Vancouver Budget Finalized – April 2, 1897

Vancouver Budget Finalized – April 2, 1897

Total budget for 1897 was $363,937. $36 was set aside for Bear Pits under the Parks budget. This photo from 1898 shows a bear in a tree in the bear pit at Stanley Park with trees in the background.

Illustration Source: City of Vancouver Archives
CVA 1376-172 – [Bear in tree in pit]

This transcript was made in July 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Krystyna Richards

This transcript contains many columns of figures, and will not display properly on all devices. To see or download a formatted copy of this set of minutes, click on the button below.

Text Source: City of Vancouver Archives
Series 31 Volume 7 pages 516 – 525

To see or download photos of the original handwritten pages from this date, click on the buttons below (3 parts)

Vol. 7 page 516 Vancouver April 2nd 1897

The Council met on Friday April 2nd 1897 at 7.30 P.M.

Present. His Worship the Mayor and Aldermen Shaw, Painter, Neelands, McQueen, McPhaiden, Clandenning, Brown, W. S. MacDonald and D. G. McDonald.

They went into Committee of the Whole and resumed the consideration of the Estimates.

After due consideration it was moved by Alderman McQueen that the Committee rise and report.

They reported the completion of the Estimates with amendments.

It was then moved by Alderman McQueen. Seconded by Alderman Shaw.

That the Estimates for the year 1897 be finally passed as follows:-

Estimated Receipts

Balance on hand Jan 1st 1897 $25.025.62 $

Less Warrants unpaid 7.592.03 17.433.59

Sundry Receipts as per Schedule 1 109 722.20

Arrears of Taxes 1887 to 1896. 55 000

Frontage Tax 8 000

Taxes

Assessment $15218534 @ 29 304.370.68

Less for Rebate 60 000

Less for Unpaid Taxes 70.589.13 173.781.55

Rate required for School purposes. 1 6/10 mills

“ “ “ Int & Sinking Fund 7 3/10 “

“ “ “ General Purposes 11 1/10 “

$363.937.34

[Volume 7 page] 517

Estimated Expenditure

Finance Committee as per Schedule A. 42 422.95

Board of Health. 25 546

Board of Works. 48 900

Water and Market Committee. 14 300

Fire & Police { Police Committee 20 240

“ “ { Fire Committee 20 733

“ “ { St. Lighting 17 452.81

“ “ { City Hall Repairs for jail purposes 2 000

Park Commissioners 6 500

Free Library Board 3 600

Interest & Sinking Fund 110 977.28

Board of School Trustees 51 265

363 937.34

Estimated Receipts for 1897 (in detail)

Licenses $

Liquor 17 700.00

Opium 1 000

Billiards & Pool 250

Hacks & Drays 700

2nd Hand. 500

Theatres 100

Auctioneers 400

Plumbers etc. 150

Scavengers. 150

Insurance Cos. 3 300

Milk. 150

Laundry 220

Telephone. 100

Dogs 900

Miscellaneous Licenses 500 26120.00

Cemetery fees 1500

Hospital “ 1200

Market “ 800

Police Court fines 3000

Brockton Point A. A. 602.20

Poll Tax 9000

Govt. Grant to Schools 18000

“ “ “ Hospital 5000

“ “ “ Fire Brigade 500

Water Collections 44000

$109722.20

[Vol. 7 page] 518

Estimated Receipts (continued)

Brought forward 109722.20

Balance on hand Jan 1st 1897 $25025.62

Less warrants unpaid 7592.03 17433.59

Arrears of Taxes 1887 to 1896 55000

Frontage Tax 8000

Taxes

Assessment $15218534 @ $29304370.68

Less for rebate 60000

Less for unpaid Taxes 70589.13 173 781.55

363.937.34

Estimated Expenditure (in detail)

Finance Committee

Salaries

Treasurer etc 1500

City Clerk. 1200

“ Accountant 1020

“ Auditor 720

Clerk 780

Poll Tax Collector 720

Solicitor 2000

Extra Clerk 720

License Inspector (part) 200

City Hall Expenses

Fuel 275

Light 250

Stationery 2000

Interest and Exchange 2000

Fire Insurance 300

Law Costs 500

Election Expenses 600

Contingencies 5000

Band 300

Orphan’s House 650

Famine Fund 500

Dominion Day Celebration 1000

Mayor 1200

Aldermen 3000

Interest & Sinking Fund (local) 9287.96

Repairs to Market for City Hall purposes 6000

$42422.96

Vol. 7 page 519

Board of Health

Salaries

Health Officer 480

Cemetery 780

Plumbing 880

Isolation Hos. 420

Crematory 720

License Inspector (pt) 200

Inquests 400

Hospital Staff

Salaries

Matron 600

Housekeeper 300

Nurse 240

“ 120

Nurse 120

Night “ 240

Porter 420

Night “ 300

Cook 360

Cook’s Assistant 180

Fuel 600

Light 700

Telephone 36

Supplies 3700

Contingencies (range $400) 1400

Relief 650

Crematory 1000

Scavengering 600

Cemetery 2000

Isolation Hospital 100

Woman’s Ward 8000

25546

[Vol. 7 page] 520

Board of Works

Salaries

City Engineer ½ salary 1100

Asst “ & Draftsman 900

Rodman etc. 648

Extras 252

Stationery 300

Street Cleaning 2000

Street Repairs 11000

Street Sprinkling 500

Street Improvements, rock etc. 26500

Bridge repairs 2000

Surface drains 500

Sewers maintenance 1200

Contingencies 2000

$48900

Water Works

Salaries

Engineer ½ salary 1100

Collector 930

Clerk 720

Foreman 900

Repairs to submerged main 1000

Maintenance North Side 3000

“ General 4000

Tools, shop etc. 400

Stationery 400

Contingencies 1000

Market Clerk 780

Market Contingencies 100

14300

[Vol. 7 page] 521

Police Committee

Salaries

Chief of Police 1200

Sergeant 960

Detective 4 Mos 320

Force (12 @ $up 0) 10080

Chain Gang Guard 840

Constable 180

Caretaker etc. 300

Cook 240

Magistrate 1800

License Inspector pt. 320

Pound Keeper 600

Telephone 50

Uniforms 750

Board of Prisoners 1500

Transport “ 150

Clothing “ 100

Pound Expenses 100

Fuel “ 150

Contingencies 600

Jail repairs 2000

22240

Free Library Board

Rent 500

Light 250

Fuel 75

Periodicals etc. 350

Book binding 100

Stationery, Insurance etc. 100

Catalogues 50

Salaries 1200

New books 1000

3600

Park Commissioners

Maintenance including wages etc) 2500

Improvements New Roads

Underbrushing etc 4000

6500

[Vol. 7 page] 522

Fire Committee

Salaries

Insurance Salaries

Chief 18.00 1062.00

Engineer 18.00 882.00

“ Chemical 18.00 702.00

Engineer 18.00 822.00

Firemen (3) 54.00 2106.00

Fire Alarm Attendant 18.00 702.00

Stoker 18.00 642.00

“ 18.00 582.00

Hosemen (3) 54.00 1746.00

“ 18.00 642.00

“ 18.00 522.00

Drivers 108.00 4212.00

Salaries 14622.00

Insurance 378

Fuel, oil & waste 500

Repairs 525

Telephone 108

Horses 450

Feed & Shoeing etc 1600

Fire Alarm & Maintenance 550

Uniforms 800

Contingencies 200

Hose 1000

20733

Light Committee

Street Lighting

204 lights @ 27cts. 320 nights 17452.80

[Vol. 7 page] 523

Debenture Account

By-Law no. Amount of loan Interest Sinking Fund

12 $14100 $846 $478

29 150000 9000 1578

44 20000 12000 210.40

64 150000 9000 1578

70 15000 750 91

80 125000 6250 1315

91 20000 1000 210.40

94 30000 1500 315.60

100 125000 6250 1315

126-7 590000 23593.60 6208.68

146-151 570000 22814.92 5998.30

267 60000 1200 1070

272 70000 1400 746

1/3 155 111100 1876.71 1135.18

“ 199 72000 1205.95 729.40

“ 215 4000 66.66 44.78

87953.84 23023.74 $110.977.58

[Vol. 7 page] 524

Schools

Salaries

High School 7020

Central “ 6120

East End “ 7320

West “ “ 7560

Fairview “ 1980

Mt Pleasant “ 6900

Truant Officer 480

Caretakers

High School 300

Central “ 600

West End “ 720

East “ “ 900

Mt Pleasant “ 660

Fairview “ 300

High School Additional Caretaker 300

Maintenance

Fuel 1800

Water 400

Insurance 600

Rent 480

Supplies 2000

Contingent 1000

Repairs

Central School 300

East End “ 300

High “ 100

West End “ 300

Mt Pleasant “ 500

Fairview 125

Fitting up Board Room 250

Additional Salaries asked for

Central School 300

East End “ 450

West “ “ 450

Mt Pleasant “ 450

Fairview “ 300

$51,265.00

[Vol. 7 page] 525

Water Works Revenue 1897 (City Debentures)

Board of Works

Flush Tanks 1750

Street Sprinkling 600

Finance

Fountains 75

City Hall 36

Alexandra Orphanage 18

Sugar Refinery 5400

Board of Health

Small Pox Hospital 25

Crematory 24

City Hospital 180

Fire of Police

Fire Halls 120

Hydrants 5250

Pound 12

Parks

Bear Pits etc. 36

Water & Market

Market Hall 24

$13,550

Carried

The Council then adjourned.