IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 U& IIIM I.I 1^ i^ u m M 1.8 Photographic Sciences Corporation 1.25 1.4 1.6 ^ 6" — ► £: ^^ \\ ^«*^ ^^ % "q." 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 OHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques I '^..tfii A Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damarid/ Couverture endommagee Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauree et/ou pellicula □ Cover title missing/ Le n n D D D n titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes geographiques en couleur Colo'-ed ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relie avec d'autJ{OPJiIATIONS FOE THE YEARS 1857 AND 1888. AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATIONS : Erom ordinary I'ovenue From Water Works Cash on hand Excess of approi)riation over revenue, j to be provided for hereafter j 1857 8 248434 ()9600 8680 75826 $402540 $ 286856 28000 22455 TO BE APPROPRIATED AS FOLLOWS : Finance (interest, \c.) Eoads |tbr ordinary expenditure,' " (for contracts of last year) „ Police I 33579 Recorder's Court ! F»e i moo Fire Alarm Telegraph Inspection of Buildings ( . " of Boilers li '..[',[', )Y'i^ei" 1 10198 Markets i 6800 Light j 12992 City Hall 1 2660 Health j Parks and Ferries "*'*..* Mount Royal Park Eeserve Fund School Tax $402540 1888 $ 1590921 584952 82175873 1002818 280000 174000 8700 115400 9000 2100 1800 90000 24000 85000 26000 75000 6000 15000 34496 170000 $2119114 I t s 1. 2. 3. 4. Prominent among the principal public improvements which have successively been made by the Corporation during my time, I may mention : The establishment of the present Water Works ; The establisment of the Mount Royal, St. Helen's and Logan Farm's Parks ; Cheap communication by tramways ; Re-organization of the Fire department, with the Fire Alarm Telegraph as an adjunct ; 5. Re-organization of the Health department, with an efficient system of vaccination ; 6. Erection of the new City Hall ; 7. Opening of new streets and widening of old ones ; 8. Improved sewerage system ; 9. Extension of the City limits ; 10. Public Abattoirs ; and more recently 11. Improved system for the removal and disposal of house refuse and night-soil by incineration ; 12. G-ranolithic sidewalks and asphalt pavement ; 13. The lighting of the City by electricity ; and (last though not the least) 14. The suppression of inundations. I pride myself in having had occasion to take an active part in the carrying out of those improvements, and, that they were all brought to a successful issue, is to mJ as it is no doubt to you s!^ a source of great satisfaction. FUTURE PROSPECTS. But, while we have reason to congratulate ourselves upon what has been done in the past, and should be thankful to Divine Providence for the blessings it has un- sparingly bestowed upon us, we must not forget that there is yet much to do before Montreal has achieved the posi- 6 tion it is no doubt dost i nod to occupy as the metropolis and chief comrnoroial city of the Dominion. Before dwelling, however, upon the subject of future improvementH it behoves me, in conformity with establish- ed usage, to submit to you a statement of the affairs of the City, as briefly as is consistent with the communication of such information, in regard to the various departments, as may seem useful for your guidance ; and to make such suggestions for your consideration, as may be conducive to the interest, prosperity and well being of our fair City. FINANCES. This year has witnessed the inauguration of a new system in our civic finances. Instead of having to approach the Legislature for specific authority to borrow on every occasion that the Council might resolvt^ to carry out a new improvement, the funded debt of the city has uow been definitely limited to a maximum within which the Council may operate iji the extension of the water- w^orks, drainage, street improvement and other permanent works: subject to the passing of by-laws regulating the manner and limiting the amount of each successive issue. The limit of the borrowing powers, thus fixed, is fifteen per (5ent of the assessed value of the real estate of the city : a limitation which is at once more business like and elastic inasmuch as it confines the debt to a small percentao-e of the value of the property on which it is a lien, while it aOmits of a gradual increase in keeping with its "Towth, An important feature of the change is, that it substitutes the principle of absolute redemption in lieu of sinking funds for maturing debentures , making it imperative upon the city to retain, at all times, unissued, a portion of the fifteen per cent equivalent to the annual cost of all out- standing issues. // I 1 The maximum of the borrowing pov/ -, based on the valuations of 1888, was estimated at $16,500,000 : which, under the rostriotions mentioned, gave a margin of about $4,2.50,000 to issue for the requirements of the immediate future. The Council having decided to issue this portion, in the form of a thr.-e per cent sterling loan, a deputation con- sisting of the Mayor, Chairman of Finance and City Trea- surer proceeded to London lor the purpose of submittin"- It upon the money marlcet there, and the result of their negotiations, which was laid before you at the time, was considered in the highest degree satisfactory. The amount of our funded debt as it stood prior to these negotiations $13,150,000, costing annually in interest and sinking fund over $810,000. The application of the accumulated sinking fund, made admissable by the changes alluded to, reduced the total of $13,150,000 to $10,750,000. The issue of .£840,000 sterling three per cent, raises this latter amount to a grand tota^ of about $15,000,000, costing f anally $600,000 c • $150,000 less than in 1888, with four million dollars more to spend, and jtist as rapidly as the old 6/: 0% and 1/. debentures mature, and are replaced by the consolidated three per cent, will this annua] sa^lno- increase or, in other words, the interest cost diminish. This will appear more clearly by a reference to the follow- ing figures : — Statement, Limit of Debt at 16 % on $110,000,000 ^ , , ^ , — $16,500,000 Funded Debt of 1888 13,150,000 Accumulated Sinking Fund...... 2,400,000 Leaving a nett debt of, say 10,750,000 8 For which must be reserved a portion of the 16,500,000 sufficient to represent its annual cost at present rates, say 12,250 000 Leaving- a present avaihible margin of, say.... 4,250,000 Interest Account. The interest and sinking fund called for bv the 13,150,000 as provided in the appro- priations of 1888 was, say $810 000 The interest on the nett debt after applying the sinking fund is as follows : On % 600,000 permanent 1 % $ 42,000 2t0,000 terminable 7 % 18,900 " 1,366,900 " 6% 82',015 " 5,429,813 " 5% 271,491 " 3,075,300 " 4% 123,012 10,742,013 537,417 To which add 3 % on .€8 10,000 stg.. 122,640 say 660,000 Shewing a diminution of. |150 000 This result, it is true, has been attained chiefly by the demission of the sinking fund ; but those who have given most thought to that process of providing for debt on one hand, while continuously issuing new liabilities with the other, hci- a come to the conclusion that it is a very illusory method for either present reduction or iinal extinction ; and that the plan which fixes the limit of issue to a fixed percentage of the collateral is safer to the lender while it enables the borrower to avail himself of any opportunity which may present itself to substitute a lower for a higher interest bearing security. Moreover a time had come when the revenue of the city 9 was inadequate to the many exceptional demands which were made upon it ; it was generally felt that vaat and comprehensive measures were requisite to meet its rapid development and facilitate the requirements of its com- merce ; and some mwans of finding additional revenue was imperatiA'e. I am not prepared to say that all the contemplated improvements can be effected without a slightly increased taxation in addition to the relief afforded the revenue in this direction, but it will tend to mitigate such increase or at least postpone it for some time to come. The £840,000 stg., issued to represent the four and one quarter million of av 'able margin, having been placed at an average of about .^o %, will nett, in round ligurcvs, after allowing all charges, £684 stg, or |3,330,000 ; out of which is to come the following accounts : Bonds maturing in 1888-89, for which provision was made in calculating the amount of issuable ^'iigiu (397,000 Water Works extension in 1888. 250,000 Street Paving through lioad Dept., 1888 110,000 Main Sewerage " " 45 000 Inundation Com., disbursements, " 155,000 And the Council has already sanctioned the fol- lowing works : Intercepting Sewer, say 150,000 Asphalting and Flagging Notre Dame street, (completing) 100,000 Widening of St. Lawrence Main street 400,000 Paving of Craig and William streets 368,000 Water Works pipe laying 75,000 Making a total of 2,350,000 already forestalled, to say nothing of the numerous street 10 improvom.„t.s und small sewers constantly going on which though for the most part reimbursable by special assess- ment, have to be paid out of this fund for the present and a considerable portion of which will ultimately have to be borne by it. j " uc All this shews that while we may be congratulated on ■he sound hnancial position in which we find ourselves at the moment it will only be by a cautious and prudent policy that we can make it permanentlv benefi.-ial and I cannot view without alarm the disposition manifest,«d in some quarters to launch into extravagant exp.-nditure as if these proceeds were an almost inexhaustible fund. I trust the majority of the members of the Council will sustain me, as I shall certainly assist them, in endeavorino- o confine their expenditure to what will most tvnW bonefit the City and lacilitate its trade and commerce,. REVENUE ACCOUNT. The revenue of the past year was |o 09,5 4jj and the unexpended balance of ihe previous " ' years receipt was [ 27,409 Making a total of $2,122 S^O The expenditure of the year was |i 349 j^^ Leaving an unexpended balance availal)le for appropriation in 18S9 of 0-0 .^,. •^/o,b44 The estimated revenue of 188!), based on the actual collections of 1888, added to the unexpended balance shewn above, gives a total sum of $2.3(39,055 available for the general and ordinary operations of the present year lius, witha diminished liability of $150,000 on Ihe in- # n tert'st account .sliould Ix' more th in ample lor all (h( re l?i quiromeuts. I say more than ample because it includes an' altoo-,.th,.r abnormal " unexpended balance of cash " from the previous year, arism.- from the fact, already stated, that the payment otthe sinkino. fund was transferred from " reveni'e " to capital account after the approin-iations of the year had been made, and consequently no such item will occur again In vievv of this I would sound the same note of warn- ino- which I did while treating, of the balance pertainino- capital account and would strongly recommend thai this sum ot $273,644 should be spread over three or four years instead of being all appropriated in 1889 Ifthisisnot done it is greatly to be feared that the amount available lor ISilO will fall short of the recniire- ments which would have been established by the present years figures. j i- ^lih The Reports of the officers of the Finance department which will shortly be put into your hands, will furnish all other details. ROAD DEPARTMENT. Largo sums of money have been appropriat.>d to the Road Committee of late years which were spent in impro- ving the streets and sidewalks, the drainaire, .Sec. Latt^erly a step has been taken in the rig^t' direction bv the adoption of durable material such as block-stone, wooden-block and nsphalt for the roadways and granolithic tor sidewalks; an improvement that is likely to prove greatly beneficial and which should be extended as the means at the disposal of the City will admit. 1 trust the Committee will lose no time in' giving effect to the resolution of the Council with respect to the paving of Craig and William streets; the first with wooden 12 blocks and tho luttor with blockstoiu^ ; although I would have preferred stone blocks in both cases. I would also urge the i)rosecution of the upper level intercepting sewer for the construction of which the Road Committee obtained authority from the Council on the l-2th May last. A small portion only was done last summer, and in view of the importance of this work, it is to be hoped the Committee will use every exertion to bring it to as speedy a completion as possible. Although much has been done for a few y»nirs past in opening and widening streets I would strongly urge upon the Council the expediency of extending Sherbrooke, Ontario and Mignonne streets eastwardly as far as the City limits. Thecje extensions have become a necessity on account of the large increase of population in that section of the City occasioned by the extensive workshops of the Canadian Tacific Railway Company, the establishment of ne\v manu- factures and the proposed enlargement of the harbour. ' POLICE. This department, under its new chief, seems to have performed its diities so far, with a degree of efficiency that augurs well for the future. The present numerical strength of the force, however, is acknowledged to be much below what the public interests demand. I hope the means at the disposal of the Council, this year, will admit of such an increase being made to the force as will be commensurate with the wants of the City in that respect. h Ff!ymmi-m W FIRE DEPARTMENT. The past year has been an eventful one for our fire department. ^' 13 The severe and dii^astroiis fires that took place last winter and the heavy losses entailed upon the fire insurance com- panies, induced them to call in qiiestion the competency and qualifications of the chief of the brigade and the efficiency of the force. This led to a great deal of discussion, recrimination and investigation betvv'een the Fire Committee and the Cana- dian Fire Underwriters' Association, pending which the latter thought proper to increase the rates of insurance. In the mean time propositions were made to the Cor- poration by the Association with a view to effect certain changes and improvements in the organization of the Fire department ; and after a protracted correspondence, the Association, as you are aware, signified their assent to what had been done in thv- way of improving the brio-ade, and agreed to restore the rates to what they wen; prior to the difiiculties aforesaid. Now that the force has been well, if not fully equipped, and with a new chief at its head, the public naturally expect that it will be able to cope successfully with its terrible foe ; and it is to be hoped that their expectations will not fail to be realized. It should be borne in mind, however, that with our severe climate, and the many drawbacks and impediments incidental thereto, our brave and gallant firemen are often times put to great disadvantage and meet with insur- mountable difficulties in the execution of their duty, for which they should not be held responsible. WATER WORKS. The daily increasing consumption of water has given rise lately to doubts as to the capacity of the aqueduct, in the near future, to furnish the City with an adequate supply of water. 14 Tho CouiKiluud thei,ul,ii,., will perhaps besurprisod to loarn that, at the privsoiit moment, the City may bo exposed to be put on .short allowance, ovvino- to the fact that in the present .state of the aqueduct with its thi.-k coat of ice and the consequent stoppage of the wheels, the City is entirely dependent for its supply,upon the two Worthin-ton en-nnes and that, should a break down (...cur to the hu-ver one'now in use, whilst the wheels are idle, the .suppFy would be insufficient. Such, however, is the fact as appears by the accompany- mo- report of Mr. McConnell. actino- superintendent of the Water Works, under date of the 25th February ultimo It IS obvious therefore that the time has come when the Council should seriously consider the question of com- pleting the enlargement of the aqueduct, by means of which the City would obtain an ample supply of water for all time to come. The Water Committee, fully alive to the wants of the ^ity in that regard, wisely came before the Council last year with a report recommending that, as a preliminary step, they be authorized to acquire the necessary land for the proposed enlargement. This report was referred to the Finan.'e Committee and kept over pending the negotiations for the new loan r^ow that this loan has been secured it is to be hoped that the finance Committee will take the matter up at one of their first meetings. MARKETS. Our public markets, under the wise supervision of the Market Committee are kept m good order, and continue to yield to the City a good revenue. I regret to say, however, that, as regards the private sta Is, great difficulty was experienced last year in the collection of the license fee, owing to the factious opposi- 16 tion offered hy tho fiolders of tfiese stulLs, to th. by-law by wfi.ch th.y are governed ; notwithstanding the fa.-t tliat his by-law has on mon, than one occasion been attacked belore, and held to be good and valid by the Courts Now that the upper part ol Eonsecours Market has been vacated by the Militu, authorities, 1 pivsu.ne it could be made available for market purposes, and produce a revenue that would soon more than cover the cos- of tho improvements. The Market Committee. I am sure, will not tail to take up the matter and to come before the Council with a well devised plan to attain the object in view. CITY HALL. I am glad to say that there is good ground to hope that the Jong expected construction of an elevator in the City Hall will be canied into execution during the present y(>ar, an improvement which, I am sure will be hailed with satisfaction not only by the Members and olhcers of the Council but by all those who have occasion to visit the City Hall. I take this opportunity to suggest to whom it may ap- pertain, that care should be taken to keep the interior of the building at all times in a clean and healthy condition. HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Pul)li(^ health is SO intimately connected with the pros- peril V ol the City, that it is a fit subject for our particular attention. Upon this department d(n'olves the duty of promotii.o- by all possible means the health of the Cit^, and of check'- ing and preventing the endemic and epidemic diseases to which we are exposed. The operations of the Board of Health during the past 16 year havo be(^n oharactcrizod by au earnest and woll direct- ed energy, as will appear by the statistie.s furnished by the department. During the past year small-pox prevailed in some cities of the United States and of the Province of Ontario, and even penetrated into certain part of our own Province. Yet, although no interruption occurred in the coinmerciiil relations existing between the intected parts and the City, we were preserved from the contagion. The good understanding between our Health dt^art- ment and the Provincial Board of Health has resulted in the adoption oi precautionary measures so elRcacious that thi' disease was confined to the spots where it first made its appearance. Local causes of disease in the City itself, were speedily removed wherever found, and the spread of dipthteria, measles, scarlatina and typhoid fever kept in check by a ihorough system of isolation, placarding and disinfection. Vaccination was pursued in a systematic and thorou<>h manner, and the population thus protected as far as po.ssible from the danger of contagion in the event of a visitation of small-pox. The results of the intelligent and vigorous action of the Board of Health will be better appreciated by observiu"- the marked diminution in the class of preventable diseases notwithstanding the fact that our population has consi- derably increased by annexation, immigration and natural growth. Thus in 188*7 there were 1,743 deaths from zymatic diseases, while last year there were not more than 1,610 ; in 1887 the mortality from dipthteria was 448, from measles 74 and from typhoid fever 101 ; while last year the deaths from diphtheria numbered 427; from measles, 37 and from typhoid fever 94. No increase took place in the mortality from diarrheal diseases. 17 Taking into ronsideration the exceptional difficulties that the Board of Health has to encounter, and the want of cooperation on the part of a large number ot the people in the enforcement of sanitary regulations and the (tarry- ing out of sanitary measures, the most prejudiced cannot fail to acknowledge that there is cause for congratulation in the statement just referred to. I trust that during the coming civic year the Council will endeavour to furnish to the Board of Health the means necessary, not only to perfect the measures already in force, but also to enable the Board to carry out still more effi.'iently the important work intrusted to th<>m. Last year, our acts of incorporation did not confer suffi- cient power upon the Council in health matters ; but the extension of authority obtained in the new Charter will, it is to be hoped, enable the Health department to cope successfully with its present difficulties. PUBLIC PARKS. Our two great parks — Mount Koyal and St. Helen's Island -have been well attended to and continue to afford to the public, and to the working classes especially, a source of recreation and amusement which is more and more appreciated every summer. A beginning was made last year in improving the "Logan Farm Park," and with a limited expenditure every year, as was done for the two other Parks above referred to, this fine tract of land, for the possession of which we are indebted to the liberality of the Federal Government, will no doubt, after a while, become a most attractive spot, to the great benefit and enjoyment of the dense population of the eastern section of this City. A numerously signed petition was recently submitted to the Council from the residents of the Point St. Charles 18 itw \'T\'^'^'^''^"^' Canal, praying for the estab- hshment ol a Park on the property known as the "Price It is suggested very properly, that by purchasino- the whole ol that property oompriHing some 207 arpen"? he City might use a portion oiit for a settling nnn in k • m connection with the Water Wo4" "felJlliS^ ^^"1 F rk in he" "^'' "^ ----""tal lake in the proposed 1 ark, in the same manner was been done for the Croton reservoir in the great Central Park of New York to the lavorable consideration of the Council. INUNDATIONS AND HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. There is no subject to my mind more worthv of vmir serious consideration than this. In fact I co isider it' he wi'Xch"*hrr'^^''"r ^r ^^^^^^"*^- ^^^ ^^^y wiin Which .he Council adopted the resolution in ..J pow„ from the Legislauue to'eflec. a C S g' , °oo lor that purpose, and to cooperate with the GovenZ„t and the Harbour Commissioners in securing the two fod ha t °f '"'■'■^•"'Sf *" L'i'y from iloods and fmprov ," The So soon as our new Charter becomes law, I presume you W.II, w.thout delay, pass tl, necessary bv-law and rX "d r'^Sd TTT *:'"'-'' "^«"' *° *eVesoTutb,t „nr,r B ' u " '° '"' '"'P'''' ""■' the Government f„^f, . "^" Commissioners, on their part, wl™ fail to do what is expected from them in that reg"d. CITY CHARTER. The consolidated and amended Charter of the Citv whi h will shortly pass the Legislature and for which w"te 19 mainly indebted to our distinguished ex-col league the Honorabl,. J. J. C. Abbott, will be found to be a great im- provomGnt upon the fragmentary one which was scattered through innumerable amendments. This Charter confers upon the Council ample legislative and executive powers. To the proper exercisv-i of these powers carefully pre- pared by-laws are necessary ; hence the expediency of revising and re-codifying our by-laws Since the last codincation, so far back as the year 1865, there have been so many alterations, amendments and repeals, that it is, to-day, a most difficult task to ascertain exactly what our City laws are. I recommend that a special Committee be at once ap pointed to revise the by-laws with a view to obtain at as early a day as possible a new compilation of the Charter and by-laws with a comprehensive index and the usual appendix.to be published for public use. CITY OFFICIALS. From my long experience and intimacy with the official administration of our civic government, it seems fitting that I should refer to a subject which a Mayor, who has not passed through all the ranks as I have done, cannot be expected to review ; and it affi)rds me great pleasure to testify that, notwithstanding the occasional outbursts of newspaper criticism, the officers in charge of the various branches of the civic government fulfil their duties in a diligent and faithful manner, and with an earnest desire to keep their respective departments in as efficient a state as possible. As regards the department with which I have myself been more closely connected, that of the finance, I have no hesitation in saying that it is now on a footing which would compare favorably with ihat of any financial insti- 20 tutiou with which I am acquHi^tod and, I may say without flattery that, to the maniu'r in which its officers give eiTvci to the wise and prudcnl h'oislation and direction ot the Coum il, in due, to som.- extent, the very hii,4i credit that wr City enjoys in the muri.'y markets ot'thevvorkl. Whilst on this subject it strikes me I would tail in my duty were I not to allude to the loss the City has recently sustained by rhe death of two of its oldest officers in tho "Water and I'olice departments. Mr. Lesage's connection with tho Water "Works dates from their very inception ; and the zeal, ability and de- votion which he displayed in the management of that important branch of tho public service, are tco well knov/n to call for any praise at my hands on the present occasion : Mr. Naegele, though in a more humble sphere, has served the City well and faithfully during the thirty-five years he has been iu the police force. In paying this tribute of respect to their memory, I beg to suggest, as an act of justice in recognition of the long and faithful services of the deceased, whether it does not behove the Council to make some provision for their widows and children, who, I regret to say, are left unpro- A'idcd for. I CONCLUSION. Having thus cursorily gone over the leading topics embraced in the reports of the several departments about to be submitted to you, I will trespass no longer on your forbearance than to say that in assuming the niministra- tive functions of the oiftc^ of Mayor, it will d ■ :.im m- deavour to follow in the footsteps of my dig.tiflod pr^'ie- cessor, and more especially in the modest position taken by him to attend ceremonials on occasions only w^here such attendance is officially required or called for— a 21 privilege which I believe I hiive au equal right to claim ironi my ayv, state ol liculth and pcrsonul business relations. In tonclusion I conlideiiHy trust that our proceedings aiul debates will be condu. fed in that spirit oi mutual ibrbearanre and with that harmony which our rorelathers had no doubt in view when they adopted the beautiful motto engraved on our coat-of-arms — • " Concordia Salu8." Montreal, | nth March, 1881t, i J. GKENIER, Mayor,