Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 7

4 If 1 l'HE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: MONDAY, FEMILJAILY 5. 1877. 7 NUNICIPIL DEBTS. f.virk VI WI What Fifty Leading Illinois Cities Owe To-Day, compared with Their Indebtedness in 1866. I sidering Its many important improvements male within the past few years.

The assessed value of property has increased The water supply of this city is obtained from artesian wells, four of which an in suk.cessitil operation there. OLNEY, RICELAND COVNTY. This city boasts of one of the finest echoolhouses in the State; it cost $35.000. The debt I small, but it has many public institutions, and does a large shipping business. PEORIA, PEORIA COUNTY.

The Duilding of railroads, publie schools, and water-works has necessarily involved Peoria in some indebtedness; but it is truly said that these works are substantial improvements and the taxpayers ars more than compensated for the outlay. We have before shown in 'ERB Titincist that the water-works system of Peoria, which cost autt which have proved the most effectual in the State, are not paying 2 per cent on the money invested. The aggregate amount of bonds issued 8.3 subscription to railroads is In the eTand total of the bonded debt of the City ot Peoria was to-day it is only reduction in five years of which. at the same ratio, woull in twelve years wipe it all out. Peoria's debt reached the maximum hilS71.

In 1iti2 it was at its minimum. We have compiled a table for the interval from the reports of the Board of Trade of that city: ha the value of property; the increased taxation and population Owing this decennial period, can be seen by a glance at the following table, which must possess a high degree of interest tor the inhibitants of this State, aa it shows the exact financial condition all its principal cities, excepting Chicago. Tbe statement of the population in the table of 1876 was obtained in each case from responsible persons in the city, who based. their estimates ea directions lately published In the respective cities, or from ether reliable information. The population of 1866 was obtained, by subtracting the official population of 1860 from that of 1870, dividing remainder by ten, multiplying the quotient by six, and adding the product obtained to the population of 1860.

This is upon the basis of the population increasing at the same ratio each year, and may not be correct in all cases, though safe for a general estimate. The table shows that twelve towns were without debt in 1870, and nineteen in 1886; also shows that some cities are in debt to the extent of 22 per cent of their valuation, and that in 1806 one city was indebted to the extent of 28 per cent of its assessed value. Subjoined we have prepared a table with the cities classified according to the percentage of their they have show this- to have been the ease, and we believe that the muuktipal indebtedness of this State will be less ten years hence Ulan it is to-day. A crizzeen, IPEATrall in our examinations has been the lad, so plainly brought out, that we have no example in the fifty cities of one where the debt has been contracted through neglect in not raising sufficient for running expenees from year to year. or from another fruitful cause of debt, that of anticipating, funds until they become overloaded and insufficient for payment of both principal and interest, and thus is burn that ruinous practice of perpetual funding.

The Sinking Fund is not a favorite means among Minois Aldermen, and cuts no figure in the payment of debts. The law only makes it necessary to provide in the ordinance that creates the debt the manner and means for its payment within twenty years, anti tnis may be done either by Sinking-Vund, or by making pay meets annually so as to meet the same by an annual taxation. laking the fifty cities that fairly come under our notice in this article, and which represent every portion of our State, we have reason to feel satisfied that all having a debt, from Quincy's down to Aledo's $400, can, with prudent measures, extricate themselves within the hext decade, and that far from seeing any danger, as some would believe, the outlook for the speedy payment of municipal debts was never more cheering. R. P.

PORTER. itzzessed Valuation, Taxation, and Population in 1866 and 1876. Debt Increasing Faster than Wealth and Assogsed Bonded Years. ttation of Totaf indebted! property tax. two.

What the Cities Have to Show for Their Money. STEAM. 1862-, 5. 819, 596 61,175 240,500 1863 I 4, 156, 2891 62,341 323, 000 180 4,14.0, 318, 364 1865.... 4., 71'0, 4051 32.

586 315- 364 4,149, 739i 62, 247 318, 364 4, 719, 4051 82, 596 315., 364 4, SSO 730 01.219 461, 464 4. 923, 375 96, 955 454, 12-2 5. 675, 356 120. 627 4141, 897 6, 019-, 6f05, 129, 034, 615, 887 13, 362,1051 175. 4'791 941,000 178, 537 1 1, 050, 829 18417 1888-- 1870.

ment than what the Constitution calls for, a fair cash value." An illustration of the working of the State law in restraining indebteduess ta given in the case of Roektord, a city of 74 13,000 population. The city in the spring of 18 WANTED TO BUILD A WATEIL-WORES. The Assessor complied with tee law and valued the property at "a fair imsh value." The bonded debt of the city at that time was COO. The contract. for the aystem of public water-works was let, the matmial purchased, and the work bad beea commenced ou the works.

The Assessor valued the proportv at nearly $6,000,000, which would have allowed the city a debt of over $2,50,000. Bonds to the extent of $150,000 were issued on Vie, strength of this, and the four National Banks of Rockford had agreed to take them. Just at this moment the news earae from Springfield that the State Board of Equalization had suddenly put an end to this little dodge, by cutting down the assessment nearly ball, and the debt being limited to 5 per cent on the assessed value, all but worth of the, new bonds were illegal. The banks could not negotiate theta; the Common Council were in a dilemma. The material for the work was on the ground; the iron was on the way from Philadelphia; the trenchee lay open to receive it.

Something had to be done quicklyso, after exhausting the the Council resorted to all sorts of devices, such as titne-orders and certificates of indebtedness, until they were suddenly pulled up by an injunction, which put an end to further operations. Here, then, is a practical illustration of the limitation of indebtedness. EXCD4SIVII TAXATION. The nexE1Year the Common Council of Rockford, eager to reduce their large floating debt within the constitutional limits, again met with an unexpected drawback front the State Constitution. The collective wisdom of the city agreed upon the amount of appropriation needed for each fund.

They made their tax-levy. After arrangements were completed it was discovereit they had exceeded their limit, and taxed the catizens over 3 per cent of the assessed value of the property. A meeting was hastily called iu the middle of the night, and resulted in the original amount being trimmed down to come within the constitutional limit. In this we see a practical illustration of the check on excessive taxation. wATEB-WORKS AS INTSSTMENTS All the are of the State does not preclude he possibility of a community being overtaxed, as will presently be shown.

In these hard times public officers should study the most rigid eeonomy. and no outlay, unless absolutely necessary, should be made. There are, of course, when a city is justified. la going into debt. In some eases water-works have been built, and in a few years the revenue from the water-rent has become double the interest on the rettlatilinZ Water-works debt.

This is the ease in Boston and Charlestown, and the elaborate system of water.works in Chicago to more than paying running expenses and interest on debt. In this connection we warn smaller cities to be careful not to build School-Houses, Su-Works, Town-Halls, Etc. of the people depends entirelv upon the frame of mind of those who control the cirenlating medium. I read the lectures of Prof. Sw.ng, atm tee sermons of the most popular of Chieago's ministers, I look in rain for any remedy (front these men) for the sullerine and misery of scores of thousands of human beings in this, the richest country in the world.

I maintain the material welfare of the petiole should be the key-note of ail sermons. Yon cannot have much genuine religion in a people who are poor, wretched, miserable. You say one cause of the atomisation of trade is overproduction." Granted that we can mak-e too much Gf everything, should not that mean fewer hours of lahor, more recreation! Our eorrespondent misconceives the idea conveyed by the term "over-proditetion as applied to the present staguation of business. It simnly means that the manufasturing power of the country caw produce goods faster than the community is able to buy and pay for them. Thus our iron and steel works can turn out more and wagon tires, bars and rails than there is a home market for.

The woolen and cotton mills even make more goods than the people need or can pay for. So of glass-works, agrieultural-implenient makers, brick-vards, stone-quarries. coal-pits, oil-wells, machinery, and many other overstocked bran ties of industry. The supply is in excess of the abilitv of the motile to buy. Only a foreign market will take off this suenlus production.

but an absurdly high tariff cripples and handicaps our manufacturers. oreventiog them from making goods cheap enough to es-port to other If this was poor country I could understand want and misery; but in a cuuntr 1ie this, where mush more food Ls grown than the people ean consume, and where suMcient could be grown to feed Europe, tses I admit I am astounded that those who profess to have the welfare of the people at heart do not stand un and ask. flow is Plenty 'of fool, the people starvin.r; stores filled with clothes, the people raeged everything In abundance, and the people in miaery. What is the cause where is the remedyl should be the cry of all humanitarians. The people require food every year; shonld not the money of this COUntrIT be compelled to circulate every year? No man can be compelled to circulate his money, or loan or invest it, if he don't want to.En.

Does not the one hinge on the other? I advocate a National Bank to be styled the Bonk of America, situated at say New York with branches in every city and town in the Uniled States- all other banks should se abolished. And Mesa these banks run by the Government, that is the people, should 'be invested at the currency of the country not otherwise in use. It should be a criminal offense to hoard or erport the currency. If a person leaves this country be does not take with him a greenback to circulate in England; therein lies the benefit to a people in having paper money. believe bard money to he an uumitigated I trust to your fairness to insert this letter.

If I am wrong, let your enlightened corresporiaents put me right. J. B. J. ISuch a banking scheme as above advocated will not furnish an extra foreign or home demand for goods and wares in excess of the natural demand.

People will not buy more manufactures than they need or can pay for, and they can't pay for more than their earnings will purchase without going into debt and bankruptcy. and crippling and perhaps ruiuing their creditors. It is not more currency that L3 neededthere is too much now for the smote business doing. What is wanted is, first. confl'- dence in the future of prices, which in turn begets speculation, and that makes a demand for labor, money, and product; and, second, a.

foreign market for surplus production. which will prevent panics in prices and paralysis of production.En. 1876. 1809. Cities having no indebtedness 12 19 Cities having less than 1 per cent of value.

7 1 Cities having 1 uer cent and less than 2 5 6 Cities having 2 per cent and less than 3. 3 5 Cities having 3 per cent and less than 4... 3 2 Cities having 4 per cent and less than 5 3. 1 Cities having 5 per cent and less than 6. 3 0 Cities having 6 per cent and less than 7....

1 1 Cities having 7 per cent and less than 2 0 Cities having 8 per cent and ICS8 than 9 2 1 Cities having 9 per cent and less than 10... 1 2 Cities having 10 per cent anti less than 11. 0, 1 Citit.v having 11 per cent and les than 12. 1 cities Itavin; 13 per cent and less than 14. 0 1 Cities having 14 per cent and less than 15.

1 0 Cities havin4 17 per cent and less than 18. 2 0 Cities having 20 per cent kind lees than 21. 1 0 Cities having 21 per cent and less than 22. 1 0 Cities having '24 per cent nnd less than 25. 0 1 Cities having 28 per cent and less than 29.0 1 Abundant Evidence that 'Debt Jias Reached.

Its Maxi. mum. 4S 43 go th Present State Laws Regulate and Control Debt and Taxation. Details of the Plan by Which Hr. Holly Will Heat the city of Lockport, N.

Y. New York World. We have heretofore alluded briefly to a plan devised by Mr. B. Holly, of Lockport, to hcat ttlat city by steam.

The Lockport C44)74 supplies a wore extended account of the proposed experiment, and it is so curious that It ill be read with general interest. It seems that a number of substantial citizens of Lockport have formed a company under tbe name of the Holly Steam Combination Company, Limited," and nave elected a Board of Directors, la which Samuel Rogers, D. F. Bishop, I. IL Babcock, F.

N. Trever, B. D. Hall, and 'M. M.

Southworth are associated with Mr. Holly, and the experiment is actually to be made under the following estimate: estimated prevent cost for coal, wood, kind-Boa. labor. repair of stoves and furnaces for warming the f0110Wilig district, in the City of Lockuort, being about one-lialf mile square, bounded as follows: 1.1st by Washington street, south by High street, west by Saxon street, north by Caledonia street, including the following: Four hundred and seventy-five dwellings at $100 each for fuel and labor). 47,500 One hundred and fifty stores at 3125 each 18,700 Two hundred and fifty ofaces and rooms (over and about the stores).

12,000 Twelve churches at $400 each (labor and fuel) 4, SOO Ten hotels at 8700 four schools $oi00 each, One opera-house 10,000 Factories. shops, mill Offices, 1,500 Lifetime of stoves and furnaces, for ten years, at 10 per cent 5,010 THE AGGREGATE AMOUNTS. Before proceeding to draw conclusions from these statistics, It may not be out of 'Alice to give the following ag2Tegates of our own work in a separate form: Total municipal debt, 1878 0, cr75, 721 Total municipal debt, 1866. 2 340,548 Total aosessed value property, 1876 108,969,115 Total real value property, 1876 326,917,525 Total assessed value property. 1866..

49, 368.2:23 Total real value property, 1800- 148i 104, titii4 Total tax raised, 1878 1, 784. 01e.4 Total ta raised, 1866. 807,024 Total population, 1876.. 387. 250 Total population.

Ttlilti 252,874 Total taa raised, 18titi 807, 0'24 Total population, 1870 387.250 Total population. 1800 252. 874 tutezesting Information for City Tatters ana Taxpayers. Front this we have ascertained that the aggregate municipal indebtedness of fitly Illinois cities is now about 6 per cent of the assessed value of the Property, or 3 per cent of the real value of the property. That in ten years the population of these cities have increased from 232,674 to 3,7,00, an increase of 1313713, or 50 per cent.

The debt of these cities, however, is nearly treble what it was in lial; but as an offset we have a valuation rather more than doable, awl an increagie in population of 131,376. On examining all these figures, what is the spectacle presented! We lied that in only Total 100. 400 For cost of works for warming the above district with steam: Eighteen thousand four bundred and eighty feet of main pipe at $1 per foot 18. 4S0 Building and smoke-stack 3, 000 Six steam btilers and fixtures 10,000 Lot for building sind coal-yard 3,000 3, 000 SUMMARY, summmint OP vAltrArrolt TAXATION, DEET. AND POPTLATION OF TIPTY ILtritois errirs Fon, THE TEARS 18136 AND 17 i RESPECTIVELY.

PREPARED EXPRESALT FOR THE TRIBUNE." THE DEMAND FOR To the Editor of T. Trffruno. CHICAZO, Feb. 4.Can you not prevail upon the newsboys to take a sufficient supply of your paper on Sunday mornings? On Michigan aver flue, near Sixteenth street, this morning, I was asked 10 cents for a copy of Tuz Taint-Ns, while copies of the Times could be hall in abundance for five cents es I have noticed also that of late the supply of TRIBUNES on weel days in my neighborhoqd is almost invariably short after 8 o'clock in the morning-, hut I have never had any difficulty in getting the Yours truly, J. P.

Vitae I Value 1 1 Peou- Poem' Ntme of iv. 1886 I prop sty. property. City tax. Ore tax, l(sVortn 1 1376.

1866. 1876. 1 14)6. 0 1876. 0 1466.

ta 5. OM 8Ni 733 5.5,602 2,697 2741 1,900 1. 30,0 13. 000 31 O. 0 4 )7.

632 Bee. borot. 1.100 nee b'rtst 2, 4 43 2) 834.875: 3,9 276 5.8Xi, 156 7,592.877, 16.774 17d, 4 48 20.000 14. 141 11 4. 1.,,.:.

4, 003 872,1 0 1, PI of) 4, 790 3, 2.9.05 stock No cleat No de5t, 7.2a4. oat, 2, .504 1422 zoo 41 1, 473 25, 0 0 No 500, 000 34 0, tx 04 2,4 '3 2. 0444.1 2, 00 1,6 05 I 173 0 04 I'M 352 82. 794 TN). 977 15.379 12, 224 13.10) S.

4ti-r2 2 ries 42 OKI. No drat! 10500.040 44200, 0 0 4,0 No4 a 0 4 2, 504 2, 0,1 4e04.1. tows. No 3o41 No deotl oft a k) 41 4 0) 3, yoo 80)0 1.901 I. (n') pat zil 4, 500 No debt.

L-70 013, 420.341 Not kmown Not kn't 3, 3.45 ill A 190, i)U) 4. 0 10, 1. 2( 1, ctio 97. 000 39, WO 12.000 8.0,40 um WA. 222, 30 )1 12.

5,4 483.4419 1,571 '41') 129. 50 0 2 .000 11,54 .61211 '70. 'Apo' 2..1 ow 4,248,6341 4,2,67,4 1. 4 04)4) 4, 21a 3.0 a 2.44)3 6w 1, )7, 54)4, 51 1, 00, 6..14, 3104 233 3.16 9, Oni) 3, 3041 040' 4.345. 2340 837,3 6 7u, 451 23.2 -0 10, r0 7, 1.44 4.5 1, 0001 1, 509.324,1 313,842 7, 300, 1, 342.1 6,602 3.370 5.

OM 1 1. a I 13.000 5,1. 0,0 8.54.875: 2..2,278 8 7))0; 4.9G.1 ootistock No cleat No debt 25.0. 0 No 173 0 01! 177, 352t Charles 42 0)0, No drat! tows-. No d)hai No debti zu 3,500 No debt; 100, (A)0, 263.

00) liloomuigtoa. 222,301 12.4,5' '70. 6001 2.1.00' 1' 18i. 00 1:20, 00.P 280'7)00 4. 504.

1, 0001 I Watseka Las, ni Snringaeld IA Galena St. tiltiosourg Ma.icoutita. Warsaw Joliet I (No i S4.00) In I -So debt (try, Waterloo ,2 40401 2. Di vo a 0001 4.764 4ney 7..150 No cmcshor) 10). Litchfield 5 )04 Klgi 3 47,343 15.775 Alsito.

,1 4001 dent 1 Ntc. Carrot No (1t I No debti Peru 0 12.00i Jacksonville SI u. Stl. 4 52i debt. No (4) i a in i Tres I rca 'aryl VraukP gin 15 9 d-ht, no low Vandat I a 2.500.

No deOti I No deot, No 1 No dent Not activi Rockfo 87,10,111 2.4,701 Not a eityl 140. 0 4 st 121! Fre-port 69, (A10i 64. tAks Rushville No (loot i No gebt! Waterloo vo 4ney Litenticil Aldo. Mc. Carrot Peru Jacksonville Vatidat a Centralia Fre-port RibIlle (No I 1 M.

00 In I No debV Trt, (try, ,2 I 0 101 2, 441) 74 0.01 4.784 7.650. No 25. 0001 1 011). 1.2 0 0, 10, 15.775 4001 No dent' 'No No (0.84 446 0 14.001 310. 4413, $8,0241 debt.

No debt, i $.100 la 5-2 In Tres 1 rea aurvi 9 d-bt 41,41001 2.500. No deuti No deot, No (b bt.1 ....1 1. 0 debiL Not 26 1654 87,1001 24,701 Not a city( 7.12- 01 454.121, 62.0001 94. 100( No de.81 No deot the school expenses and taxation is manazed by a- 't separate corporation. who levy taxes and keep separate treasury funas as In Freeport.

Aurora. Decatur, Dixon, Braidwood, and some other cities. It will, however, be well to remember that the school expenses inereaee the tax bills of the same persons in those WAUKEGAN, LAKE COUNTY, does not Owe a cent of debt, vat within a very short time bas been expended in building four bridges and three sehool-houses. wARSAW, HANCOCK COUNTY, has a smaller debt now by $,30,0013 thaa in 1866. As this is an exceptioual case, a few words of explanation will uot be uninteresting.

About 1845 this city compromised most of her bonded indebtedness under the general law, and in lenfl It had outstanding from $105,000 to $111-000 bonds, on which about ten years' interest had accumulated. The City Clerk estimated these at $105,000 bonds, and $63,000 accumulated interest, making sieps.000, the amount given as the debt of 1666. The city to-day has outstandInn rezistered bonds, and estimated to be $7.000 old bonds due on same This brings up the total debt $107,500, as given. lit ten years Warsaw ban spent $110,000 on valuable improvements, such as City-Hall, engine-houes, and otter public buildings. JO DAVIES COUNTY Th4 city has neither made an advance In populatiou nor tn valuation in tea years.

Ita debt is a little less; its valuation a trifle more; while the official returns of its population show a decrease instead of an Increteee. Happily there is no other simiiar ease in Illinois. MA.sCOUTAIL ST. CLAIR COUNTY with a debt of $70,000, an boast of no improve- ments. It issued in IS70 $50,000 worth of railroad bonds, said bonds bearinz 10 per cent interest.

Not a cent of interest has been paid, and Mr. Holden, City Clerk, ectimatea the amount now due on bouds at $70,000. Ile adds "that people refuse to pay taxes to such an extent that there is now on the Collector's books over delinquent taxes against our town. This stun includes taxes asseseen for an nen poses. Very tittle real estates is thane ing bands." Maseoetah may be taken as a fair sample of some other cities of population, and even rural communities in this State that do not appear in our table at alL Induced by the glowing' speeches of railroad men to Invest $50,000 in a scheme, it has found, when too late, that the benefits of the mai were not equal to the effort to raise the interest on the bonds, let alone the capital.

The result is a general demoralization, and too frequently, as in this ease, the railroad debt is made an muse to avoid the payment of nece-siary taxes. seetteleo, WHITESIDE eoutert. The City of sterling has in reality no debt. Though the table shows au indebtedness of $1,500, we have since aseertained this was merely some outstanding orders. In ten years Steriliser, has doubled it population, and its value-Gen is five times greater than what It was In IS65.

The water-power and manufactories have done their work, and the men who have charge of routine works have done their work also, by paving for everythinn as they went alone. CENTRALIA, MARION COUNTY, never seems to have had a debt, yet public improvements of all kinds have been made, and the population doubled in ten Years. Tne findin v. of coal in this vicinity hasdenemaeh towards building up the place. It is as natural for manufactories to seek coal as water its level.

FREEPORT, STEPHENsON COUNTY, somethin e. like its conservative neighbor, Galena, was a good solid addicted to the ban habit of runnine into debt, nor yet of making extravagant public improvements. The debt is a trine Icea than in le06some $15,000. The assessment, we should judee, was very fairly made in 1S and the former and 14,200,000 the latter year. Would that some other cities-were as Denvieee, COUNTY, Is a great railroad centre.

It has doubled its ropulation since isod. At that time it was not even an incorporated city. Its property. as assessed in 1676, amounted to nearly Its population 9.000, ant its prospet for future advancement is assured. Here is an example of a eitv being built up by railroads, and hence the township rallroal debt, which in November, 1674, amounted to has nem), productive of good, as the followinr table shows: PopulatIon in 1855, no 1,125 Po-Ailatiou In 18'15, 1 Pop-1st-ton In 170, 2 railroads 4.

751 Population In 1874, 5 ralrowls. Ponulation in 1876. 6 railroads 9, WO The mnnicipal corporation of Danville has no debt. Sin -e IS73, ns25e000 has been expended on public works, including a bridge over Vermillion River. EAsT ST.

LOUIS, ST. CLAIR COUNTY', lost some of its population on the completion of the -Eals bridze aeross the Mississlepi River to St. Louis, as it transferred the railront depots heretofore in Fest St. Louis Unien Depot at St. Louis.

The city, we are iniormed, is now taking a second and more subetantial stert. The assessment was very low in is not over half the value of property. In 1Sen, however, the asseesulent was full This being the ease, few cities have Increased in value more than Fast St. Louis has. BY finurine the corrected valuation for 18711 at $11,000,000, and that of 166,4 at 00 we have an inn-eased valuation ot while Coe indebtedness has shot up from nothing to $270.000.

RoCK IsLANO, ROCK ISLAND corsnr, has a debt of to in 1363. There is no city in the State eith a fairer prospect before It than Bo it Island ban Its lone ton is and must Inevitably become a great manufaeturinz eentre at some not far distant day. Since $118,000 has been expended in pito lic improvements. The Holly system of water-works is in active operation beret tier are the people of Roes Island baekwart in helpinr railroidna bonded dent of $51,000 on the township is evidenee of this. There are few elties which can afford to owe as well as Rock Island.

DRCATUR, MACON COUNTY, has now a respectanle debt of In ISCI, $35,500. The valuation, assertment, has net Inereasel over a million, len though a fine system of water-works, costinz has been built, the taxes were only more in 1S7a than In leen LAS tLLE, LASALLE COUNTY. eny seems to preserve a very equal condition. It has in ten years exactly' anubled its 1870. and donhled its The taxes, however, are not quite In the interval, ren006 has been expended on public Improvements.

QUINCY, ADAMS COUNTY, certainly has an en-nenoas debt, while the property must be assessed very low. Its assessment for 1876 is over $1, below that of Peoria, while Its debt is nearly a million more. The extent of the debt is largely owing- to the construeting of a bridge a-rose the Mississippi at that place, costing and assistanee niven to railronts and the building of public Water-works. The bonded railroad debt of Quincy Is uow only $175,500. The gas works of this city cost has seventeen ttelles of main, and 690 stre.A-latups.

There is now in course of construction at Quincy one of the finest Court-Houses In the State, which it is said will cost a quarter of a million dollars. GALESBURCI, KNO.X COUNTY, now a city of considerable pretensions In education, hal not in 1S5e a Febool-house. A rleh man named Williard died abut that time ant bequeathed $29,000 for sneaal purposes. This rave an impetus to education, and a fine syetern of public schools has nrown ure and within ten years the sum of has been used in the erection of nool-buildines. Here is an iltustra- tion of what Illinois People do for education.

JACKSONVILL1, MORGAN COUNTY, has rusiien right ahead wltli Its debt is rather with economy it will soon be wiped out. Time assessed valuation of proeerty has increased in the most remarkable manner. Ten years ago it was assessed at its last assessment was The most impartent public enterprise has been the water-works, built two years ago at a cost of $150,000. The schoolhouses that have been built since int cost $707,700. A system of seweracre has been eonstructed for this city at an outlay of $1:3,041 City warrants always command par value.

Interest on bonded dent and floating debt Is premptly paid. The funded debt is being called in an plaeed at lower interest. While the tax in this city is just now a little burdensome, the fixen policy of the present Council Is a zrtelual payment of the debt; reduction of taxation, and a reasonable property may be expected. PERU, LASALLN coUNTY. This city has a debt of which, however, if we add the township debt, makes the actual debt of the cite Serienen The increase of indebtedness since 1 iScA3 was caused mainly by the bulling of an iron brklze seross Illinois River at that point, at a cost of The city gave ne3.000 and the township toward building the bridge, the baianee being made up by donation from private individuals.

ELGIN, 'CANIS corntr. shows a small debt for so euterprisine a cit. In ten years over re) One has been used fn cartons white improvements, and donated for locating the Northern Illinois Insane Asylum. BLOONLINOTON, M'IHAN corner, built a system of water-works, bet seems to answer their purpose very well, for We have no space to give dnesils in respect to this etonomieal system. It pays as it goes, and that is more than inoet syetems In cities of fifteen or twelity thousand iubabitauts are donee.

Of the tot el debt of Bitennington, is for stool nurposes. Bloorninnton also gave large bonuses to secure railroad shops and to aid in the cone etruction of railroad'. WILL COUNTY. The debt of Joliet es I 823.927 230. OCO 030, 4931 1, 500 527 1 350, 0)1 3, 500 3,603 2.1103: 1.495 41.70.2 01, 3(-).

0 P4 10,0 0 3,503, 6, (.0 i. 4 a 0 3 00 8, 3-0 No tax 2, 140 144.870 1 1. (1 0 1.2 0 1,010 2. 0. 08 1,.04) 655.

AJO. 10..00 16,0 10 3.00,1, 1. 2, .64 000 814.24 s. 24. 0 13,046 8.00, 4,341 311.0-2 114.

8 At 3.00 45 2.0.'0; 4,.2 171.1kflOVVII 2) sl t'n a 2 0. 0 7c, 1,001.00 3,6 00, 15.00 400 4.500. 3.440 3. 731,701: 277, 900 97,34 18. 92:0 12,9001 7, 674 1 1 1 1,42379 379', 301.6601 3.

894 1. 4,0001 2, 631 I I RIO. Orltv 400,901 Ts. 940 30.0004 cora 4. 074 781,370 241, 25.

3 0 1 1.634., 2, 250 1,512 1,000.0.0 Bee di 1 0 Re. 1 it 4. 1.1 2, 4, ,1 800,1013 to lown i 2.000 1, 3, 040 4040. Cokli 1. 4 12, 7, ol 121,710 53,834 9,404 1,4 0 61.

00 27.000 15,000 3, i 0 0 2.000 214.423 91, 21.1P 12.440 4.200.0 0 3,40 o. 0 0 27, 5 )) 3.4 0 0 9, s'4 2 154.2t5 111,9 No 1.4,,414, 630, 2.0011 0 No detot, 1 debLi 1,3 1.413. 53.4'341, 3. 3')3 1, 3.500 2.5,40 dt4at. Not a el 1 2.751.0014 Not 17 :1,10100 Not a 3.

301 270,000 No aeht, 5, 500, wo 2.300,00, 918.0 .0 11.7 7.0 0. 4, 543 1 6 000: 4, 17.3 nal 510, 00.1 9.715.140 8.073 501 17.1.814 74 717 30.0110 12.876 28. 0001 81, 48,1. 4, 035, 0.0t Sitt, 542 40, 2,0 12,757 9, o0, i 7, 377 1 2.5,0 I. 324) 1 1,, 9 0 0 54 23 2.

5, 0 2243 9. 0 10 5, 925 TRIUNE EUILDING DIRECTORY. Rooms. 1. CHARTER OAK LIFE (lneuranceDep'L).

2. TO RENT. 2. GUSTIN WALLACE. J.

T. DALE. 4. DUEBER WATCH-CASE AN'F'G COMPANY. 5.

ROBBINS APPLETON'. 6. NEW YORK WATCH COMPANY. 7. TO RENTS.

WM. C. DOW. A. J.

BROWN. W. ROBBINS. 2. WRIGHT TYIIBELL.

10. CHARTER OAK LIFE (Loin Den). 11-111. EAMCHILD BLACKMAN. HENity E.

ZEELYE. W. D. cooPER. 14-15.

JAMES 'MORGAN. I. W. BRIDGE. le.

CENTENNIAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. IT. M. D. HARDIN.

18-19. D. N. PEARSONS CO. 20.

HUTCHINSON LCEF. 21. O. L. BASKIN CO.

22. AssOCIATE EDITOR. 23. EDITOR-IN-CHIEE. 24.

MANAGING 25. ASSOCIATE EDITORS. 2. L. C.

EARLE. 27. W. J. BARNEY CO.

28. WILLIAM RIX1S8. 29. U. F.

NORCROSS. J. A. MPELDOWNErw. RETYPATH LTCEtM BT-REAV.

Si. COMMERCIAL EDITOR 32. W. W. DEXTER.

113. GEORGE L. THATCHER. 35. NIONT EDITOR.

66. CITY EDITOR. Offlces in the Building to rent by W. C. DOW.

Room 8. lianville Ban L. Louis. tailiner Eve a toll Monmouth-- Cara Iieeatur sitee LaSatie villa Belicv ille. 00 Pk, 4, ZU0S 40,000 25,000 3,030,000 1, 00,1,009 40,000 24,000 14,0 ,1 9,1,0 7.

000 4.63 1 89,19,10 21.501, 2,857.854, 3.923,927,, 50,000 40, 829 9.1,9) 5 8 i2 8 (10,) 4.4,4 8 00 6.474 30,0 0, 15, 0v.) 1,900,0 )0 900 010 2 0, 0 19 0'10 6 5 )1 1 3 -) No "le 'it 970,000 13.7504 4.504 2, Ott 1 3.0)0 2,1 )9 241, 729' 8,0 000 2,969.119, 1.210,673 58 )09 31,000 9 000 0 3, 224 25.000 14,011 9,1,0 '7. 00 4. 63 40, 222 9. 5 i2 6.600 4.44 8., 6.474 1 0'0 6 5 0 4, The above table shows that the aasessed value of property kept about even for eight years, and then took a sudden jump from 000.000. This is Recounted for from the fact that prior to 1869 all asseasments upon property for taxation were made upon the basis of one-third of its valuation.

During that year the mode was changed, and assessments are supposed to be miele upon a basis of full valuation, or nearly it. The reader should bear this in mind when he reads the large table. It will need but a cursory glance at it to convince him that some dties have diereearded this change of tile law, as in the ease of Springfield, Freeport, Galena, Litchfield, and some other cities. ROCKFORD, WINNEBAGO CONT. We have not among the City cities any one that ha8 actually spent so much within the last few years for public works.

Water-works, iron bridge over Rock River, other improvements, A prominent beaker has been making an interesting investivation in respect to the amount ot business done in this city. He has formed estimates, based on figures actually known, of the agereeste amount of motley made by the cnants, manufacturers, and corporation. His conclusions are that every year a quarter of a million dollars of solid wealth is stowed away as clear savings. Few cities have more to show for their debt of $255,565 than Rockford. hasI.

AURORA, KA.SE COUNTY, In many respects such a city as Rockford, has not been so profuse with imnrovements, nor has it such a formidable debt. The water-works of Aurora cost but schoolhouses, Court-House, total in ten years, $279,030. The city debt is only but it must be remembered that the schools are not run by the City of Aurora, and their expense is additional to the taxation we esiernooT 1'1 htozeforuo cities, i ee vtatialsecie give. 5beirelon 17: Let aafingt.snebe te sty, di 131 Belle- leades; latBdeloleu City-Hall, Water-reservoir, Lteheamcitoyuhnetsout ville is financially in a very wholesome condition, and as a healthy, growing city has few superiors ia the State. WHAT THE INVESTIGATIONS SHOW.

Wehave now found out what alarge proportion of this six million or more of debt has cone for. The next step is to ascertain, poseible, whether the burden for our Illinois cities is to be greater or leas in the future than it has been lathe past. In many instances the inlication is that the debts have sere-ady masted the This we have shown is the case in Peoria. In 1871, we have seen the debt, which had been gradu- ally inereesing over a series of Years (see large tahle), readied over a million dollars. Since then it has falien more rapidly than it went up.

Manifestly this deerease commenced immediately after the public improvements were completee, and the city set about liquidating the dent. There is little doubt but Quincy has reached its maximum indebtedness. The messaere of the Acting Mayor, Mr. Smith, last si indicates that the people made a effort in the way of public enterprise. and that there is now a reneral desire for a polity of retrenehment and an intention to spec-lily pay off the debt.

It is a treat to look over the various printed reports of the AVTAIRS OF PEORIA AND QUINCY, which the ciiintesv of the Mayors of these cities has plasel at our despond. Every dollar is accounted for with the greatest precision. What is true of Peoria and teniney is equally true of easksonyilie, Rockford, East St. Louis, Rock Island, and 13100nlingi3On. Their debts, though large, were all ineurred for linerovemeats, some of welch were necessities, while others are of a kiud that by judicious management may some day become a source of protection to property, and hence an inducement to increase the population.

When a young couple start in life it becomes necessary to run in debt for a home and lot, and frequently tor part of the furniture. By careful management, and promptly meeting interest and principal when due, they eveetually became clear of debt. It is so with many of our growing titles in Illinois. Debt is not only necessary, but, contracted judielously. a good thing, and shows enterprise and pluck.

for which the Western peoole are notes. Without It we should wait a long time for elaborate systems of water-works, elegant schoolhouses, ani hues of railroads. In the contraction of these debts, however, the elements of wea7th in a citythe basis dell legitimate indentednessmust never be lost sieht of. WITT THE DE3T IS SO HIGH IN SOME Though the table of percentage of debt indicates that a few of our cities have very much exseeded the law in the percentage of their debt, we must take two things into consideration. First, that most of these debts were contracted before the preseut law limiting city debts to 5 per cent of their sweessed valuation went into foree; second, the seeminely high pereentaree may be oftener attributed to the ahe surdly low asseesmente in some cities.

It is bringing down the assessment, not brineine up the debt, that Inake5 some cities have a debt of 2i per cent on their valuation. In the aggregate, we end in 1S76 flay cities asses-el at The same year the enCre debt of these cities is 13,075,131, or about 6 per cent on the assessed value of property. When we find that the asisessel valrie of Quinces is less than $10,000,000, CePTIB less thee 1,001,000, and Sprinestield hese than it will not be out of the way to say that the corrected aggregate venation would be three times that of the aesessed Ilense we have Total debt Total corrected value. 300.917,533 Instead of the argressate debt of Illinois cities being 6 per cent, it is reduce I to 2 ner cent, not an unhealthy aura. It is less than the percentarre of the aggregate tridet-iteilness of the whole country aecen-ding to the eeeens of 1670, and vet our S-Vite is young compared with thoee of New Eueland, and while the cities in those States have been housekeepine these many years, most of our cities had winking but barren lots forty years Rem and their houses to build and their furniture to buy.

INCREASE IN POPULATION ererirres DEBT. The in veaee of populetion during the last must not be forgotten, ai it is one of the elements that justify- debt. Here are a few striking instances: 1806. 878. Blooatincdon 7)54 21,000 St-ein 370 6,000 see, fnele 6,009 Elgin 1,341 8,000 P.A.ick ford.

9.408 15, 0 )0 Peoria 19, 4 se Total .51, 509 01. 000 Ten yeers have nearly deubleil the populations of some cities in this state, and in the aegreeate we find six cities that hav in this decetinial period ehot up from to 91,000 population. WAR DEaTs. The clehts of Illinois are not large enough to made the.a Tue War was the means of oregis alarm, when we find out what pais vcstieations we have found some old bounty in many instances, and in our in- bond unpaid to ties day. Immediately after the close of the War, and Its fore cities were clear of their war debts, came the railroad millions Of dollars of piiblis money was sunk in ral.read enterprise that eeldorn came up ta what their enthusiastic projechers mapped out on paper anl deserioed in forenne speeches.

This class of ludebtedness was generally rushed throueh under a pressure of exceement, and the cities have since bail ample leisure to repent. Then came the mania for water-works, and most of our cities set about buildine systems of waterks varviag la their cost from a10.003 to bn the top of this came the change ill the law, am since theu oar cities, with relaariseble unanimity. have been seized with 4 sallen desire to pay off their obligatiens and reduce the deists within the constitutional limits. Oar investigatioas, limited and imperfect as I sq. 0,75, t2.

33o, 54'3 $49.1164, 223 $1, 7S4.032 $407,029 25,1 252, 174 IM51(41. re 'use to Ate pobile. MOOMIC AffillTSEMENTS IVERLI'S TilEATRE A OrTRE HAVERLY. Protwtetors ILL fi. CliArMAN Aauxate Total.

37,480 Mr. Holly has written a book in which be sets 1 forth fully-his plan for supplying steam for mating and doing all the various machine labor of cities and Villages, domestic, Mercantile, manufacturing, etes He says: In cities or towns of from 3,000 to 8,000 Inhabitants, where the main business portion does not exceed one-bait mile square, one set of boilers, located near the centre of the place, with niciell leadine out in four directions. will do all the works If the city is one tulle aquar four sets of boilers will be necessary. The main pipes that leave the boilers will be four-inch, and will diminish to 3. Olsi, 2.

1S4, and one inch at the extreme ena away from the boilers, the mains of four-inches contUning as the use along the lines may demend. The main pipes are placed about fonr feet below the earface of the eartit. The iron pipes are find covered with asbestos, and then put in wood pipes two inches thiek, leaving a space for conaned air between the asbestos and wood. The outside pipe keeps all water and moisture from the team-pi De and prevents oondeneation. The pipes, both wood and iron, are pet down in lengths of two feet, when they terminate in hollow, uprieht posts, firmly secured in the earth.

The upper part of this post is arranized so as to receive the ends of the steam-pipea throneh etuling- boxes to allow tile pipes to expand and coutract without MOVinT the post. The posts are also arranged so as to receive the ends of the service-pipes either with or witheat lointi. The service-pipes are not taken directly from the mains, but front the hollow supports, thus allowing them to be attached or detached from the enonort instead of passing througa the onteide wooden pine to enter the steara-pine. which could not be done because the steam-pipe expands and contracts. while the wooden pipe doe not.

Thie overcomes one of the most important objections to the use of long lines of underground steam pipes, when branch pipes are to be taken tot Another objection has been condensation. This the aeieitos reduces about three-fourths, and the air-space and wooden pine will reduce it still further. Teets made during the month of July, with very small pipe, prove teat steam may be carried through well-protected pipes for a mile, and then be more economical than any other system. But it la thoneht that 1,203 or 1. SW feet each way, making a half-mile square.

is about all that need be furnished from one location. This, even in a city with a population of 1, 503, woula include nearly all the business places. hotels, churches, and schoole. BuilSings further out eonte ee reached by a single line of P-Mall pipe. Steam can be manufactured on a large scale for one-fourth the cost that it can on a small scale, for warming a single dwelling or Wrack.

You can stop the expense at any time by turnips the eteam-cock in your house, whereas in the use of private holler, when you shut off the stedm, combustion goes on iust the same. There is ebont 150 cubic feet of hot air per minute lost through the chimney. THE COMING AGE OF STEAM. A'ete Tr- ft Prenrett 14-Pst. Tt has been somewhat more than a year since the Post first suggested the propriety of heating towns and cities by steam.

the steam to be furnished to househoi lers by a company, precisely as gas is already furnished. When we mane this suggestion, and pointed out the desirability of its adoption, we had little doubt that in due time some company would act upon it. but we had little reason to expect that practical measures would follow as speedily as they have done. The company which is about to undertake the work of supplying heat to the houses, churches, factories, shops, and offives of Lockport, N.Y., has adopted precisely the plan which the rost suggested, and the men who are engaged in the enterprise have so little doubt of their saeeess that they will begin by building an adequate set of works at considerable cost. There LS really no problem to be solved in the matter, no experiment to be male.

The problems were loon acrso wrought out in the beating of large public buildings, inns, and factories by steam, and the new applitettion of the principle differs from the old one in wave which favors its success. One set of workmen Is required for each battery of boilers, whether the work of the bat- tery is to beat a singe building or a dozea teloeks: and, if heat is cheaper than any other, when applied by individual effort to single buildine's of conskierahle size. the saving must be much greater when a stngle set of workmen attend the boilers that furnish heat to all the houses within an area of belf-a-ndle square. Deere is room for the adoption of this plan, prohtably, here to New York and Brooklyn, and the time is propitious for beginning now, while labor is cheap, while the weather is cold, and while housenoldera are keenly alive to the Of tire-making and tire-maintenance in their dwellings- There is no good reason for Postponing tee matter to wait the result of the Lockport undertaking, as the use of steam in this way is In no proper sense an experimentOnee introduced in these steam will soon as much a matter of course as water is now. The Bridgets and Gretehens, whose first question now at the preliminary conference which precedes their engagement hits reference to stationary tubs and other modern improvements, may soon insist also upan having steara beat, and landlords may find it impoeeible to let houses into which thli latest modern improvement not been Introduced- We shalt then live in a real age of steam.

Eagaxement of Miss EFFIE E. re she ef The Tribune. eeeernare Feb. 3.There are few more Titilly interesting topics to the taxpayer of Hui-Dots than the debt, the assessed value of the taxes, and the population of the mnleeeta corporation in which be resides. The debt his property is 'indirectly responsible for; tes asicssmeets must be paid with a never- teen regalarity the asseeament shows the iroportiOn he must pav; and the population indicates the chances of the burden being liettened by an increase of taxpayers.

There se many obstacles in the patti of one who undertakes to preeent trustworthy statistics, tied espectially is this the case when the figures relate to city debt, valuation, and taxation. The aim in this case has been rather to give what is given accurately than Undertake to arrive st cutalusions from Ile-tares which in them-Eaves amount to mere guesswork. The statistics presented in this artkle, with the exceptiou of Leese marked eetioiated," can be implicitly relied upon, and have in every ia'Lance been obtained directly from the records oldie different cities. In obtaiiiing theee reporta neither time nor expense has Web spared. Tat ill-kept records In some cities balm in not a few iestanees made it impossible to ascertain the debt, the valuation, and the taxation of ten ran; eeot in other cases the necessary fates could only be got at by weeks of hard work, la the following letter from the Mayor of Prince.

ton, Mr. Charlie Baldwin, suffidently attests Pareeeeme, 111., Jun. 1, 1877. --Dsan Sin: YOUTS addressed to the Mseee of Princeton, bM beli received. We have no assessments made by oar city or town: our tax le levied on the State apseasmeat made by the Township Assessor, aud it would probably require two or Okroo v.osi;41 of pith emi to6or to eiye you tha information you ask.

foursrespectfully. Us an LE 3 BA LDW i In only one case the information was posttirely refused. Ottawa says that the public good demands that the debt, value, and taxateen of that city be kept a profound secret, a request we readily comply with. tae esssoNe TAUGHT Br mese FACTS. The great luterest manifested by the people for this thiseof facts, and the lessons of economy in city affairs that they must unavoidably teach, elute pays for the labor neeessary to prepare an erliile upon such a In some States (Massachusetts, we believe.

Is one) the law repine an annual statemeat of the entire indebtedness, the valuation of both real and litesunai property, the amount of money raised for taxation, ano the ameunt expended, to be made aid recorded at the State Capitol. Such statistics would be highly valued by a State like oar own, and woald be the means of showing the nexpenchtures for various public purposes throughout the State. It is earneetly to be hoped that some steps may soon be taken by our Legislature in'ales direction, and means provided to gather information of such great importance to every texpayee. wuo BOLDEN Yea erre DZEIT I In the New Eegland Stetes the individual citizen of a city or town is directly hoiden for the lawfully-contracted debts of the city, should tbe dty fail to pey. la 1S52, Daniel Webster held that this was in conformity with the law of Massachnsettet and as late as 1869 no less a than John P.

Healey held that all debts of anv clty Or town in Maseachnsette are a lien non all the estilte, real or yet rsonal, of every iiihabitant of the debtor city or town, and ail such estate may be levied upon to satisfy such debts, if the city or town fail to make pay-meat ween due. In Illinois, we learn from one leading' jurists, Mr. C. M. Braxce, that tho law requires teat an the taxable property within the limits of municipal corporations snail be taxed for the payment of debts contracted under authority of Private property shall not be liable to be taken or told for the onyeient of the corporate debts of a toMcipt2.1 co.vocittioh.

sac. lv, Art- 9, Coded 41-- it0a lb Upon this point Dillon, in, his admirable work ea Corporations," page 41t3, says: Getaide of the New States the cnditors of a corponttion cannot resort for the PurPoge of their deots to the private property el the wiliao7tant. It aould further be remembered that an exeeaten cannot be issued in Illinois ou a judgment attedast a municipal corporation, as seen by the ruling In vs. Halsey, 25 Illinois Reports, page 5U. The only manner Of enforeing a judgment arrainst a munkipal corporation in this State is by a writ of maudamus' THE Eg'INfE OP A TAX.

Taxation and debt go hand in hand, the amount of the former being gauged by the extent of the latter. It has been well said, "A or purpose is of the essence of a tam" Nominally the taxpayer is comeensated but in reality, as Mr. Mill says, -sacrifices for the public good, equality of satellite Wier the rule dictated by justice. In ITaraing its laws in respect to these matters Jiff-Dols letie wisely kept this in tier. The Supreme court of the United State says: If the right to ItLpOile a tax exist, it is a right which, in its hature, acknowledges no limit.

Unless limited by the Constitutiln, State may tax property to its fell value." Our State Constitution has putt chei on excessive municipal indebtedness by malting it imperative that all cities going Into deht must provide IneaUS for paying it within brente years from the time of coutractiont it grthernasire limits the iudebtedaess to 5 per of the assessed valuation of the property? Ind, ta complete its wise provisions, limits tee itut etion to 3 per cent of the valuation. These 7estr1ction5 are, as we shall presently see, natal of many good results, gently reetrainYlg those who mieht otherwise bankrupt the tenielpality, and at the same time making arnVie provisions for the construction of public Works awl the pnelling On to eempletion of public enterprises. There is no danger of the astesament --home too high. No one can examine the ossesstacnte of the fifty cities herewith preheated without becoming convinced that one-tided the eaela value is nearer the average assess 1-11-181-IMPo Monday and Tuesday Evening's. Sbakapearels exquisite Cottle iy, AS -YOU' 11E Treduesd, and ThurstlavTirft CINEQC.M.

FrItiyI k'd AND Matiuees Wedamday and Saturday. NEW CHICAGO THEATRE. Ponttively LAST WEEK of LE COMMANDEUR CAZENEUVE, In his wondertni Soirees of Prestidigitation, And ANTI-SPIRITUALISTIC STANCES. MatineesWEDNESDAY and SATURDAY. McTICKEll'S VIE GREAT POPT-LAR and Arrrisvc of MAGGIE MITCHELL In Jame B.

Rannion's new romantic play or Z.M I a-17'01T Warrant the Ilarinzetrn-nt in announcing the C011.0 tinuance of Vale ancvx-w-tu piav every evening dthu trig tile week and fattivoty Mitinee. in Prepar4tionJANE EYRE and BECKY MIL COLLSEIM THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING, ra a few exiTptional cases has wealth and population kept pane with debt. The indebtedness has increased neariy more than the proportionate increase of valuation. Manifestly with these figures confronting us, the only way to become assured of our proaperity is to ascertain, if possible, WRETNEII THIS BURDEN ON Tlig FUTURE Is likely to be less than that of the past. Again, whether this borrowing will be kepi up, or whether it will cease, as the much-needed improvemeuts are completed.

The only way to find out this satisfactorily is by rapidly glancing over the mass of material we have on hand, and ascertain for what purpose this money has been spent. A brief summary of the public improvements of some of the more prominent citiee of Illinois cannot fail to interest the reader. DIXON, LEE COUNTY. The debt of Dixon is now $78,000. Within the past decade no less than $125,000 bas beea expended on the bridge anross Rock River at that plate.

It w'd1 be remembered that thebridne at Dixon fell down a few years ago. A large expenditure has beet) made to provide a supply of water for fire purposes, besides the improvement and equipment of a new tire SPILINGFIELD, SANGAMON COUNTY. The debt of Springfield is 651,875. Of this, 00,000 has been spent for an elaborate syeteta of water-works. Upon this sum the city is vainly trying to pay interest with Lee water-rents, widen have not yet reached a sum analeient to pay current expenses.

Souse one has blundered in Springfield, and its debt of 17 per cent of its valuation is not the only trouble. The finances of the city are sinking into a bad condition. Three months ago there was not money cnouga in the Treasury to pay the fin eers' salaries for November. There is no rea- son we are told, to look for improvement for a h'ing time. There are $13.004 stall due on duly interest; on January, of principal and interest is due on the bonded debt.

In Fenruary, 1S7.1, this city suspended operations. Corresnondents from there seem to think it not unlikely it will soon be obliged to do so again. has IN i42 AVILY IN RAILROAD BONDS, and had ontstanding Noveinber, 1S74, wosth. It has been honed by many cities in this State, which have railroad bonds outstanding. that they would be sustained by the Supreme Court of tile United States in resisting the pay-meet of the bonds.

But within the last few-months the ease Of the bondholders of the Fox River Valley vs. counties and towns along the route, has 6cen decided by the Sunreme Court of the 'United States in favor of the bondholders and against the counties and towns resist lug payment. of bonds. Iu this one case was 'evolved ever a4tail00 worth of bonds, issued by towns and counties on the line of the Ottawa. Oswego st lox River Valley Railroad, running front Aurora to Streator.

There is no less than 351 worth of just bonds issued by counties, towns and cities registered in this State, that fall clue at various titnee within twenty years from now, Detailed C6.0slin011 unrenisterel. upon which interest to the amouut of civet is, or should be annually paid. CANTON, FULTON COUNTY, has a debt of Stearn fire-engines, gasworks just completed, cost $10,001 and numerous other public improvements have just been made. MENDOTA, LASALLE COUNTY, though Drily indebted to the extent of $4,930, has just completed a school-house, and a City-Lie1 costing 41.l1inl. Bat in this city, as In some other plancs, the sehoots are under the control of the municipal eorporation, but retain the old district system, as the sahools are riot included in taut charters of the tattoos IA en1 ttluiet ROYAL YEDDO JAPS 1 expeneive systems of watee-worke.

We possess actual information showing that only three out of twenty syetems Of water-work hi a Eke number of cities (front 5,000 to population) are to-day paying interest on the debt, and ten of them are not paying ruunine expenses. It is well enough to eonsider the great value of water-works as a fire protection, but it is a wiser-policy that provides first for the protection of the business part of the city against tire, and afterwarde make the extension from time to time, when the Income from the water-rates will pay the city consklerable larger interest than what the eorporatioa pays for the money neeessary for the outlay. The constructIon of less combustible buildings also opens a way for economy. PCBLIC rernoyzetzerrs re ILLISOIS. The rapid growth in wealth and pepulation of Illiuois cities makes it necessary to lay out a great deal od niouey in public, improvements.

Bridges must be Wilt that are demanded by the business of a city; railroads must be financially encouraged that will cheapen freishts; sewers must be built to insure health; water must be on to protect property and supply steam-engines; and a handred-and-oue things are needed that Eastern cities have enjoyed for many years. The secret is to find out when a munielpality should properly incur debt for all these needful Improvements. To ascertain this, its elements.of wealth must be carefully considered. Can it grow morel Will the population increase so that the debt will be shared by a larger population! Tile County of ileaeoupiu spent nearly for a was more than the taxpayers could afford for such a building, and all the wants of the community caIled for. Tide piece of foolishness is only euual to a city that has entailed a heavy debt upou its taxpayers for an elaborate school' house.

These are the debts to be avoided, for in no instance does the public good regime its capital locked up in sueli unpreductive Investments. ESTIMATES OF' CITY DEBTS. The compilers of the national census of 1S70 undertook to estimate the Indebtedness of all the cities in the United States. Subsequent writers have undertaken to arrive at conclusions from these crude statements. Here are the fig-tires: Total asseesed value of property $20,090, 000,000 Corrected valuation.

40, e00 Of WO Annual taxation 270. 000; 000 Merdeipat indebtedueee 823, 000, 000 From the above estimates we find the aggregate municipal indebtednees of the United States is about 4 per cent of the assessed valuation of the property, or about 2 per teut of tbe real valuation, allowing that. the aggregate assessment is matte at about half the cash value. We have before eceu that the State of Illinois limits city debts to 5 per cent of the assessed value. This is coaceded by all a fair and safe margin: A man who is never in debt more than ii per cent of the value of his property is not likely to go through the bankruptey court.

We have taken fifty imelortant, Illinois cities, outside of Ciiieaeu. and preeen', a correct statement of the indebtedness in 16'06 and '76; the vale nation lulefelaud '76; the taxat loll in 1666 and '76 and the population luIrScloans The growth of these cities; the increase of debt; the Increase Satsunin and Little All The Levino Claire titer. Kate Ijirtjng. Fiore Marty. and twenty-live Specialty Artit.t.s.

Evening at II, Afternoon at 2:30. AdmissiOn, 2.1 and 5U et tits. THEITIM LECTURE BY VICTORIA. C. -vrooDi-ruma, "tenor mann me mammal mdmooll 1 On Sunday Evening, Feb.

HUMAN BODY 'FHB TEMPLE Of Reserved Sears for sale now at Box Office. ADELPHI THEATRE. Monday Even Ina. Feb. 1.

IDMIT in his Great Charseter Creation. JOSHUA WHITcoMBE. or tbe MORAL NAIAD tar THE RHINE. bp.endici olio. Matinee Wednesday, 2 m.

FRED.BEGLASS THE CAUSE AN3 THE CURE. re the Eetizor et The Tribune. EVAN3TON, Feb. a receut issue you admit that money withdrawn circulation cripples industry, and thereby seriously affects the working population of the country. When we speak of money being withdrawn from circulation, we mean, of course, what is called the "wage fund," or working capital invested in reproduction, or offered on luau for that purpose.ED.

how is this state of things to be remedied! Can you accomplish it by 14 retrenchment," tbat has been the universal cry The poor sue compelled to but if the rich goes likewise, it taaliaNs confusion worse confounded; bemuse in the present "topsy turvyll condition of society the weal or wo of the mese vat! le-Inre on "OCR NATInlitAL CAPITAL," 114000RMIt.g HALL. Fridav Even inn. Fe). co, at kiclocit it 5. vs.

bale Of Reserve." beats isit coa.111.,nee Tuesday 4.1rn1ng Janata 4Clargli 1.3(xuastnre. P14111011'11 ClItILCII (he Free Lecture tax Prof. 0.. S. Fowler Monday Itvartng.

Feb. Si ea SLICCICAS AND FAIL contaueacluir at .1. sad clueing with Etataitietion4. Couatatatious tram a. 133.

WI LA at Lae Faiuter Ltauee wF.4 Saturday algte..