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population of less than 50,000 or 55,000. In every direction the city 

 i8 extending itself beyond its present limits; new sti-eets are being 

 opened, shops, dwellings and stores being erected in districts where both 

 convenience, health and security require the extension of the city laws 

 and police, as well as improvements for drainage, water, paving, &c. It 

 is hoped that the charter may be amended at the eai'liest possible date, 

 to embrace such sections as are thus situated. The value of property 

 there wiU be greatly enhanced, and the interests of the city promoted. 



The amount of taxable property as returned for the year 1853, was 

 $10,741,115. 



Besides this, there is about $3,000,000 [belonging to various corpora- 

 tions, wliich, by commutation with the State, is exempted from munici- 

 pal taxation. 



The total return for 1852, was 13,008,510 in the city, though we 

 should add that this was under a diflferent law from that of the past 

 year. 



The number of buildings erected during the year was large, compri- 

 sing many substantial houses on business streets, but a greater proportion 

 of dwellings than heretofore, many of which are of the most costly and 

 elegant style and finish. Jefierson Avenue, Congress Street, and the 

 section above the Grand Circus, are particularly mentionable in this re- 

 spect — and the work is but just commenced. The demands of wealth 

 and taste must and will be met in the speedy substitution of modern 

 structures for the many time-worn and rude ones which our city now 

 presents. 



For the coming year we anticipate a greater amount of building for 

 business purposes, ware-houses, blocks of stores, mills, founderies, <fec., 

 than in any former season. Several fires on the best streets, have pre- 

 pared the way for improvements, while other locations, favorable to par- 

 ticular purposes, are being secured in all directions. The construction 

 of the extensive works of the Oakland and Ottawa Railroad in the 

 upper part of the city, will add greatly to the value of property in the 

 vicinity as well as to the business of the place generally. Such has 

 been eminently the case with the location of the Central Railroad, and 

 will be wherever capital and labor are concentrated. 



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