Comparative exhibit of the funded indebtedness of the District of Columbia, &c.—Continued. The commissioners of the sinking-fund have in hand the following assets, which if disposed of and applied would still further reduce the amount of debt, to wit: Cash to meet outstanding five-year Emery certificates, (past due). Washington and Alexandria Railroad bonds, (in litigation,) par value.. $650 00 75,000 00 59, 000 00 Amount of fifty-year 3.65 bonds, issued under an act of Congress approved July 20, 1874, to December 1, 1876..... $13, 743, 250 00 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING-FUND, MOSES KELLY, Treasurer. WASHINGTON, December 1, 1876. Estimate of funds required to pay interest on the funded indebtedness of the District of Columbia (not including the fifty-year bonds) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878. For interest on $4,000,000 00 For interest on For interest on 670,000 00 152, 400 00 6 per cent. (gold) bonds, issued under act 7 per cent. (currency) bonds, issued under $240,000 00 46,900 00 10,668 00 31, 220 00 136 50 For interest on $1,150 000 00 6 per cent. (gold) bonds, issued under act of May 8, 1872; Washington City funding For interest on For interest on For interest on 660,000 00 6 per cent. (gold) bonds, issued under act 285,000 00 8,404,26 21 6 per cent. (currency) bonds, issued under Amount of last year's estimate on this account. Showing a reduction in interest of MOSES KELLY, Treasurer. November 30, 1866. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE SINKING-FUND, DR The District of Columbia in account with the commissioners of the sinking-fund. CR. MOSES KELLY, Treasurer. IV. REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR. COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Hon. COMMISSIONERS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: GENTLEMEN: In accordance to request the following detailed statement of the transactions of this department since date, December 1, 1875, of last report is herewith submitted: Receipts from December 1, 1875, to December 1, 1876. From general taxes for Washington City for year ending June 30, 1377 From personal taxes for Washington City for year ending June 30, 1877. From general taxes for Washington City for year ending June 30, 1876. From general taxes for Washington City for year ending June 30, 1875. From general taxes for Washington City for year ending June 30, 1874. From tax liens for year ending June 30, 1873. From tax liens for year ending June 30, 1872. From licenses From arrearages of taxes, corporation of Washington From arrearages of taxes, levy court From special taxes, corporation of Washington. From water taxes, (advertised) From advertisement, 1876.. From advertisement, 1875 nue scrip.......... From Center Market From Eastern Market From Northern Market From Western Market From Georgetown Market From Farmers' and Butchers' Market, Georgetown.. From advertisement, 1872 From permits... From paving Pennsylvania avenue.. From advertisement November 18, 1874, on account Pennsylvania ave 59 73 2,206 10 2,453 96 51 04 25 00 € 50 00 10 42 1,754 45 1,059 17 50 00 181 79 From redemptions on account of tax sale June 29, 1875. From advertisement by register, Washington County, 1869.. Total amount received..... 1.00 1, 126, 591 14 Of the above amount, received by the District of Columbia through this office, the following amounts are received on account of trust funds, and paid over, as soon as received, to the parties, on demand by the auditor: Tax-lien certificates, as exhibited by records of auditor's office $16, 149 73 9, 229 80 1,534 24 26,599 36 2,453 96 6,785 30 3,276 87 48 45 66,077 71 The total taxable real estate in the District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, as shown by the superintendent of assessments and taxes, by the footings of the general tax-books, is The uniform levy of one and a half per cent. upon the above amount of assessed valuations shows the aggregate amount of tax to be........ Of which amount of tax, payable in two installments, there was collected prior to December 1, 1875, (from October 4 to December 1, 1875)...... Since December 1, 1875, on account of above levy, (for year ending June 30, 1876,) there has been collected to December 1, 1876 Balance due on account of said levy......... $78, 818, 934 5,849 317 8,784, 433 93, 452, 684 $1,401,790 26 560,527 26 631, 191 11 210,071 89 Of the levy for year ending June 30, 1876, about eighty-five per centum has been collected, which percentage, compared with the collections of previous years, indicates favorably the acceptability of the installment system of collections. Of the amount of arrears of taxes exhibited in report of December 1, 1-75, to be.... There was estimated to be about twenty-five per cent. of special tax, There has been collected since that date the following amounts: $1,218, 428 91 913,821 68 129, 487 22 57,382 78 21,350 19 ton Arrearages of water tax, (advertised,) estimated. Arrearages of general tax for previous years due levy court, (Washington County). 9,429 80 1,534 24 7,730 26 8,703 66 59 73 On account of cost incurred in advertisement, June 29, 1875. On account of advertisement, October 14, 1872. Leaving a balance on account of arrearages of tax reported December 1, 1875..... 678,143 80 A larger percentage of this arrear balance would doubtless have been collected but for the extension of time allowed by Congress, (act approved June 12, 1876,) to June 29, 1877. As the District of Columbia has, by reason of the want of bids sufficient at the tax sales under acts approved June 20, 1874, and March 3, 1875, become the purchaser for the amount of taxes and expenses accrued of a large amount of property by tax-sale purchase, and as the time for redemption allowed by law already extended one year will be terminated June 29, 1877, and only 20 per cent. thereof collected since date of last report; and as the law provides that in the event of said prop erty not being redeemed within said period a deed shall issue to the District of Columbia, and thereafter the title to the same shall rest in the said District as in cases of individual purchase, a question will present itself as to the enjoyment or use of this property so acquired by the the District, and whether any power will be given whereby the same can be sold by the District. Questions have already been raised as to the assignment of the District's purchase to others. Your attention is called to this matter with the view of securing for the District whatever of legislation may be deemed best under the circumstances. A considerable portion of this arrearage is due on property of which portions have been transferred to others, who are ready and willing, in many instances, to cancel these arrearages of tax-accounts against their individual parts, but are estopped by reason of a lien certificate, specialtax certificate, or tax-sale certificate having been issued against the original lot, whereof their property is only a subdivision. In order to meet this exigency it is recommended that power be granted in every case where the District of Columbia holds any of these certificates to make equitable division of such arrearages of tax, costs, accrued interest, penalty, and other expenses. And in order to prevent a like embarrassing contingency, that legislation be asked for the benefit of the District, whereby all transfers by conveyance be forbidden record until a certificate of the collector shall be given setting forth the payment of all taxes on his books against such property about to be transferred. A large amount of arrearage is still maintained and extends for years backward on some properties; and in order to facilitate the collection of said arrearages of tax, and to form a secure basis by which they may be collected, and that the condition of real estate in reference to such taxes may be known, the following is recommended: First. That all the general taxes for the past years to the present fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, inclusive, be collected, together with all special taxes, of whatsoever character, levied by the late corporation of Washington, and water-taxes advertised, with all accrued interest, penalty, costs, &c. Second. That the sales for taxes made October 14, 1872, June 29, 1875, and June 13, 1876, together with all tax-lien sales, be noted. Third. That the above be recorded in a book known as the "Arrearages of Taxes, Washington, D. C." The squares to be recorded in numerical order, stating to whom the property was assessed at the time the tax may have been levied, giving all reference to original tax-ledgers, and information that may be deemed proper. That all payments on account of such taxes be posted in said book or books from the daybooks of this office. Fourth. That the attorney of the district or officer drawing deeds for unredeemed property purchased at tax-sale be required to transmit to this office a record of all deeds issued on account of all tax sales, stating the date of issue and day of sale, together with the names to whom the property was assessed and to whom the property is deeded, for proper record in this office. And in order that the above suggestion may be carried out, it is recommended that a sufficient amount be apportioned to do said work. This is recommended at the suggestion of many attorneys and others, parties interested in land-records, and is due to all taxpayers and individuals about to purchase, that they may have a correct knowledge of the state of taxes on the property in which they may be interested. The quarterly exhibits of interest due on account of the funded debt stock of the late corporation of Washington and Georgetown, D. C., |