TirE OMAHA DAILY BEE: VWOXDAY. JANUARY 1. 100(7.
OMAHA'S LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Munitipal HouRekeepinr, of tan City Set
Down in Detail.
DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
ammarlsed tlttrmrnl of the cl
Itlee and Organisation of Ity
and County for Iltielneae
Omnlia has an estimated population f
130,(. It was authorized an a niiinU-ip.il
corporation under a special charter tiy tlii
legislature February J, 1 V.T, rind was or
ganized as a ci.v March 5, 1W7. Its longi
tude west from Greenwich Is I degrees, 65
minutes and 47 seconds, and Its latitude
north of the equator Is 41 degrees, 15 min
utes and 43 seconds. Tho low water of the
Missouri river at Omaha Is 83 feet blow
tho sea level, and the highest point In the
city above the sea level Is 1,27.3 feet, being
it the Intersection of Thirty-second street
and Poppleton avenue.
The area of the city is 24.6 square miles;
lis greatest "length is 7, miles and Its
greatest width 4'i miles. It has 33.04 miles
of streets and 145.14 miles of alleys. At
Omaha the Missouri river has a fall of
oven Inches to the mile, a mean velocity
of 2.73 miles per hour, a mean discharge
of 30,000 cubic feet per second, the current
being capable of developing 852 theoretical
horse power.
Omaha's Official Roster.
Mayor Frank E. Moo res.
Treasurer A. II. Hennlngs.
Comptroller C. O. Ixiberk.
City Clerk-W. II. nibourn.
Attorney J. P. Hrecn.
Police Judge Rryce Crawford.
City Engineer Andrew Rnscwater.
Poller Inspertor Joseph Beheldt.
Hullding Inspector C. H. Wlthnell.
Gas Inspector J. C. Lynch.
Sidewalk Inspector J. O. Snowden.
Superintendent of Streets J. B. Hummel.
I'lumbing Inspector Albert Tugle.
Uccnsn Inspector S. W. Scott.
Inspector of Weights T. P. Mahammltt
Electrician W. Mlchaetsen.
Health Commissioner J. B. Ralph, M. P.
Market Master W. F. Gerke.
Milk Inspector L. K. Hut ton.
Garbage Contractor Alex MacDonald.
Pound Master John Iaughland.
Tax Commissioner William Fleming.
Veterinarian H. L Ramocciottt
CITT COUNCIL
President H. It. Zlmman.
P. M. Back.
P. H. Hoye.
H. B. Zlmman.
A. ' H. Comstock.
C. O. Dyball.
P. C. Schroeder.
C. 8. Huntington.
D. J. O'Brien.
E. D. Evans.
FI RE AND PO-TJCE COMMISSIONERS.
Ex-officio ChniiTnan Frank K. Mnores.
Joseph W. Thomas. Lee W. Spratlen.
William J. Broatch. O. L. Miller.
Secretary A. ft. Harvey.
Chief of Police John J. Donahue.
Fire Chief-C. A. Salter.
First Assistant Chief J.' W. Simpson.
Second Assistant Chief M. J. Plneen.
Pnhllo Library Board.
I'resldent Lewis 8. Reed.
F. L. Haller. C. E. Morgan.
P. L. Prrlne. John Rush.
IT. P. Deuel. A. C. Kennedy.
George West. Nathan Bernstein.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
President W. II. Christie.
J. O. Detweller. D. U. Ennls.
Robert Dempster. W. II. Koenlg.
J. H. Vance.
J. O. PhilllppL
K. A. Balrd.
David Cole.
Charles Harding.
James W. Maynard,
A. C. Kennedy.
J. L. McCague.
George D. Rice.
J. C. IJndsay.
Secretary J. F. Burgess.
Attorney C. K. Herring.
Superintendent-W. M, Davidson.
Sup't of Buildings Duncan Flnlayson.
Manlclpal Property.
The city hall of Omaha, for size, con
venience and architectural beauty, ranks
among the best ones of the west. It was
built In 18:il at the northeast corner of
Klghteenth and Fur nam streets. Following
is un approximate valuation of the build
ings owned by the municipality:
City hull $ 600,000
Public library lim.ooo
Klrc engine houses liminni
'ity Jail 2n.mO
Market house 2n,iiu
lOiiieiency hospital iit'imo
Asphalt plant g.ono
I'liund .' 3,010
School property $,00o.(o
Parks 6ti,0ii0
Totul 83.261,000
Bonded I)abt.
Omulia, Douglas county and the school
district of Omaha are much better off In
the matter of bonded debt than most other
communities of their size in the country.
The bonded debt of Omaha nggregates
only $4,841,000; that of the county $975,000
and that o the school district $775,(00.
Paved St rests.
Omaha has a total of about ninety-five
miles of paved streets. According to fig
ures compiled by the engineering depart
ment the paving prior to 1905 amounted to
ninety-one miles and cost a total of $3,474.
057.93. In 1906 6.579 miles were laid, costing
$-'62,877.10. and bringing the total cost up
to $5,726,935.13. Two miles or more of
wooden block paving were replaced by
brick and asphalt. During the last year
2.827 miles of asphalt, 3.16 miles of brick
and .6"2 miles of macadam pavement were
constructed, muklng the respective totals
as follows: Asphalt, 39.673 tulles; brick,
16.626; inucadam, 4.611; stone block. 26.425,
and wood 11 247.
In detail the 194 paving record is as fol
lows: ASPHALT.
Square Total
Streets. Yards. . Tost.
Sixteenth, Itodae to Izard. 7 .Vet. 23 1 3 iim 43
t'upitul avenue, 24th to 26th 2.06.6 4.7!.tk
Bewarii, ;ui to 41st Ave.. 4.U33.64 S.M7.27
17(h, I.veiiMjrt to Webster ,i5. 79 lo.f.Tj (s
toth. Humilton to Franklin 3.44t 71 7.3.M.02
"titli, Do.tKe to Chicago.... 4.327.81 7,768 67
Davenport, 18th to 2-d.... 8.ii2.:S 6...M.29
37th, Far nam to iKidtte.... 1. 6.-7 96 3.5;7.5i
hmIi, Farnam to Dodge 1.870. Mi 4u44.6ti
llurney, 3.!d to 36th 4,248.99 ;.ix
ih Ave., liurney to Dewey
t Ave 594.95 1.39.65
Intersection, 33d and liar-
ney Cfi-4 490 62
Capitol Ave., 26th to 27th.. 1.6.'l 33 2 M;i .'ia
Marcy, 3.1 h to 31st 1.102.S6 2.192.21
lluwurd. &lh Ave. to 36th. tiu 41' 1 4tV.i
':'th. Dodga to Cass 5,it.07 ll.M5.ll
Totals 52.aW.93
BRICK BLOCK.
Square
Streets. Yards.
Spauldlng, S4th to Srtth S.v'l in
Intersection. 3oth and like
17th Ave., Leavenworth to
Juckaon 1.575 S5
Lake, IHth to I4tli 7.1.r.i.74
Douglas, 20th to 24th 3.w.'i
-Vth. Farnam to Ix-uven-
worth 6.t!41.57
r.th, lhidge to California... b. '.'10.70
.ltd. ruining to Charles 5,L.70
l'vetiorth, I'aik Ave'.
to 37th lifck(.S0
'.l'th. Farnam to I lodge 1.5'.4.W
I'ilh, Speucer to Corby 3,4i! 00
126..3j
Total
Cost.
$ 17.0 3J
lii7.76
4.214 76
11.617.71
fe.&.i.54
15 012 12
12.514. IS
U2a9.ti2
26.073.22
3. .";. iim
Totals 67.5o3.95 $123,176.27
Kstin ate.
MACADAM.
Street. Bq. Yds. Cost.
D.Hlge, 40 th to 4Jith 4.2 $3,092.58
Palaa; Kepalr Plaat.
A municipal arhalt i-epalr plant was In
stalled by the city early tn lauo at a cost
of $7.5(0, tha contract being performed by
the Star Machine works of Indianapolis.
The capacity of the plant Is 5. square
jards a day. It was static ! in July, and
wisn th season closed, bui tepalreJ I
Ki.S4J.76 yards of general pr.vlng and 3.'t:.'H
jnnls cIiishKI 1 as private wrrk. which
consisted of rei hn it.it paving disturbed by
pnlillr etvlco rospr. rations and others to
lay mains ;ind pip The cost of the
plant d'lrlriK the time It was operand
am Hinted t i 1'..C;i.16 and tun tel -ial to
M.W.'fX n total of JIVaf.47. This tneuis
that repnlis v..r. m.-ole for nn nviat'.e
of H.9H6 a square yard. 1'c ludlnB Minler
and base wherever m-cess-try. For the
private wnrk the it y w is reimbursed.
In the past the nvi'iatc cost of asphalt
repairs under eonria t l as hern, about 11 -"
per square yard. The first year's opera
tion of the mjnlcip.il plant Is pronounced
a decided suci i ss. Its work was done
under th supf i intendeney of Dean Noyes.
under ser.eial dir. ct ,n of the enc'neorir.i.
department. The street foreman was II.
. Cowdurny.
In connection with the plant n lalmratoiy
was It-stalled for the purpose of making
analysis of ull kinds of paving, sewer,
Idewa.lk and hulldinir material. A reRti
lar system of records was inaugurated In
order to determine standards In public
work of all Hnrls. tn the seven months
operated 2T5 Analyses were marV by
Chemist If. Klrsehbaum. Of thee jon nvr
of asphalt surface mixtures and blnih- s.
eleven of asphalts and asphalt cements:
fifteen of brick and brick block, twenty
two of cement, twcnly-nne of sand, seven
of fluxes nnd oils, tive of rock asphalts
and fifteen miscellaneous.
fewer System.
The sewer figures given out are ss fol
lows :
Cost.
$?.il.t.TI.6s
Prior to 1006.
19.6
Total i.-,i,tj.-.
$.'.125.19.90
Of this amoiint for l:. 9 TW miles were
district sewers, costing $4H.d9.49, snd 1.41S
miles were main sewers, costing $17.09.7:!.
Permits were Issued for about eleven
miles of private connections, or laterals,
meaning new sewer services to at least
720 bulldlncs nt an expense of $-1',k.
It Is estimated that twenty miles of new
permanent sidewalks were laid In 19"5.
twelve miles by property owners and eh;ht
miles by the city. Of the amount about
seven miles were cement sidewalks nnd
the remainder brick. This brlnps the total
sidewalk mlleaKe of the city up close to 3f.
GiiidtnK Improvements.
The grading record makes the, following
showlnc:
Cubic Yards.
Previous to 1P05 9,:il7..'.;.".
Cost.
$1.62.1.419 71
14,t;2 2S
llKO
n:t.!'i.
Totals 9.431.510 $l,63S,0MfO
The city Is lighted by 1.2"0 Welsbach
burner gas lamps, rated at eighty-candle
power, and MO arc lamps with a stated
Ulumlnntlng power of 2,fle0 candles each.
During 196 the Western Cnlon and Postal
Telegraph companies built conduits in the
downtown district for the purpose of en
tirely relieving the streets from overhead
wires.
Health Department.
Statistics from the office of the health
commissioner show that Omaha's mortality
rato for 1905 was among the lowest of the
cities of the world, being only .0ns.i6, based
on an estimated population of 125. nno. Dur
ing the year there were but 1.U07 deaths
and 213 of these were ot Infants less than
6 years old. In tho same period 1,924 chil
dren were born almost twice as many as
died, and tho largest number of children
ever born In the city In a single year. Of
the deaths 677 were males and 430 females,
and of the births 999 were boys and 925
girls.
The year passed without serious epidemics
of any kind. Frequent analyses of the
water supply showed It to be pure and
wholesome. A crusade was Inaugurated
by the Woman's .club to Insure pure milk
and this resulted In the city contracting
at $2,000 a year with the Creiphton Medical
college for tests of fluids and foodstuffs
as often as desired by the city health de
partmentthe analyses to be both bacterio
logical and chemical.
Police Department.
The police department is composed of
eighty-nine men and one police matron.
Including Chief of Police J. J. Donahue,
his clerk, two captains, one chief of de
tectives, eight sergeants, eleven detectives,
fifty-eight patrolmen, two turnkeys, two
patrol wagon drivers, two patrol conduc
tors and one hostler. The cost of main
taining the department In 19n6 was $108,iiiiO.
Through the efforts of the force $17,753.12
worth of stolen property was recovered
of $22,876.72 worth of stolen property re
ported. During the year the department
made 123 arrests, reported 2C9 accidents,
secured 122 buildings, removed seventy-one
dead bodies to the morgues, cared for 115
destitute persons, attended 100 Arcs, cared
for sixty Insane persons, accommodated
8.553 lodgers at the police, station, returned
fifty-five lost children to parents, furnlahed
33,957 meuJs to jail inmates, cared for 365
sick and injured persons and responded to
4.692 colls for the patrol wagon and ninety
two for the ambulance. That the city Is
a fairly satisfactory place to live Is shown
by the fact that there were only thirteen
suicides. There were five shooting affrays
and twenty-one stabbing affrays. The de
partment Is operated from a single central
station at Kleventh and Dodga streets.
Fire Department.
Omaha has a fire department of 319 men,
Including Chief Charles A. Salter and his
staff. There are thirteen fire stations,
equipped with four rUam engine compa
nies, four hook and ladder companies and
seven hose companies. During 1905 4"6
ulrirms were received and 50 buildings ac
tually on tiro. Out of buildings valued at
$2,:tH.6l5, holding contents valued at $2,354,
3.'6, the total loss was. on buildings, $104,127,
and on contents, $.17,447, the totals being
$4.649.o-!l exposed, against $747,447 actually
dcstioed. The loss insured, was $531,119
and not insured $16.32S.
Two citizens w.ie killed and twelve in
jured during the year through lire. BL-ven
of these accidents were due to sasoiine
stove explosions, three to gasoline explo
sions, one to lamp explosion and in the
others by Jumping from windows uii-J get
ting In the way of the hose watf ni. Two
persons were rescued from burning build
ings. There was one death in the dep.irlment.
Fourteen firemen were badly injured and
six slightly.
The largest fire was the Mercer tire at
Eleventh and Howard streets, by which
buildings to the value of $'JH..W and con
tents to the value of $.'l.1.3i. were de
stroyed January 2S. if the total loss of
$419.8!M the Insurance companies bora ll.iS -two.
Tho second largest lire was that of
the Woodman Lintted Oil works, $18,750,
fully covered by Insurance, and that of
the Omaha Paper P.ox company, $13.5S.l,
similarly protected.
Following is a table showing the total
fire loss for the last t.-n years and tho
amount borne by the insurance companies:
T.Hal Kiss to Ins.
loss.
$5(7.447
Coil.p. lilies.
$'.31,119
X7.559
.'lhl.l!.1
ii-;.6j
2'.4 '3
; ; vi
::4.lc3
H-7.6V5
76.41
72.123
r.4 !i4.IJ2
V.'H 6:-t.V4
1'2 146. a
1I 256.5N
19KI !H 557
K. 9 374.541
IKK llH.n.o
1K7 SS.-J75
lii kJ.t'M
Parka and Houlevard.
The parks and boulevards of the city -ir;
described Iscw here In tills issue. The year
In the department was noteworthy In tho
arrangements made for ten miles of new
boulevards, a new park on the bluff tract,
t In. lU'le p irt of Cut-Off lake, und th
donation of . 1. Kiertt-ad ..f a si iall
ucHjhborhood park. The financial it
Mile.
14.ir
10.754
shows the fact that $:4,1!$.S wss paid nu. o-'
the park fund for'the first eleven months of
the year and $1'. 513.23 from the road fund.
In d. iail the money was expended as fol
lows: Ilans.om park $6.M4.7
Rlvrview park fi.M9.91
Klmwnod park 1.22S.14
Mill.-r park $,4.15.9
K'nmtze park 512.67
Curtis Turner park B.11.MI
mis park 649.2"
For.tanelie park S3 4.51
Jefferson Suaie and Capitol avenue 4M.1S
D.rr paik ie;
Flnreiic. boulevard 6.KIS.07
South Central boulevard 1,410.2
W est Central boulevard 6.31.1.07
Military avenue M4 22
Boulevard, east of Knuntzo Place.... 17.50
North Central houle-ard 17 5o
Northwest boulevard 1S7.50
South Central boulevard 1.S73.62
Podne sireet 224
Iloiialaa Conntr.
Klectlve officers of Douglas county who
w.-re elected at the general election held
November 7 last are:
County Clerk David M. Haverly.
Sheriff John W. McDonald.
County Judge Charles Leslie.
County Treasurer Robert O. Fink, re-
e.-ted.
Register of Deeds Frank Bandle.
(."runty Superintendent of Schools K. .1.
Rod well, elected, hut resigned; count y
board elected Mr. Yoder to fill unexpired
term. New superintendent to be chosen at
first meeting in January.
County Commissioners Emmet O. Solo
nion arid William O. Ure.
The elective officers who hold over ate:
County Atorney Wlllard W. Slabuugh.
County Assessor Harry D. Reed.
Clerk of Courts Frank A- Broadwell.
County Commissioners Fredrick Brun
ing, M. J. Kennard, Patrick J. Tralnor.
Ollleers named by tha county board:
County Auditor Robert Smith.
Superintendent County Farm William
Mtmiaugh.
County Agent John H. Glassman.
Superintendent County Court House Jo
seph McCaffery.
Douglas county expends a vary large sum
of money every year In charity. To main
tain the county poor farm and hospital
alone costs $4o,oto a year In round num
bers. Besides this there Is the cost of
the county store, which takes care of the
indigent poor who are not kept at the
poor farm. This runs up Into tha thousands,
In jenra of severe cold being much higher
than at such a time as this, when mild
weather prevails. ,
Aside from the money spent directly on
the poor farm and Its Inmates, the expense
for charity will average $25,000. This in
cludes, of course, the county physician's
salary and tho salaries of county agents.
On tho item of transportation for paupers,
also Included, the county expends yearly
about $2,000. Groceries and fuel are the
big Items, running close to $15,000 yearly
for the two Items.
A new expense which the Board of County
Commissioners has had to assume, and
which might properly be put under tha
head of charity. Is the maintenance of the
juvenile court and the Detention home.
Throe probation officers cost close to $3,000
a year, while the home will cost probably
us much, though figures for Its first year
are not yet available.
A tax levied for a Soldiers Relief fund,
established by legislative enactment, pro
dunes close to $7,000 a year. This Is used
exclusively for the veterans and their
families under the direction of a Soldiers'
Relief commission consisting of three men.
Coonty Funds.
Treasury receipts of the county govern
ment for the last two years have bean
greatly augmented by the operations of the
scavenger law tax sales, which enabled tho
'.earing up of large amounts of taxes
standing for years against property, ena
bling the realty to be freed from all Hens
of this sort and placing much of It ac
tively tn tho market again. The total re
ceipts of the county from miscellaneous
sources Jumped from $1K3,304.43 In 1903 to
$113,981.98 In 1904 and $509,640.41 In 1906. Tho
total receipts for 1903 were $S98,476.58; for
the two succeeding years the figures nre
shown below, having been prepared by
County Treasurer Robert O. Fink:
nECEJPTS.
1904. ions
Tax collections ..
t "63,948.78 $ 864,391 '31
Miscellaneous collec
tions 41S.981
98 509.5!O.
Totals
$1,166,930.73 tl.873.rSl.79
DISRCRSEMEN'TS.
Paid state treasurer.. $ 163,763.90 $ 1W927 1
County warrants paid 4:i7,7M.36 466.57361
Paid city of Omaha... 184,528.48 307,975.19
Paid city of South
Omaha 24.752.16
Paid school districts.. KiO,687.76
Redemptions, etc 114,692.89
33.505.45
10,911.17
163,760.01
Totals $1,086,196.56 $1,341,652.70
Following Is a statement showing assessed
valuations for ten years:
Banks Total Total Total
and Per- Real Assess-
Year. Rall'ds. aonal. Entitle. ment
1905 ....$2,219.1.16 $10,167,001 $19.645, 431 $29,818,432
19.4 .... 2.100,937 9.478.408 19,384.221 28,SU,6J
V. .... 1,404.675 6.972.S40 1S.163.27R 25.602 TVS
l:i2 .... 1.474.S41 6.760,012 18.143.328 25.36S,1.1
1901 .... 1,297.375 4.621,327 17.860.465 22.381,792
1! .... 1.29K.02S 4. 463.243 17.262.730 21,745 973
1K99 .... 1.235.2U 4.:;2.6.'9 17.243.611 21.6.V214
198 .... 1.2e).M5 8.9:6.485 17.077.067 21.023 552
IMC .... 1.224.678 8.9ir,470 17,166.503 21.070.973
196 .... 1,239,687 3,976,694 17,683,111 21.659.7(6
Snath Omaha, Statistics.
South Omaha was organized as a village
October a, 1SS6. December 13, 1887, It be
came a city of the second class with a
population of 1,500; on June 8, 1889, It was
declared a city of the first class, having
a population of more than 8,000 and less
than 25.00 Inhabitants. December 10, 1900,
It becume a city of the first class, having
more than 25,000 and less than 40,000 in
habitants. The elective officers of the city at pres
ent are tho mayor, city treasurer, city
clerk, city tax commissioner and a council
consisting of six aldermen. The present
roster Is: Frank Koutsky, mayor; E. L.
Howe, city treasurer; John J. Glllln, city
clerk: J. T. O'Neil. tax commissioner; W.
P. Adkins. John Klewlt, William Queenan.
William Martin, William McCralth and
Frnnk Dworak. councilmen.
The Board of Fire and Police Commis
sioners has authority In all matters re
lating to the fire and police departments
and controls the matter of liquor licenses
within the city. The present members of
this hoard are George Mason, T. J. Nolan.
William Van Fant, A. A. Nixon and A. L,
B( rgnuist.
The B-iard of Park Commissioners has
charge of all public parks, park ways and
boulevards. The present park board con
sists of C. M. Hunt, J. H. Van Dusen, W.
J. McCrann. John Schults and M. May
berry. Tfc. population of South Omaha Is at
present estimated at 26,000, and the as
sessed valuation for the year 16 $21,128.
fV mid a levy of 7.75 mills. The assessed
vnlue of real estate Is $14,456,990 and f per
sonal property $1,671,113.
The total amount of the general levy
for l'6 was $163,742. and of this the 90 per
cent available was $117,367 80.
The city of South Omaha has a bonded
indebtedness at present amounting to
rn.",6.1S8, South Omaha has, among other
tidies, the following: Twenty-one and a
half miles of water main; eight miles and
a half of paved streets, rnstlng $530,280;
twenty-three and a half miles of graded
streets, costing $20971; eleven miles of
street car tracks; ten miles of gas main;
twelve miles of sewerage, costing $91000;
15? arc lamps; 127 hydrants; htrh school
bulldlnp costing $100,000; thirteen other
public school buildings, costing $400 000;
eighteen churches of all denominations;
postofflce building costing $100,000; public
library building costing $50,000; viaducts
e. silne $!50.W.
The floating debt eX the city is compara-
f lively very small. V. t v fen- pf the out
standing warrntils run over sixty days
during the past year. Without going over
the books, the city treasurer states posi
tively that nil outstanding warrants do
not exceed $2".ti. nt tht present moment.
ASSESSMENT AN0 TAXATION
What the Itevcnne ,,f Omaha from
IHreet l.etj ( tinned
I lion.
City and
Total School Tax Mill
Tear. Assessment Raised. Levy.
I $1"6.. ....., $o:o,m.i u
Il.77.54.-, 1.171. Mil u S
1"1. 191.1... 1.416..;o u
l'"2 91. "Ii. .'I.' I.ljs s4 2
'9"1 !n.c; 1 ;- i:; fi
l'"' 89 :'.,. :: ! ;M 116
lv-' 87.2'.P7 S'.2.6M 1
1898 82 62.!. r,7 79.1,18 9 6
. " k; "e' - 94I..4..1 lu. 8
Railroad and P.u-ltle l,Xpress companies'
assessments in litigation. Omitted
The tax assessment i ,ns for the past ten
years in a measure 111 .strate the manner
In whl.-h realty has increased In value
and the multiplication f the personal
wealth subject to tax.'ii ,,. While the 1906
figures in the table al...e have the nature
of an estimate, for 19v :. Hint and tho
valuations were on full cash basis;
prior to that to IR17 on a two-fifths basis,
and in 1897 and 19i on a one-tifth basis.
AH have been transfonned hero to a full
valuation for the purpese of comparison
It will be noted that the aggregate as
sessment has Increased steadily from year
to year. In point of ratio, however, the
personal property valuitlons have gained
on real estate until tl.ey nre now nearly
equal In amount. ThL condition has de
creased the realty tax. s and thrown more
011 the public service and other corpora
tions whose franchises are taxed as per
sonalty, heavily capita'lzed industries and
commercial enterprises, and Individuals
possessing wealth in securities, stocks,
bonds, mortgages, bank deposits and the
like.
The change from the old order began In
1!"2, when the Real Ks ate exchange, after
a stubborn fight terminating In the su
preme court, succeeded 111 (retting the taxes
of tho five public service corporations
greatly advanced.
The taxing machinery for the state,
county, city and school district is now
lodged with the count v assessor and the
board of county commissioners, the former
making one general assessment roll upon
which the board levies taxes for the four
separate governmental departments. The
amount of the levy for the state Is fixed
by the State Hoard of Equalization, for
the elty by the city council and mayor
and for the school district by the Board
of Education, the commissioners deter
mining themselves the amount needed for
the county.
Fiscal affairs likewise are now by law
concentrated in one source, the county
treasurer, who acts In this capacity for
county, city, school district and state,
subject to the orders of the several govern
ing bodies. The treasurer makes the tax
collections.
The present year will see the first re
sults of this concentrated authority. Here
tofore for a considerable time tho city as
sessment roll was made separately by a
city tax commissioner, subject to the
action of a board of review and later of a
board of equalization, composed of the city
council. Tho same assessment roll suf
ficed for the levy of the school district
taxes. The changes were mode by amend
ments to the city charter by the legislature
In 19P6 In the Interests of economy and con
venience and are regarded as the first steps
toward a oomplete consolidation of city
and eounty'govemment.
TEN FINE HOSPITALS OPEN
Omaha Well Rqulpped with Plaeea
for the Care of the Sick
and lujnred.
There are ten hospitals In Omnha. Com
bined they have capacity for 1,000 patients.
More than 10,000 persons are treated in them
annually. Buildings and grounds are esti
mated to be worth $700,000. Improvements,
Including new buildings, are planned to cost
about $6u0,000. To all of the hospitals pa
tients are admitted without sectarian quali
fications. One-half of the service rendered
Is free.
The oldest hospital Is the Crelghton Me
morial, better known as St. Joseph. It was
established In 1S70. In 1890 through be
quests of Mrs, Edward Crelghton and
gifts of Count John A. Crelghton large
new buildings on South Tenth street were
built. These are worth $200,000, and in
clude a special building for surgical opera
tions' and clinics und a $22,000 chapel. The
hospital Is In charpe of the Sisters of St.
Francis. Catholic, and can handle 200 pa
tients at one time and is one of the finest
hospitals in the west. A new building to
I cost $150,000 Is planned.
I Clarkson hospital, 1718 Dodge street. Is
1 the second oldest Institution of its kind,
navmg Deen tounded by the late Bishop
Clarkson In the early 80s. It Is conducted
under patronage of the Episcopal church
and has a training school for nurses. Tho
present capacity is thirty-five. A new
$150,000 building Is to be built this year.
Imnianuel hospital at Thirty-fourth and
Meredith avenue is operated under the aus
pices of the Swedish Lutheran church. It
is fifteen years old and has capacity for
about fifty patients. The Immanuel Dea
coness institute for training nurses is con
ducted in addition.
A new $310,000 brick building Is being con
structed at Thirty-sixth and Cuming streets
i for the Methodist Koiseopai hospital. For
twenty years the institution has been con
ducted at 419 South Twentieth street. AU
though its capacity Is only forty patients,
more than 1.0C0 persons are cared for an
nually. The Wise Memo! ial hospital was organ
ized by the leudint,' Jewish citizens about
flvo years ago. It has occupied the J. J.
Brown estate mansion at 2225 Shertr.on ave
nue, where a capicity fur thirty patients
was afforded. A n.-w $70,uio building is
to be built this year on Harney street,
near Twenty-lifth.
The Oim-ha Emergency hospital, main
tained by the city, 1ms room for loO pa
tients and is one of the best equipped
affairs of its kind in the west. It was
constructed about four yeais ago at a cost
of $15,000. It is made of brick and la fur
the purpose of Isolating persons afhlcted
with contagious diseases, for this reuaon
being located outside the city on a fifteen
acre tract.
The Douglas County hospital is a large
Institution with room for 3i patients.
About 3,00u persons are admitted annually.
His buildings were erected In lfWS. Ser
vice, of course, is entirely gratuitous.
The Swedish hopi...l was established
about three years 1130 and is maintained
by the people of that nationality. It is
located at 928 North Twenty-seventh street
and has capacity for about thirty patients.
The Presbyterian hospital, at Twenty
sixth and Marcy streets, is now a private
Institution. It has been In existence a
number of years and has accommodations
for about thirty patients.
The Central hospital is a private hos
pltal, at 2212-14 Seward street, with capacity
for about twenty-six patients. It Is a eora
paratively new establishment.
IMsaaared.
If disfigured by pimples, ulcers, sores,
Bucklen's Arnica Salve will heal you up
without a scar. 50 cents, guaranteed For
sale by ShermaA 4h McConnell Drug Co.
GREAT PLANTS IN' DAILY USL
Public Strtice Corporationi Tnllj Up to
koden Standard.
OMAHA WELL EQUIPPED IN THIS LINE
tiaa. Telephone. Fleet rle Mtht. lreet
Hallway and Water Service of
the Meat for Cltl'sena'
raa.
Omaha citizens are supplied with light,
water, power, telephone and street railway
service by corporations whose officers are
thoroughly alive to the needs of the city,
and whose enterprise has resulted In tho
establishment of Immense plants which are
maintained to the highest degree of effi
ciency. Especially It this true of those
who use electricity !n sny of Its many
forms. It Is not too much to say tbst no
city has more modern apfllanoes or de
vices in this line than .-ire diily In lis
In Omaha. The water company's plant
Is looked upon as a model everywhere,
while the gas company has ndopted the
latest methods of producing Its product,
and with the exception that It finds Its
present plant rather small for the growing
needs ftf the city. It Is right up to date.
The growth of the city within the last
two years has been followed by these
publlo service corporations and new ma
chinery and buildings have been added to
their facilities for caring for the needs
of the public.
Omaha fiaa Company.
NVt Feet of Rovalty
Ons Sold. tn Cltv.
:t76.63..rti $1R 833 01
3(L..M':.mv 17,1 a en
3oS.1Ti.nin 15.406 53
2S.V2M.ftin 14.264.17
261. 246. rut 13 062 I
2:-. 62 K 11.943.14
227.M2.oo" 11 31 6
221.9M..IOO 11.097 74
17i.524.rtV) g 535 Jo
158 20' .OOv) 7 4io OS
14I.3S.rtV i 141 ))
119.931.000 6.996. 5S
Estimated.
These figures In themselves are sufficient
In show how tho local Kas business has
kept pace with the growth of Omaha. More
than twice as much gas for Illuminating,
cooking and heating purposes Is now con
sumed every day In Omaha than was used
less than ten years ago. During the last
two years the company has been unable to
get sufficient laborers to lay promptly nil
the mains demanded by the expansion of
the city. Considerable work of this charac
ter which should have been done last fall
had to be carried over to spring. With the
remarkable amount of home building and
the rapidly settling up of the suburban dis
tricts the gas company has been forced to
put In more than eight miles of new mains
during the last two years.
During the same period nearly 6,000 stores
and appliances, such as heaters, etc., were
sold by the company, which has by no
means a monopoly on this business. Ap
proximately 1,700 old houses were piped
that Is, dwellings that were erected for scire
time but never had gas connections. Vic
President Clabauirh thinks this latter fact
Is an excellent Indication of the prevailing
prosperity. It Is common enough for new
houses to be arranged for gas. but with
old houses the Incident Is noteworthy.
In 1904 1,200 new meters were Installed
and In 1905 1,660, making a total of ?,780 new
patrons acquired during the period. The
city installed 158 new street lamps equipped
with modem Welsbach burpers.
With the additional demands made upon
It the gas company has had to make plans
for Improving Its distributing system so as
to maintain a larger reserve of gas In stor
age and to supply better pressure, particu
larly in the north and northwest parts of
the city. These plans Include the building
of a large storage tank at a cost of $70,000
to $80,000. It will enable a much superior
service.
In 1S95 the. gas company made a voluntary
reduction In the price of Illuminating and
fuel gas. there being no distinction between
the two kinds. The cut took effect October
1 from $1.35 to $1.26 a thousand feot. This
will be followed In October this year with
a further cut to $1.15.
The officers of the Omaha Gas company
are: President. Frank T. Hamilton; vice
president and secretary, Q. W. Clabaugh
treasurer and engineer, Isaac Battln; su
perintendent, George H. Waring.
ebraska Telephone Company.
Statistics show that Omaha has had In
recent years one of the largest telephone
developments of any city of like size ln the
United States. The officers of the Nebraska
Telephone company estimate that in five
years there will be more than 20,000 tele
phones In service ln Omaha. On January
1, 1904, the company had a switchboard
capacity for about ,!00 phones and there
were a few less than 6,000 subscribers
December 31. 1906, found the subscribers
numbering 10.560 and the switchboard ca
pacity Increased to 18,0uO.
Lest January it became plain to the
officers that the main office with the largest
switchboard made would not be equal to
tho demand. The city was subdivided and
a fine new exchange building erected at
Thirty-third and Harney streets. A fcwltch
board of the same type as that ln the main
office with a capacity of 6,000 subscribers
has been Installed.
The outside plant has been expanded to
keep pace with the switchboard capacity,
aerial and underground cable to the length
of 1.000,000 feet having been strung, koine of
It being for replacement and betterments.
In part of these cables are as many as 800
wires and In none less than thirty. Practic
ally all the open wires have been replaced
by the cables.
In connection with the cable work more
than 100 miles of new poles have beon set
out, most of which were for replacements.
In addition to the new branch exchange
ground has Just been bought at Eighth and
Douglas streets for a brick warehouse, 6x
132 feet ln dimensions and either three or
five stories high, to be used by the purchas
ing and supply departments and the super
intendent of construction.
During the past year tho service has been
extended to Florence and Benson.
In 1904 the average number of employes
In the company's service here was 815,
drawing $199,279 60 annually in wages. In
19jS the average number of employes
JumpU to 615, with an annual pay rollof
$:71.120. These facts In themselves illustrate
the tremendous advance in the amount of
business dono and tho Improvements made.
The f night tonnage of the Nebraska Tel
ephone company for 1905 was exceeded only
by one wholesale house.
The management of the Nebraska Tele
phone company Is vested In: President, C.
E. Yost: vice president. C. W. Lyman; sec
retary' ami trcusurer, E. M. Moraman; gen
eral manager, H. Vanc Lane; auditor, W.
A. Pixley; asslstunt treasurer, Lawrence
Brinker; attorney, W. W. Morsman; su
perintendent, W. B. T. Belt; manager
Omaha exchange, II. P. Ryner; manager
South Omaha exchange, J. Jt. Carter.
Omaha Kleetrle l.labt and Power Co.
The Omaha Electric Light und Power
company operates in Omaha. Council Bluffs
and South Omaha and Is the only concern
of Its kind In the three cities. During- the
past two years the company has spent
about $170,000 In physical Improvements.
A new central power station building and
complete equipment cost $100,000. the plant
being pronounced by excrts one of the
most perfect and modern la tn country.
It h.i a 4.500 K. W. rapacity and nn
dangerous currents reach the switchboard,
the heavy leads first running dltect to a
separate fireproof building before they are
distributed.
The company spent $v5.noo In extending
Its underground district to include the
territory lying between ElRhth and Thir
teenth streets from Howard to Leaven
worth and from Eighth to Eighteenth be
tween Howard and Jackson streets. In the
same period $75,ono wns expended in over
head line Improvements and extensions.
The royalty of 3 per cent on the gross
business, less city lighting, which the
company pays to the municipality, guages
Its Increase of business. In 1J02 this
royalty amounted to tt.6S3.90. In 1908 to
$.22l.it5. in 1904 to $7.0(11. 4S and In 1906 (esti
mated! $.fX.
Downtown the old overhead suspension
system of swlng'r.g arc lamps has been
abandoned und ornamental Iron corner
poles Installed, the number of lamps being
doubled. Outside of the business district
something like 100 new arc lamps have been
plneed on the streets. One of the pro
nounced features in the lighting business
during the last two years is the large In
crease In electric signs, there being scores
of these signs In operation now where there
Wns one before.
The officers of tha Omaha Electric Light
and Power company are: President, F. A.
Nash; Tlco president, C. E. Claflin; secre
tary and treasurer. F. B. Schweltser; gen
eral manager. H. A. Holdrege; superintend
ent, George Keebler; purchasing agent W.
B. Whltehorn; contracting agent. I. p.
Zlmman; cashier, C. W. Drew; head book
keeper, IL L. Martin.
Street Railway Company.
The close of 1906 finds the Omaha Coun
cil Bluffs Street Railway company doing at
least 1 per nut more business than two
years before, with 6i more miles of track
and forty more cars ln service, together
with a fine new central power station, two
new car bams and ono new central repair
station. The heavy Investments repfe
sented Indicate the additional requirements
of a rapidly growing city. On every Im
portant line in town the sen-ice has been
Increased and special provisions made for
caring for crowds during the rush hours.
For the last three years traffio has In
creased at the rate of S per cent over tlu
preceding year. The rapid accession of
business caused the company to build and
equip what Is said to be the most modern
and Improved electric power station ln the
west. It Is located at Fifth and Jones
streets and has a 6,000 K. W. capacity.
Besides this, large new brick car barns
were built at Twenty-fourth and Vinton In
Omaha and at Twenty-eighth street and
Avenue A, Council Bluffs. In 1906 largo new
repair shops were built at Twenty-sixth
and Lake streets, where all the repairs and
construction to rolling stock will be made.
Extensions of track Include: Florence
three and one-half miles; from Dominion
street to Missouri avenue, one and one-half
miles, affording a second route to South
Omaha; from Sixth and Pierce to Sixth and
Center streets, one-half mile, and a one
mile spur from the Florence line to Forest
Lawn cemetery. The out-of-door work In
cluded the reconstruction of thirty miles
of track, the larger part of It being the
Dodge street line, which was not only
given a modern roadbed, but had old and
obsolete ' cars discarded. Forty miles cf
heavy copper feed cable wires were strung
and the entire overhead line of the system
equipped with lightning arresters.
During the period the company bought
forty new open cars of standard type and
eighty new closed cars, half of these of
the large, double truck variety. For 190a
ten more open cars are being manufactured
PropOBt-d 1906 track extensions Include the
line to Fort Crook through Bellevue. six
miles, and the extension of the Dodge
street lino on Thirtieth street from Bristol
to Spauldlng streets.
The officers of the Omaha & Council
Bluffs Street Railway company are: Presi
dent, Guy C. Barton; vice president. G
W. Wattles; second vice president, M S
Hopkins; secretary. R. A. Leussler; treas
urer and general manager, W. A. Smith
general superintendent, F. A. Tucker.
-Omaha Water Company.
The year 1906 was the biggest twelve
months ln the history of the business of
the Omaha Water company and that of
1904 next to It. despite the fact that pend
ing appraisement proceedings to munlclpal
Ixe tho plant and litigation ensuing pre
vented the Installation of many hydrants
and the extension of many miles of mains.
In 19(6 the number of patrons of the'
company increased about 8 per cent over
the preceding year, when the ratio of gain
had been almost as great. In 1904 about
four miles of new mains were put In in
Omaha and forty new fire hydrants In
stalled. At the beginning of last year the
company adopted the policy of refusing
to place in any more hydrants or mains,
unless paid for privately, during the con
tlnuance of the appraisement proceedings.
Up to June 1. 1905, there were mnr .h...
200 unsatisfied demands for new hydrants,
meaning jso.ono feet of new mains and from
1.000 to 2,000 new patrons. At th
time 1,200 new patrons were placed on the
vorporauon s Dooks In 1906 and about !M
in vm. v
At the present time the water company
has 1S3 miles of mains in Omaha, 36 miles
in South Omaha, 9 in Florence. 3 in Dun
dee and 2 ln East Omaha, a total of 232
miles. The dally pumping capacity Is fig!
ured at 13,oun.c00 gallons and the. total res
ervolr capacity at 150.000,000 gallons, In
cluding the settling basins at the Florence
pumping station, which have an aggregate
capacity of S0,00,ooo gallons. In Omaha
1.637 fire hydrants are Installed and ready
for use.
The officers of the Omaha Water com
pany are: President. Theodore C. Wood
bury; peneral manager. E. M. Fairfield; su
perintendent, A. B. Hunt; chief engineer,
Henry Rustln; treasurer. Stockton lleth.
The Kremlin.
The Kremlin Is the citadel of Moscow,
Russia. It Is 600 years old. It Is a trian
gular lnclosure, 7.280 feet In circumference,
fortified with battlemented walls. It con
tains the Imperial palace and the three
cathedrals of the Assumption, the Annun
ciation and Archangel Michael. In the
first prior to Peter the Great, the rulers of
Russia were crowned; in the second they
were baptized and married; In the third
they were burled. In it also are the miracle
monastery, the tower. 3f3 feet high, which
was erected IMO-I61O, from the windows of
which Napoleon saw the city burned, nnd
the great bell at the foot ef the tower. The
bell Is sixty-five feet around, twenty-live
feet high and weighed Uf.um pounds. It
was cast In 1733 by order of Empress Anna.
It fell and was burled until 1S36. A piece
which weighed eleven Ions was broken off
by the fall. It was never runs. The great
palace, within the Kremlin, dates from the
middle of the present century. In it are the
hall of St. George, Alexander hall, the hall
of St. Andrew and the lhrnn rsm ti,..
range from l0 to 30 feet long, sixty-eight !
feet wide and from fifty-eight to sixty,
eight feet high. In the treasury are an
cient jewels and plate and regalia and the
thrones cf the last Emperor of Constanti
nople and of the old Persian shahs and ths
coronation robes. Kansas City Star.
Semi-annual clearance sale begins Tues
day morning at t o'clock. See yesterday's
ad. Benson Thome's Lilliputian Bazaar.
Men's, boys', children's clothing, hats,
ladles' suits, skirts, millinery, etc., cash or
credit. People's Store, 16th and Farnam.
AHA COMMERCIAL CLCB
Itnminie Stride Vada by Orgailiatton
Inriig Lust Year.
MEMBERSHIP OF OVER EIGHT HUNDRED
Activity of the Clnb la All Ptreetlaas
Much t.reater Darin liHMl Thaa
K-er Before In Its
History. .
During the last year or two the Omaha
Commercial club, which wss first organized
In 1893. has made Immense strides forward.
In June. 1904, K. J. McVann of Chicago was
engaged as commissioner of the organiza
tion and Its activo agent. Since that time
the club has expanded materially and
greatly advanced Its prestige. Importance
and the value of Its services to the com
munity. The membership of the organization was
pushed to 830 at tho close of m from S8
enrolled early In 1M. This Indicates as well
as anything else the revival of Interest In
the club and the support of the business
and professional men.
One of the biggest tangible Internal Im
provements made by the Commercial dob
Is tha redeeoratlna; and refurnishing; of Its
Quarters, which take ln the entire top floor
of the Board of Trade building at Blxtoanth
and Farnam streets.
The wisdom ef all these ImproTMneota
was proven by the average dally atteodanoa
at the club Jumping from thirty to forty to
140. The net profits from the cafe, bllllardl
room, bar and cigar stand amounted to
$2,000 the first year. With an annual In
come from dues of upward of $16,000 tha ad
ministration of the club does not coat to
exceed $12,000 a year. By the middle of 1I0
all the costs of the Improvements will ba
paid off. Few clubs of any kind can bot
of so much material prosperity.
The o racers for 190R are as folluwsi
President, W. 8. Wright.
Tressurer, F. N. Clarke.
Secretary, J. E. George.
Commissioner, E. J. McVann.
BXECUTtA'E COMMITTFL
Chairman, F. W. Judson. 1
If. H. Baldrlge, r. H. Kelly. t
Ei A. Benson, E. V. Iew1s,
E. E. Bruce. Euclid Martin.
H. K. Btirket, F. Paffenrath.
David Cole. O. II. Pickens.
Thomas A. Fry, F. K. Sapborn,
G. L. Hammer. A. C. Smith.
Charles Harding, John Steel.
A. Hospe. N. P. I'pdlke,
R. C. Howe. H. S. Weller.
F. H. Johnson. C. M. Wllhelm,
O. D. Klpllnger, W. L. Yetter.
Report of Commissioner.
The report of Commissioner McVann for
the year ending July 1, 1906, makes an In
teresting showing about what was accom
plished by the club In that time. The sum
mary recites the refitting of the offices of
the club and the Installation of modern
business furniture and appliances and the
Inauguration of a complete and permanent
record of all the correspondence, meetings
and transactions of the club and Its com
mittees. A record of all available vacant
property, Improved and unimproved, was
started and hundreds of Inquiries regarding
It were answered. The basis was founded
for a record of all the essential facts per
taining to the life, growth, health and busi
ness affairs of the city. By the close of
1906 this record was nearly perfected.
The club was Instrumental In securing
the meetings In Omaha of the Nebraska
State Teachers' association, the Nebraska
Iowa Retail Implement Dealers' associa
tion, Nebraska Retail Hardware Dealers'
association, the Burlington Association of
Operating Officers, the Modern Brotherhood
of America and the Central Shorthorn
Breeders' association.
Considerable work was, dime toward say
ing the permanent location of the Indian
warehouse ln Omaha and In getting a
fairer show for Omaha bidders on Indian
supplies. The office handled eight mer
chants' meetings during the period, validat
ing more than 1,600 certificates of country
merchants and refunding, through the Job
bers' and Manufacturers' association, the
fares of hundreds of others. This depart
ment of the club's work was thoroughly
systematized.
Trade Kxcaralons.
Trade excursions were routed to outside
territory, all being successful and satisfac
torily handled. In establishing better rela
tions with tributary towns the commis
sioner accepted Invitations and attended
mex-tlnga at Beatrice. Fremont Blair, South
Omaha. Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley and
other towns. The club participated In the
organization of the State At-boclatlon of
Commercial Clubs and Commissioner Mc
Vann was elected vice president An Im
proved feeling in the state toward Omaha
and Omaha merchants was noted.
According to the commissioner, the year
marked a great many changes In railroad
rates, nearly all of them of advantage to
Omaha. Among the readjustments directly
due to his efforts were the rates on steam
coal, stucco, rice. boer,. cement, lime and
sulphur dip and various stock foods. 11a
co-orerated with the American Shippers' as
sociation ln knocking out the obnoxious uni
form bill of lading and was one of the
witnesses ln the hearing before the Inter
state Commerce commission on the subject
The commissioner worked with special com
mittees and wh.-n appointed to defend tha
Iowa rates against a threatened advance
succeeded not only In averting It, but iq
having a basis established that will be
bard to attack in the future.
Itor in 1906 attention was given to the
congestion at the principal local freight
houses and serious delays to merchandise
thereby. At the July meeting of the west
ern classification committee Important
changes to Omaha wits obtained. A new
rating was obtained on cotton goods which
saves local merchants several thousands of
dollars annually. Favorable rates were
obtained for raw material and out ship
ments for local factories. Arrungements
were made on favorable terms for two
more tr e excursions, which were con
ducted with great success.
Honorary Memberships.
During the quarter 3,000 honorary mem
bership cards were sent out to editors
In the Omaha territory.
The commissioner devoted much time to
work in the Chicago Live Stock exchango
rate case, which was recently decided ln
favor of the South Omaha and other west
ern markets.
Nonrly all the group of Omaha business
men who organized the Commercial club
in 1893 are still members und active work
ers in its ranks. The first president was
ll.-rman Kountze and the first chairman
of the executive committee, In which is
vested the real working authority, was
W. A. L. Gibbon. The permanent policy
of electing- tho chairman of the executlvo
committee president i f the club the fol
lowing year was adopted. Currying out
this d-a, these men have served suc
cessively as chairman and president: w.
A. L. Gibbon, C. F. Weller, Euclid Martin,
I. W, Carpenter, J. 11. Dumont, J. E.
Baum, C. 8. Hayward, Euclid Martin, C. It
Pickens, J. F. Carpenter; D. A. Baum,
who declintd to serve us president, A. C.
Smith being chosen in his steud; R. B.
Wilcox and W. S. Wright. F. W. Judson
Is the present head of the executive com
mittee. Messrs. Smith. Pickens and Martin
are still members of the executive commit,
tee. All these officer am in active busi
ness In tills city except W. A. L. Uibbou
who moved away.
