The Park Governments of Chicago 117 



computed. The latter were then sent to the general superintend- 

 ent. An examination of the daily reports on file shows that one 

 of the most important features thereof was usually ignored by the 

 persons making them, i. e., information as to who used the auto- 

 mobiles and where they went. A valuable check on the necessity 

 for the mileage reported was thus neglected. The mileage, more- 

 over, was sometimes entered in to to at the end of the month and 

 prorated by days. Reports of this kind have no value. The total 

 costs shown on the monthly reports were not balanced with the 

 monthly automobile costs on the general books, as is necessary to 

 insure accuracy. Finally, there is no evidence that any use was 

 made of the statistics thus afforded to keep down or reduce the 

 costs of automobile service. New forms for securing and com- 

 piling this data were installed June 1, 1911, as a part of the new 

 accounting system. They are an improvement on the former 

 records and seem adequate in every way. 



WEST CHICAGO PARK COMMISSIONERS 

 Original Outlay. 



Although eleven automobiles have been purchased by the 

 West Chicago Park Commissioners during the last five years, 

 four of them have been exchanged at different dates in part pay- 

 ment for new machines. The seven owned at the close of 1910 

 represented an original outlay of $12,270, as follows : 



Make. Cost. Used by. Driven by. 



Cadillac $1,685 Superintendent Self. 



Ford 815(a) Boulevard Foreman. . ..Self. 



Oldsmobile 3,150 (a) Commissioners Chauffeur. 



Oldsmobile 3,150 (a) Commiss'ers and Sec. 



Oldsmobile 1,320 (a) Secretary Chauffeur. 



Ford 900 Captain of Police Self. 



Buick Truck 1,250 Master Mechanic Self. 



Total $12,270 



(a) These costs include cash payment and salvage allowance on old 



machines. 



Maintenance and Operation. 



The park records show an operation and maintenance 

 expense for 1910 of only $11,082. The Bureau discovered that 

 this amount does not include $978 of salaries of chauffeurs car- 



