USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 139
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$650,000
Assessment fund bond, 7 per cent. 1,132,000
Assessment fund bond, W. & S., 7 per cent. 150,000 Sewerage fund bonds, 7 per cent 570,000
Total $3,051,000
In 1878, the city was startled by the discovery that Kess- ler, a bond clerk, had stolen a number of the Prospect Park
bonds, one of which was found this year to be in the hands of an innocent holder. The theft of these bonds considera- bly affected the finances of the city. It is a gratifying fact that the sale of the city bonds are very easily and readily negotiated; there is always a lively competition for them. This is evidenced by the fact that the premiums received on securities sold during the years 1878 and 1879, amounted to $85,197.13.
Permanent Loans,-Payable chiefly from tax-
ation. .$29,401,500.00
Temporary loans, payable chiefly from assess- ments on property benefited. 9,756,000.00 Tax certificates issued in anticipation of the payment of taxes in course of collection .... 3,100,000.00
Total. .$42,257,500.00 Less sinking fund. 4,781,978.72
Net city debt. $37,475,521.28
The amount of uncollected taxes for the ten years ending December 31, 1877 on personal property amounted to. 449,156.92
On real estate.
4,675,715.97
Grand total. $5,124,872.89
" Of this enormous sum of uncollected taxes," says Hon. William Burrill, comptroller at the time of which we are writing, "a very large amount was levied as personal, and will never be collected. In addition to which there are many lots and parcels of land within the city limits whereon assessments and taxes have been allowed to accumulate far in excess of their market value. To meet, in part, this large amount of uncollected taxes there was placed in the tax budget and raised in the taxes of 1877, the sum of $150,000, which should be deducted from the sum above stated. On th whole, it is gratifying to be able to say that the city, with her parks, water-works, public buildings, etc., etc., is in possession of property more than sufficient to meet all her obligations."
The comptroller, in his report for the year 1878, deplores the "disastrous legislation of the year 1877, in reference to the Prospect park assessment, for benefit, without the knowledge of the city authorities, until it was too late to present it, and which involved a loss to the city estimated at over $1,000,000.
1881 .- The bonded indebtedness of the city, on December 31, 1881, was as follows, viz .:
Total amount of city bonds of every descrip- tion, including tax certificates, outstanding Jan. 1, 1881 .$43,135,500.00
Less sinking fund. 5,481,894.98
Net city debt. $37,653,605.02
There were issued during that year, under several acts of the legislature, bonds and certificates as follows, viz .: Four per cent. Brooklyn city bonds for the completion of the New York and Brooklyn bridge, being the remainder of $1,500,000, authorized by act of April 7, 1880. $371,000.00
Four per cent. Brooklyn city bonds, for the completion of the New York and Brooklyn bridge, to pay interest on bridge bonds un- der same act .. 600,000.00
Six per cent. permanent water loan bonds (to commissioners of the sinking fund). 151,000.00
Carried forward $1,122,000.00
553
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Brought forward .. 1,122,000.00
Five per cent. certificates of indebtedness (to
commissioners of sinking fund), for Prospect
avenue improvement under act of March 14, 1881 .. 37,551.19
Four per cent. tax certificates. 2,000,000.00
Four per cent. assessment fund bonds. 800,000.00
Four per cent. sewerage fund bonds. 200,000.00
Four per cent. assessment fund, W. & S. bonds
800,000.00
Total.
$4,959,551.19
There was paid during the same period bonds and certifi- cates, including National Guard and Volunteer Firemen's loan, $25,000; and the Williamsburg Local Improvement loan of $38,000; and Permanent Water loan of $1,700,000; the whole total of $5,598,000. The total city debt was, on December 31, 1881, $30,725,051.19. This included Prospect Park loan of $9,236,000; bridge bonds, $10,433,000; Soldiers' Aid fund, $552,000.
Temporary loans, payable chiefly from assessments on property benefited, amounted, December 31, 1881, to the total of $7,202,000.
A recapitulation of the foregoing exhibits permanent loans to the amount of $30,725,051.19; temporary loans, $7,202,000; tax certificates, $4,270,000; making the total city debt at that time $42,197,051.19; less sinking fund, $4,022,629.72; leaving the net city debt, December 31, 1881, $38,174,421.47. This exhibits a net increase of the city debt for the year 1880, of $520,816.45.
The sales of tax certificates, assessments and sewerage fund bonds were made at an average premium of 144% per cent., while four per cent. bridge bonds brought an average of 5To, per cent. The percentage of premium received from these bonds was much greater than ever obtained before, amounting to $103,528.46.
During the year 1881 the first important instalment of $1,700,000 of the permanent water debt, which fell due July 1st of that year, was extinguished by cash, and a portion of the securities held by the sinking fund. This was done with- out disturbing in the least the finances of the city.
The act of May 23, 1878, prohibits the issuing of bonds for local improvement until two-thirds of the amount of their cost is actually in the treasury. Very many of the leading and wealthy citizens of the city firmly believe that it would be wise if the city would adhere to the provisions of that act.
1882 .- The bonded indebtedness of the city existing on December 31st, 1882, was as follows:
Permanent debt payable from taxation :
Prospect park. $9,236,000
New York and Brooklyn bridge. 11,090,000
Mount Prospect square. 90,000
Wallabout bay improvement. 268,000
Soldiers' Aid fund. 552,000
Total. .$21,236,000
Water debt .- Permanent water loan. $9,859,500 Temporary debt (payable from assessments): Total, December 31st, 1882. .$6,919,551.19 Tax certificates :
Issued in anticipation of the payment of taxes in arrears. $4,150,000 A recapitulation of the foregoing exhibits permanent debt on December 31st, 1882, to the amount of .. .$21,236,000.00 Water loan. 9,859,500.00
Carried forward.
$31,095,500.00
Brought forward .$31,095,500.00
Temporary debt .. 6,919,551.19
Tax certificates. 4,150,000.00
Gross debt $42,165,051.19
Less sinking fund. 4,671,327.79
Net debt. $37,493,723.40
Net city debt December 31st, 1881 .. .$38,174,421.47
Net city debt December 31st, 1882. 37,493,723.40
Net decrease 3680,698.07
The sales of assessment and sewerage fund bonds and tax certificates, bearing 4 per cent. interest, were made at all average premium of 211, per cent .; while 4 per cent. bridge bonds brought 4 per cent.
Treasury Department, 1878 .- The receipts and disburse- ments of this department from December 1st, 1877, to Decem- ber 1st, 1878, were as follows:
Balance in the various banks to the credit of
the city, December, 1878. $109,187.10
Total receipts from all the departments. 14,259,290.75
Interest on bank balances. 22,396.28
Total receipts. 14,390,874.13
Disbursements by 10,945 warrants. 13,825,963.65
Balance in banks December 3d, 1878
$564,910.48
The City Treasurer, being treasurer of the Board of Educa- tion, presented the following statement, showing the re- ceipts and disbursements from January 1, 1878, to December 1, 1878:
Balance January 1, 1878. $26,793.86
Receipts (including $6,527.18 int. on balance) ... 1,195,578.47
Total receipts. .$1,222,372.33
Disbursements by 1,907 warrants.
1,153,440.57
Balance December 1, 1878.
$68,931.76
The employees of this department consist of the treasurer, deputy treasurer and book-keeper, whose salaries are as follows:
Treasurer. .$4,000
Deputy treasurer.
3,000
Book-keeper.
2,000
Total salaries for 1878
$9,000
The salaries of the treasury department for the year 1877 amounted to $12,000. Those for 1878 show a reduction, as compared with 1877, of $3,000. The salaries of the depart- ment for 1879, it was predicted, would be further reduced to $8,500.
1881 .- The receipts and disbursements of the Treasury Department from Nov 30, 1880, to Nov 30, 1881, were as follows, viz .:
Balance November 30, 1880. $464,872.75
Receipts to November 30, 1881 14,697,230.90
Total. $15,162,103.65
Paid out by 9,793 warrants.
13,399,539.22
Balance in bank November 30, 1881
$1,762,564.43
554
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
This balance was deposited in the following banks: Brook- lyn Bank, $84,207.08; City Bank, $158,104.47; Long Island Bank, $115,413; First National Bank, $95,021.24; Mechanics' Bank, $342,604.74; Nassau National Bank, $384,838.29; Brook- lyn Trust Company, $229,133.32; Fulton Bank, $126,054.57; Mechanics' and Traders' Bank, $41,541.99; Manufacturers' Bank, $68,932.42; Commercial Bank, $64,656.71; Atlantic State Bank, $52,056.48; total, $1,762,564.43.
The receipts to the treasury during the time referred to, amounts, as we have seen, to $14,697,230.90, of which $206,- 800 were received from excise license fees; $10,518.77 from court fees and fines; $7,311,69 from Department of Parks; $8,350 from kerosene licenses; $20,718.37 from dock and wharf rent; foreign fire insurance companies paying 2 per cent. on premiums issued in the city, $6,393.90, etc., etc.
1882 .- The accounts of the Treasury Department for the year ending November 30, 1882, shows the following: General Fund .- Money derived chiefly from tax
levy and balance of revenue fund August 31, 1881, was, in total .. $6,444,268.31
Money derived from water revenue. 1,137,755.68
Money derived from bonds and certificates. 1,270,377.81
Money derived from collection of assessments. . 299,974.32
Money derived from excise license fees, Orphan Asylums and Inebriates' Home 124,489.40
To this include tax certificates, Fireman's Insur- ance Fund from kerosene license, advance on meter account refunded, and cruelty to animals, making in all 1,145,253.00
General Fund from various sources, including Dog Fund of $1,743.76, making in all. 33,935.76
Revenue Fund. . $10,655,834.78
Redemption Fund. On redemption of property sold for unpaid taxes. 38,323.33
Special Fund. 3,294,508.70
Total from all sources $14,203,806.49
The annual report of the Auditor's department for the year ending December 15, 1878, shows that the number of claims audited during that year amounted to 5,447. The amount of claims audited was $3,315,754.52; the distribution of accounts were as follows :
General Fund. $3,166,768.85
Special Fund. 100,393.35
Revenue Fund. 48,592.32
The annual report of the Auditor for the year ending December 12, 1881, shows the number of claims against the city, audited during that year, to have been 4,984. The amount of claims audited was $3,002,058.53.
The Distribution of Accounts is as follows :
General Fund. .$2,909,022.24
Special Fund.
75,888.85
Revenue Fund
17,147.44
Making .$3,002,058.53
The annual report of the Auditor for the year ending December 6, 1882, shows that the total number of claims audited against the city during that year was 6,439; the total amount audited against the city was $3,488,134.75. The distribution of the accounts was as follows :
General Fund.
.$2,918,004.00
Special Fund
534,751.47
Revenue Fund.
35,379.28
Total.
$3,448,134.75
The highest sum of money paid in any given month during the year was in the month ending December 2d, 1882, which was $193,607.77; the lowest sum audited was in the month ending October 28, which was $5,415.54.
Department of Law is next in order in the arrangement of Departments, but its history will be found in some of the preceding pages.
Department of City Wo.ks, 1878 .- The money received from all sources, and paid to the City Treasurer, and also the amount expended under appropriations during the year ending December 1, 1878, was as follows: Cash balance in hand in money January 1, 1878, and deposited by contractors on proposals, under an ordinance of the Common Council, was $17,878.50; receipts from January 1 to Novem- ber 30, 1878 (inclusive), was $1,057,418.34. There was paid to the city treasurer during that time $1,056,908.34. Among the items which make up this account, $928,110.64 was on account of water revenue, $19,288 97 for sewer repairs, $12,572.94 was for street repairs, $78,840 50 for contractors, deposit fund, etc .; balance on hand December 1, 1878, was $510. Requisitions on the Comptroller by the President of the Water Commission for expenditures approved, for payment for money derived from specific sources, viz .: From appro- priations from water revenue and from tax levy and other matters, $1,363,595.47. A statement of the Chief Engineer of the city, touching his particular department during the year ending December 31, 1882, in referring to storage reservoir, shows that the slope to the dam of this reservoir had been completed, and that the greatest depth of water reached was seventeen feet, one and a half inches; the average depth is 12 feet and 9} inches, except in rainy seasons. During the month of July a maximum consumption of water was reached of about 36,000,000 gallons. This was regarded at that time as an immense consumption; but the use of water has increased until, on February 29th, 1884, there was used 43,890,268 gallons, an increase of about 9,000,000 gallons over the corresponding day of the previous year. On Saturday, March 1st, 1884. it reached 43,455,637 gallons, about 9,450,000 gallons more than the corresponding day of the preceding year. The next day the consumption was 40,339,091 gallons, 7,500,000 more than on the corresponding day in 1883. This was startling, showing that the city is approaching a time when great economy must be exercised in the use of water, restricting the supply, by means of meters, so repugnant to the people. The daily supply during each of the first three days of March. 1884, was at the rate of 57 gallons per capita, in a population of about 500,000.
About 170 regular repairs were made, ranging from one to five blocks, and 12,376 square yards of granite pavement was laid in replacing wooden pavements. There was expended for grading and paving during the year, $22,656.68; for flagging sidewalks, $797.10; for gas lamp-posts, $2,205.03 .-
Public Baths at North 6th Street, Conover and Bridge Streets .- Towage, repairs and running expenses, except salaries, $1,127.19. The Bridge street bath was finished that year at a cost of $13,720. The following interesting table gives the number of bathers at these baths during the season of 1878 :
ADULT MALES
ADULT FEMALES
BOYS
GIRLS
TOTAL
North 6th St. Bath ..
34,254
14,903
71,511
23,548
144,216
Conover St. Bath
32,880
13,728
53,598
19,627
119,833
Bridge St. Bath.
24,476
5,079
71,679
9,950
111,184
Totals.
91,610
33,710
196,788
53,125
375,233
There was used at the City Hall Police Department, during the year ending December 31, 1878, in the City Hall, Police
555
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.
Department, Police Station, City Treasurer's office, Public Baths, and the Municipal Buildings, 2,373,875 cubic feet of gas, at a cost of $2.25 per thousand, amounting in all to $4,661.61.
There was paid for street cleaning, removing ashes, etc., during this year, $53,245.23; for removing offal and dead ani- mals, $5,407.40; removing garbage, $8,678.89.
1881 .- For the year ending Dec. 29. The receipts from this department, from all sources, for the time mentioned, aggregated $1,004,973.74, of which amount $940,537.34 was paid into the City Treasury, to the credit of the proper accounts; $63,686.40 was refunded to contractors for deposits on proposals, leaving a balance in hand of $750, subject to call, under provisions of an ordinance of the Common Council.
The revenue from water rates, including the defaults therein, amounted to $886,157.11, from which was trans- ferred to a distinct account for advances on meter rates the sum of $102,788.90, which had always before been consid- ered a part of the revenue derived from water.
Compared with the revenue of 1880, for the same length of time, this shows a decrease to the amount of $29,117.07; this small decrease shows the rapid strides of the revenue from this source.
The condition of the water revenue account, at that time (including amounts received by the Registrar of Arrears, from returns made to the Comptroller up to, and including the 23d day of November, 1881, of which this department has no control) was:
Balance in Treasury, Jan. 1, 1881. $155,957.69
Receipts of Department to Nov. 30, 1881. 886,757.11
Receipts of Registrar of Arrears, Nov. 25, 1881 .. 161,362.87
Total. $1,204,077 67
Disbursed during the time, $737,714.66; leaving a balance of $466,363.01.
After providing for the interest ($299,155.17), on the bonded debt, for the six months ending December 31, 1881, and with an estimated revenue for December, of $80,000, left a surplus to the credit of the water revenue account at the close of that year of about $240,000. That year the first instalment of the water debt was paid off, which amounted to $1,700,000.
The expenditure for maintaining the works for the eleven months ending November 30, 1881, was $283,899.77, of which the sum of $97,000.76, was under the previous year's appropriation, ending April 30, 1881. The balance of $186,- 899.01, was under the appropriation for the year that closed April 30, 1882.
The following pay-rolls of the Department shows how prompt a paymaster the city was for its employees, estimat- ing the payment of salaries as follows, for five years:
For the eleven months ending :
Nov. 30, 1881, there was paid. $292,408.52
30, 1880,
305,879.23
30, 1879,
315,176.06
30, 1878, " 6 394,929.62
30, 1877, 66 456,697.83 Showing a decrease in 1881, from that of 1880, of $13,- 470.71; 1879, of $22,767.54; 1878, of $102,521.10; 1877, of $164,289.31.
This decrease exhibits the careful and economical manner in which this department was conducted during that time. The total expenditures in the Department under the various heads, for all accounts, for salaries and labor, and material supplied, during that year, was $1,166,266.24; an increase
over the corresponding months of 1880, of $95,398.10, and an increase over that of 1879, of $150,581.05. But this was occasioned by the increase in work done by the Department in 1881, over that of 1879, which was about 14 per cent., and over that of 1880, of about 9 per cent. The amount paid for salaries and labor shows a decrease in 1881, from that of 1879, of about 7 per cent., and from that of 1880, of about 4 per cent.
1882 .- For the year ending December 6. The receipts from this department for the time mentioned, from general revenue, aggregated $991,815.10; also the sum of $14,555 from contractors, as deposits on proposals, etc .*
This sum, together with the balance, $4,350, on hand Jan- uary 1,1882, aggregated $1,010,720.10, of which the sum of $991,815.10 was paid the City Treasurer to the credit of the proper accounts; the sum of $17,365 was refunded to con- tractors and others, leaving a cash balance of $1,540. This sum compared with the aggregate amount received during the corresponding months of the previous year shows a net increase of $5,747.36, being an increase in the amount re- ceived from sources of general revenue of $51,277.76, and a decrease of $45,531.40 on contractors' deposits, etc. The increase on amounts received and paid to the City Treasury during this year, over the corresponding months of the pre- ceding year, is an increase of $38,058.33, and the revenue from water, and from the advances on other accounts, wa- ter meters, sewer permits, etc., etc., an increase of $17,- 946.80, with a decrease of $4,727.36 from miscellaneous items.
The amounts received from water rates, including the de- faults thereon, was $924,815.44; $6,678 of that amount was received from the public baths. The total revenue from water was $1,114,592.77. During this year the Common Council, under the authority of law, and by the adoption of a resolution, made a requisition for the issue of additional water bonds, amounting to $421,500. The payments on ac- count of maintaining the city works under the different heads of expenditures, for the year ending December 6, 1882, were $301,622.22, of which $90,507.46 was from the appro- priation of the previous fiscal year. This shows an increase over the corresponding months of the previous year of $17,- 732.45, which is due chiefly to the rebuilding of work to in- crease the supply of water.
The pay roll of the department for salaries and labor on all accounts for the eleven months ending
November 30, 1881, were. $292,408 52
November 30, 1882, were. 311,220 17
Increase in 1882. $18,811 65
The payment on street repairs, including cobble, granite and concrete, and other material furnished for such repairs was, in all, $223,386.10. The payment made for the construc- tion of sewers during the year we are considering was $13,121.01.
Water Supply .- The minimum water supply was 35,000,- 000 of gallons; the per capita daily consumption was 58 gal- lons. There were at that time 280 miles of cobble-stone paved streets in the city.
The annulment in October, 1881, of the contract for the removal of night-soil has relieved the city of a large expense. The Department of Health now grants permits to scavengers to remove night-soil through the city to farmers in the ad- joining towns, who pay liberally for it.
* By an ordinance of the City of Brooklyn, contractors on public works are required to make a deposit on thelr proposals, as a guaran- tee for fulfilling their contracts.
556
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Dead animals were removed from the city, under a con- tract existing at the time of which we are writing, at a cost of $5,500.
Department of Assessment .- In the year 1706 there were only 64 freeholders liable to assessment and taxation in the town of Brooklyn. In the next 96 years, down to 1802, this number had increased only 22, making the whole number 86. In 1814, the whole number was 3,805, this being a period of twelve years, and showing the rapid increase during that time of 3,719. In 1820, there were 7,475 freeholders; in 1830, there were 15,295; in 1840, there were 36,233; in 1850, 96,835; in 1855, 205,250, including Williamsburg and Bushwick. In 1706, the assessed value of all the real and personal estate in the town of Brooklyn was £3,122 12s. In 1824, the real es- tate in said town was assessed at $2,111,390, and the personal estate at $488,690. In 1834, when Brooklyn was incorporated as a city, the aggregate assessment of its real property was $13,391,734, and of its personal property, $2,250,556; the whole aggregate of its real and personal property was $15,642,290.
The valuation of the real and personal property in the city, for the year ending November 30, 1878, was: Real property, $218,373,093; personal property, $14,968,911; total, $233,342,- 004. In 1877, the assessed value of the real estate was $216,- 481,801; personal property, $13,111,215; showing an increase in 1878 in real property of $1,891,292; in personal property, $1,857,696; making a total increase of $3,748,988.
It will be seen that there was a large increase on the as- sessment of personal property as follows: Upon individuals, $504,000; upon corporations, £1,353,696; total, $1,857,696. One of the great difficulties which assessors have to encoun- ter is the concealment or removal of personal property by those who ought, in justice, to pay tax upon it. This diffi- culty is fast being obviated by the scrutiny of assessors and the facilities for discovering personal property secreted from taxation. Thus the number of persons in the city assessed on personal property in 1877 was 1,684; in 1878 it was 1,913, an increase of 229, with an increase of amount assessed of $504,- 000 in 1878 over that of 1877. As to corporations, the gain is largely through the discovery of reserved or concealed funds liable to taxation. There was a striking instance of this kind developed in one of the gas companies of the city, which issued a quantity of scrip equal in amount to the capital stock of the company. By conveniently calling the scrip " certificates of indebtedness," the companies of New York and Brooklyn for a long time succeeded in evading taxation on the amount of property on which such scrip was based. The department of the Board of Assessments, during the year we are consider- ing, by a most ingenious and effectual investigation ascer- tained the character of the scrip, and at once decided to as- sess and tax it. The companies, however, did not surrender the large advantages and profits they had gained from their shrewd device, and sought to retain it by a recourse to the courts. The assessment thus made was subjected to adjudi- cation in the Supreme Court, and sustained at the General Term. This was a triumph for the department, for which they received general thanks and commendation.
The number of new buildings erected in the city of Brook- lyn for the five years past, ending with June 1st, 1878, and their assessed value, were as follows : In 1874, there were 1,780 buildings; assessed value was $4,251,700; in 1875, 1,470; assessed value, $3,617,300; in 1876, 1,506; assessed value, $3,- 742,100; in 1877, 1,270; assessed value, $3,349,300; in 1878, 1,076; assessed value, $3,067,307.
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