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- 80 VICTORIA ILLUSTRATED.
he carried on a reading room in the St. Nicholas building, but soon after embarked in the wholesale paints and glass business with Mr.
John Banks. In 1864 Mr. Heisterman devoted his attentions to the handling of real estate, and did a considerable amount of life and fire
insurance. He was for many years a member of the Board of School Trustees and also of the Council of the British Columbia Board of Trade.
Francis Bourchier, one of the most enterprising and far-seeing men of Victoria, is prominently engaged in the real estate business, his
interests and connections being very extensive. He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1855, and, thirty years later, having travelled
extensively in some of the foreign possessions of the Crown, settled in Victoria, becoming senior partner of the firm of Bourchier, Croft
& Mallette, from which he withdrew on the business of the firm being merged into that of the Vancouver Island Land and Investment Company.
He is at present conducting an independent real estate and investment agency, particular attention being paid by him to eligible properties
on the Sound.
Mr. Frederic Elworthy, Secretary of the Board of Trade, hails from Taunton, Somersetshire, England, where he was born in 1854. After serving
an apprenticeship to the dry goods trade in London, he left for India in 1872, where he was engaged for some time in responsible positions
in connection with the tea plantations. In 1886 he left India for San Francisco by way of China, where, after being some time employed in
the tea trade, he came to Victoria, obtaining an engagement with Mr. Joshua Davies, being in July, last year, appointed to the position he
now occupies in connection with the great commercial organization of the province.
MUNICIPAL STATISTICS.
The subjoined figures in regard to the city of Victoria, from a municipal point of view, will doubtless prove to be of interest :
Assessed value of real property, 1891 $17,563,148 00
Assessed value of real property, 1890 9,367,600 00
Increase, 1891 $ 8,196,548 00
To this must be added the value of the real
estate in the extended limits?-about 7,000,000 00
Total increase since 1890 $15,196,548 00
Revenue of the city for year ending 31st December, 1890 ... $ 403,242 00
Expenditure of the city for year ending 31st December, 1890 . 301,476 00
Assets 31st December, 1890 $ 975,740 00
Liabilities 31st December, 1890 823,627 00
Balance over Liabilities $ 152,112 00
ITEMS OF REVENUE.
From Water Rents $ 43,603 76
Real Estate Tax 100,569 59
Trade Licenses 22,692 50
Liquor Licenses 17,515 00
Total collections, ordinary sources 224,722 99
Number of fires during the year, 86. Fire Loss 10,795 00
To the already extensive system of water works, during the year 13? miles of street water mains were laid in the city, besides 5? miles of
16-inch mains from the lakes.
There were 2,234 service pipes supplied by the water works department, whose expenditures on general account were only $18,668.13, as
compared with an ordinary revenue of $43,603 ; the sinking fund already accrued amounting to $94,225.20, on account of outstanding
debentures of $395,000. The water works plant, pipes, mains and other accessories have an estimated value of $i,500,000, the other
corporation property being worth at least $281,-992. Including electric lighting plant, fire plant, City Hall and lots; approximately
the entire civic asset is roughly placed at over $2,000,000 over and above the assessed valuation of the city.
The health of the city is wonderfully good, the percentage of deaths to population being among the lowest in the Dominion, and not more
than twelve deaths per thousand. However, to still further improve this excellent condition of matters, extensive sewerage works are under
way, under the direction of Mr. Mohun, C. E., which con-template the laying of about sixty miles of sewers at schedule rates.
No. of volumes in public library, over 6, 500 ; average daily circulation, 125.
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