to.
There is every probability that the amount which will be real- ized by the trustees of the sinking fund from taxation, receipts from the sales of city property, and payments of assessments, will not fall short of $20,000 annually. As this fund is sacredly pledged for the redemption of the debt, it is sufficiently evident that the liquidation of the same within a reasonable period, is placed be- yond contingence. In addition to all this, the city, in its corporate capacity, possesses property which may be fairly valued at $415,000, of which $375,000 are invested in real estate, and $40,000 in the stocks of water works, insurance and plank road companies.
The population of the city as shown by the last census which was taken in 1845, was 42,189. The increase during the then previous five years was 8,476. The census which is to be taken this year, will probably show the present population to be over 50,000.
The value of the taxable property in the city as shown by the assessment rolls returned to the board of supervisors, in November, 1849, was $11,971,203.
In speaking of the value of the taxable property, it should be re- marked that although the assessment rolls furnish the only criterion by which the aggregate value can be ascertained, they are by no means a correct one. To lessen the amount which each county must pay towards defraying the general expenses of the state, it has been, and still continues to be the practice of the assessors in most of the counties, to value property at much less than its actual worth. In this respect, the county of Albany is not an exception ; and, therefore, the assessors of this city have established a standard of valuation which is equal to about sixty-five per centum. For
364
Statistics.
this reason, the value of the taxable property in the city of Albany may be safely estimated at $18,000,000.
Trusting that the information here contained may serve to main- tain the high credit which our city already enjoys,
I remain very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
FRANKLIN TOWNSEND, Mayor of the City of Albany.
TAXES FOR CITY GOVERNMENT.
The following statement of the amounts raised by tax for the support of the government of the city, is gathered from the reports of the finance committees of the years 1848 and 1849 :
Amount required to be raised by tax for the support of the city government, 1848.
For night police,. $18,000.00
Public lamps,.
10,000.00.
Contingent expenses,. 30,000.00
Fire department,. 5,000.00
Interest on city debt,
47,000.00
School house on Arbor hill,.
7,000.00
· Temporary relief of city poor,.
7,000.00
Account of city debt,.
10,000.00
Improving streets,.
22,500.00
Support of common schools,.
9,003.36
Total, $165,503.36
Amount required to be raised by tax for the support of the city government, 1849.
For night police,. .$18,000.00
Public lamps,.
10,000.00
Expenses of fire department,.
20,000.00
Contingent expenses (ordinary), ..
30,000.00
On account of payment to pier proprietors to ob- tain their consent to the law relative to expendi- tures for excavating Albany basin, &c., .
10,000.00
To pay interest on city debt,
45,500.00
On account of sinking fund,.
10,000.00
For support of common schools,
9,003.36
For alterations and repairs to district school No. 10, ... 500.00
For temporary relief of city poor, ...
5,000.00
Probable balance that will remain unpaid May 1, 1850, on assessments, and apportionments for improving streets, &c., approved and confirmed during the year ending Nov. 1, 1848, 10,000.00
$168,003.36
365
Statistics.
PAUPERISM IN ALBANY.
From May 1st, 1849, to May 1st, 1850, overseer of the poor of the city of Albany gave permits to 1,373 persons to enter the Alms- house ; of which number 169 were Americans, and 1,204 were foreigners ; of the latter number 737 were chargeable to the com- missioners of emigration.
The ages of those admitted were as follows: 202 were under 5 _ years ; 190 were 5 and under 10 years ; 79 were 10 and under 15 years ; 112 were 15, and under 20 years ; 320 were 20 and under 30 years ; 218 were 30 and under 40 years; 152 were 40 and under 50 years ; 62 .were 50 and under 60 years ; and 32 were over 60 years.
Of the above number, 6 were idiotic ; 19 were insane ; and 563 were afflicted with various diseases.
The amount collected by the overseer from the commissioners of emigration, during the year, on account of board of the emigrants supported in the Almshouse, and paid over by him to the chamber- lain of the city, to be placed to the credit of the county, is $2,405.97 The additional amount audited and allowed by said
commissioners for the like purpose, the payment of which has been withheld for the want of funds to pay the same, is
2,038.39
Making a total credit to the county,
$4,444.36
The amount collected from said commissioners and paid to the chamberlain on account of temporary relief, is 2,542.26 The amount audited and allowed by the said commis- sioners, and remaining due the city, is. 2,598.08
$9,584.70
During the year he assisted 1560 persons principally heads of families by affording temporary relief, exclusive of fuel ; he also aided in the funeral expenses of 270 deceased persons, who died within the year, which expenses amounted in the aggregate to $914.25. Of the whole number thus relieved 280 were native born citizens, and 1550 were foreigners, 718 of the latter were charge- able to the commissioners of emigration; and of the former, 38 were persons of color.
Of the whole number assisted 1555 received less than $5 each, 166 received from $5 to $10 each, and 109 received more than $10 each, one of the latter received $72, that being the largest amount given to any family.
The number of families who shared in the distribution of the fuel during the past winter, is 804, composed of 3162 persons. The heads of the families thus relieved may be classified as follows : Americans, white, 177; do. (colored) 62; foreigners, 565; of the latter 212 were chargeable to the commissioners of emigration.
366
Statistics.
For the purpose of granting the above temporary relief, and of meeting the incidental expenses of his office, the undersigned drew orders on the chamberlain for the payment of money to different persons amounting in the aggregate to. $7,118.39 From which deduct the following, to wit: for accounts
charged to county for cholera and other expenses, in- curred by the city, prior to Nov. 13, 1849, which accounts were audited and allowed by the board of supervisors amounting to $550.40
Amount of similar accounts chargeable to the county from Nov. 13, 1840, to May 1, 1850 84.30
Blank books and stationery for office, 67.89 Desks and repairs to office, and other incidental expenses 49.87 Delivering wood to indigent families,. $ 145.50 . Amount collected from commissioners of emi- gration and paid to chamberlain on account of temporary relief, . $2,542.26
Amount audited and allowed by said commis- sioners not collected, 2,598.08
Making a total amount of credit $6,038.30
Balance, exclusive of fuel and incidental expenses ...
1,080.09
To which should be added the expenses incurred by the city for fuel delivered during the past winter to indigent families, to wit : 291 cords of wood at $5.51, . $1,603.41
Amount paid for delivering same, 145.50
258g tons of coal at $4.38, 1,132.96
Total for fuel $2,881.87
Balance of expenses for temporary relief proper .. $3,961.96
The number of cords of wood on hand belonging to the city is 150.
The overseer during the year took the affidavits of 986 emigrants, principally heads of families (representing 2606 persons), who for the first time applied for relief at his office. All of whom were relieved by him, either by sending them to the Almshouse, or by giving out door or temporary relief.
COMPARISON OF TAXES FOR 1849 AND 1850.
1850.
1849.
Expenses of night police,.
$18,000.00
$18,000.00
public lamps.
8,500.00
10,000.00
Interest on city debt, ....
35,500.00
45,500.00
Amount carried forward, $62,000.00
$73,500.00
367
Statistics.
Amount brought forward,
$62,000.00
$72,500.00
Sinking fund,.
10,000.00
10,000.00
Contingent expenses, ..
27,000.00
30,000.00
Fire department,
15,500.00
20,000.00
Temporary relief to city poor,.
3,000.00
5,000.00
Common schools, :
9,853.36
9,503.36
Deficiencies improving streets,.
3,500.00
10,000.00
On account payment to pier proprietors,
10,000.00
Totals.
$130,853.36 $168,003.36
ALBANY AND SCHENECTADY RAIL ROAD.
The following facts are gathered from the annual report of the condition of this company made to the comptroller on the 30th November :
Capital stock subscribed and paid in, $1,000,000
Funded debt as by last report,
552,000
Total amount of funded debt,. 700,000
Total amount of funded and floating debt,.
700,000
Average rate per annum of interest on funded debt, 6g per ct.
Cost of road and equipment,. 1,711,412.30
Length of road nearly 17 miles ; double track 9 miles ; weight of rail, 60 1bs. per yard. The company own 3 engine houses and shops, 7 engines, 36 first class passenger cars, 33 second class do., 45 mail and baggage, and 34 freight cars.
Miles run by the passenger trains 51,545 ; do., freight 32,248; freight carried 63,012 tons ; number of passengers carried over road 284,279.
Expense of maintaining road,. $19,000.10
repairs of machinery, &c., 5,924.87
operating the road, 66,247.01
Total expenses,. . 91,171.98
Earnings from passengers, 132,207.69
freight,. . 70,242.69
rents and mail services, 6,134.50
Total earnings, $208,584.88
The receipts are the same as the earnings.
Transportations including tolls paid state, $91.171.88
Paid interest,. . 38,808.67
dividends, 70,000.00
Surplus fund,
8,604.23
Total amount of surplus and reserved fund, 25,000.00
368
Statistics.
ALBANY AND WEST STOCKBRIDGE RAIL ROAD.
Capital stock subscribed and paid in,. $1,000,000.00 Floating and funded debt, 930,895.01
Cost of road and equipment,. 1,930,895.01
Length of road 384 miles. The company have leased the road to the Western Rail Road Corporation ; the expense for repairs of machinery and running the road, are paid by the lessees.
BASIN EXCAVATION.
It was charged in August, that the person having the contract for removing the earth which had accumulated in the Basin, had ^ dumped it near the channel below the city. The editor of the Express, having investigated the matter, made the following state- ment. It is interesting as showing the changes which the channel of the river is subject to in the neighborhood of the city.
During the last spring freshet, the ice formed a complete dam, from a point a few yards south of the termination of the docks near the island, and a new channel was made by a diversion of a great body of the water which was flowing down the river. When this formidable barrier was worn away, it was found that an entire new channel had been made through the creek, and running out into the river at an opening in the dyke, nearly opposite the Abbey, and the flats had been materially increased, in very many places. The forwarding men who are most deeply interested in the navigation of the Hudson, last year had a channel cut through these flats upon the western side of the river, and when the work of excavation of the basin was commenced, made a visit to this formidable obstruc- tion. Upon consultation they arrived at the conclusion that by les- sening the depth of water upon these flats by depositions of earth, it would be forced into the original channel of the river, and in a great degree aid in rendering it navigable for vessels. Accord- ingly, the earth dug from the bed of the basin, is taken in scows to the flats, and dumped upon them, so as to lessen the quantity of water in that locality, and throw it over into the channel. These deposits are of a hard formation, impregnated with clay, and remain in their position, notwithstanding the ordinary current; rivermen contend that it is proving an advantage to the navigation instead of a detriment, and is consequently worthy of approval. When the bill authorizing the removal from the basin, of the ob- structions to its free navigation, was pending, it was contended that the work would cost from $150,000 to $200,000. The whole expense, however, will not exceed $35,000. The lower section will be completed on Saturday, after having dug out over twenty thou- sand yards of earth affording eight feet of water in every portion of the same. The upper sections will also be soon finished,
369
Statistics.
THE BARLEY TRADE OF ALBANY.
Albany is the barley market of the Northern and Eastern states, and of many of the cities in the Atlantic states. Purchases have been made here during the past season for points as far south as Charleston, while with Baltimore and Philadelphia a large busi- ness has been transacted. To show the increase of the trade in this article within the last few years, we give from official docu- ments the receipts of barley at tide-water for a period of nine years ;
1838,
677,338 bush. 1847,
1,523,020 bush.
1841,
121,010
1848,
1,548,197
1844,
818,472
1849,
1,400,194
1845,
1,137,917
1850,
1,720,000
1846,. 1,427,953
At Albany almost the entire of these receipts are sold. Of the new crop of the last season, of which we estimate that at least, 1,600,000 bushels were received at tide-water, we have reported sales in this market of 1,330,000 bushels. In these reported sales the contracts made with our brewers early in the season for delivery of barley are not included, and allowance should also be made for sales which were not reported to us. If we place the sale of the new crop in this market at 1,430,000 bushels, we think we shall be within the mark. Of the value of the contract sales and the sales not reported to us, we can not make any esti- mate, but we have made a valuation of the actual transactions reported, reaching to about 1,330,000 bushels; all of the new crop, and find it amounts to the sum of $1,008,574, an average of 76 cents on the bushel. The lowest figure paid was 65 cents, the highest 101}. The greatest number of bushels sold at one price was 117,500, which brought 100c. ; 89,100 bushels were sold at 85c. ; 77,200 at 77c. ; 75,100 at 60c .; 69,500 at 78c .; &c., &c., and the smallest quantity sold at any one figure was 700 bushels at 97c. It will be seen that the receipts of barley at tide-water for the season which has just closed, are 1,720 000 bushels, exceeding our estimate, which was considered a rash one, made at the opening of the new crop, 120,000 bushels, and exceeding the receipts of any previous season. The high prices realized during this season will no doubt be a sufficient inducement to farmers to sow a greater breadth of land than usual with this grain. Whether the next season will call out the crop to such an extent as to justify the payment of high prices, is a problem yet to be solved .- Argus.
370
Hills and Creeks.
HILLS AND CREEKS.
For the past twenty years there has been a species of civil war going forward between the lads and young men residing on the hill, as the Texan section of Albany is called, and the creek, as the upper part of the 8th ward is styled. We remember twelve or fifteen years ago, that these feuds were of a serious character ; on one occasion a Creek who had ventured from his valley, upon the hill, was set upon by a large party of Hills, who pounded the life nearly out of him, when he fired a pistol and they retreated just far enough to enable him to limp down hill all bruised and bloody, being well revenged a night or two thereafter, for two of the Hills who strayed down into the creek, were attacked and soon trans- . formed from tolerably good looking fellows into mummies. There were in those days frequent fights, in which one hundred and fifty persons, and often as many as two hundred, were engaged. Many who were engaged in them have grown up to manhood, become peaceable and influential members of society, and their children have succeeded them in carrying on the war. The combats within the last eighteen years between the Hills and Creeks, would fill vo- lumes. For the last ten years the war has been carried on, but with less spirit, and at times lengthy cessations of hostilities. On Saturday, Nov. 4, however, it was renewed, and on sabbath after- noon the Hills and Creeks met again upon their old battle ground. The Creeks marched up hill, and the Hills drove them down again, when the latter sallied down and were driven back in great haste by the valley men ; and woe to the straggler or cripple who could not run fast and lagged behind his fellows. The running fight, which lasted several hours, attracted great crowds of specta- tors. No one, we are glad to say, was seriously hurt. This spe- cies of sabbath breaking and disgraceful wrangling should be stopped by the interference of a strong body of policemen. If such civil war is allowed to exist, it will soon be as of old, unsafe for persons residing on the hill or in the creek, to venture into the districts of the contending parties. It is morally wrong that such occurrences should take place in a law abiding community .- Knickerbocker.
.
INDEX.
Abeel, Christopher, freeholder, 283 Gerrit, assistant alderman, 200 Johannes, 94, 107, 113, 119, 120, 246, 247; justice, 106; council- man, 94, 105; alderman, 240, 245, 250, 251; mayor, 251, 259, 262, 265 Stoffel Janse, 99. See Stoffel Janse, and Evert Janse.
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