The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-12
MAYORS ADDRESS.

| s-- 2 ,ifr4 'ta .-.A
Gentlemen Of tie City C0ancil: ~
b Standing upon the threshold of another
municipal year, and having signified by our
acceptance of the offices to which we have
been severally elected, our willingness to meet
whatever OF duty and responsibility it may
bring with it, the mind naturally recuIs to the
fearful record Of the year just closed.
Eight months ago, while yet in the enjoy
ment OF the festivities in honor of our Ma
tional Anniversary, we were suddenly called
| by the usual alarm to extinguish fire in the
southerly part of the city, which, although at
nrst exciting no serious apprehension, it soon
became evident would tax the energies of our
hremen to the utmost to subdue, A strong
southerly gale spread the fire with alarming
rapldity and fury, scattering its cinders and
flaming brands over a thousand parched roofs
to the north and east, and for miles away into
the country beyond. Nothing could check or
Withstand the fury of this tempest of fire.
! The efforts of our fire department. which we
had labored under the delusion Of believing
invineibe, and of those fire companies from
other cities and towns who so nobly respond
ed to our cry for help, were of no avail; the
| connaSratl0n sWept-o on, increasing in extent
and destruotiveness, its flames leaping from
roof to roof and from street to street, and
with seeming disregard of all laws of combus-
tlon, consuming everything in its course, I'M
til it reached the northern limits of the CITY,
and only there stopped for want of material
to feed upon. .s-tet p Ha.
The scenes of that night were appalling.
and the clear, bright sun of the morning OF
the 9Th OF July locked down on ene-third of
our fair city in smoking ruins.
Our flrst efforts were directed to obtaining
food and temporary shelter for the thousands
who were turned houseless and destitute into
the streets. To thisend meeting of citizens
was called, and committees of relief were ap-
pointed, through which the generous supplies
contributed by sympathising friends from
neighboring cities, were distributed. Contri-
buttons of money, the larger portion of which
the Mayorreceived, also came pouring in from
every quarter, even from distant States and
foreign lands, with unparalleled liberality and
munlfieence. The distribution Of this fund,
which amounted in the aggregate to more
than half a million dellars, was entrusted TO
a committee OF ten of our most worthy and
substantial citizens, with the sanction of the
City Council. 1o{rK edl saia nsJr b.3
Il 1t is not my intention to give in this ad-
dress a detailed account of this terrible dis
aster, which devoured the living and made
desolate the hearthstones of SO many of our
people. But it fills too large chapter in the
history of the past year to receive merely a
passing notice, and to withhold the grateful
acknowledgment due the thousands iof our
countrymen who sprung to our relief, giving
not only, the sympathy of their generous
hearts, but of their substance with prodi-
gality and spontaneousness never surpassed,
would be the sheerest ingratitude. Nor should
those men and women in our midst, who
spent weary days, and nights in self-sacrficing
labor for those who suffered, be forgotten. Let
us give them the full need of praise, and
tha G,If 40 ont Of ba d,,et
ashes of this calamity he has caused ospring
these fair blossoms of love and Christian
charity. f5yrfr.rae =arfbbi9 rogr~.bf6 y-. 4.
i, Our loss by the fire has been variously esti-
mated. Some have set it as high as ten or,
twelve millions of dollars. About three mil
lions were received from insurance There
should, however, be added to this the great
loss We have sustained by interruption to
business, which cannot be accurately Known
The loss of the, city in its corporate capacity
is about half million dollars, including the
! City Hall, old State House four school houses,
and three engine houses. - 971 anf eEtf
The general gloom which oppressed for a
day all classes of our people and paralyzed
every business interest, was soon dissipated
3 by the noble example of few leading capi-,
talists, who began with will the work of re-
building; this stimulated others and ere a
week had passed, our streets were the scene
of intense activity and lie; mechanics and
artizans came in from every quarter build
ing materials and labor of all kinds were in
I demand, and before the smoke from the rrl-
ins had fairly cleared away, new, stores and
dwellings, as if BY magic were rising in every
direction. Can we not trust the same ener-I
gy and business sagacity which has produced
this result, TO build up the waste places of
our city, and restore it 20 more than its form
er beauty and attractiveness.
l1 iaaa r .ti FINANCES. II e.
The large expenditure, and increase of the
city debt made necessary by the fire, at
time when taxes were already too high add
greatly to its severity. / have received from
the city auditor the following general exhibit
of the condition ofour finances:
AUDITORS STATEMENT. H,HI ~.
The funded debt Of March 81 1866 was Sg7S 356 90
The amount Sfnotes issued this year has =
been as tollows.per order OF City Coun- 'ta
e ell from time to time viz For expen- H4
ditures for reconstruction OF City, and li 81.
County Buildings .. ,.... S10l,500 90 Nv liI
Purchase of land for Park. s6,0o0 90
Paym'ts Of damages on streets 1880 90
Purchase ofland for marketlot 500 90 .rI
Land purchased. ....... $500 90 g..
| 4 ts83 s as bll aamoa $33s, 900 90 2tadi n
Less amount raised in .he tax .il.. i ssais ID.
of this year on account of l,a y.
the late hret .-'t',s'It,-.,. loeooo 90 M 'h
Showing balance of expenditures main ~ &.
y owing to the fire Of. .......y =! s2as 900 90
which amount constitutes the net increase -.
of the city debt to February 2S. 1867, >
and has been, or is to be provided for y tH
by authorized M 4 leans rs; /; 81 ,2les5e 90
lows, viz; City notes maturing during El
year, paid from Sinking Fund for re- al
duction of city debt. ................ 1926 90
Funded debt of the city February 2S,5egIt ..a
1867. 81 ,2oo1O 90
amount remaining to the credit of the 20
g Committee on reduction of city debt, r.
applicable to no other purpose. 1880 90
Funded debt Of the city Feb. 2s 1867 s O72 500 90
for which provision is to- beamade in the future.
la The necessary and unavoidable expendi-
lures growing out of the devastations of the
late fire will materially increase the city debt
during the coming year.
The temporary debt Of the city on March
81 1866. the close of the financial Is
year,, was s. sG2 800 90
been as follows, viz: For temporary
loans in anticipation OF collections from
taxes. ,........,.....,...,.......A $4,000 90
ts .t y. ...s...sf a-etsf SIP, 800 90
Payments on the above have been as fol- -, '
lows, viz: Temporary loans of this
year in anticipation of annual reven-
ue.i. !.. .......-.. ....... -. $50, 900 90 '
Temporary loans of former " 4 ns4W
years, being the amount 4s rGf
raised in the tax oftIs year $500 90 Ss1,5oO 90
Temporary debt Of the city Feb g. 1867, $50 500 90
to be provided for in the tax of this year. per order
of City Council Feb. g. 1865. -1 = 'i,1-
'-h7-N PUBLIC SCHOOLS .r
The public schools should always have the
especial care and watchfulness of the city
government. The appropriation made for
their support last year was SJ3950, of which
$50 $50 was for salaries.
Four school houses were destroyed by the
fire, viz: The two story brick building Oh
Franklin street, occupied by Primary School
No. 3, two-story building on Congress street,
occupied by Grammar School for girls, and
Primary School No.9; two'story brick build
ing on Congress street, near the Eastern Gem
etery, occupied by Grammar School for bows.
| and one-story brick building i'm the rear OF
| the last named, occupied by Primary School
No. Is. 1t was also found necessary TO de-
| vote that on Chestnut street to County and
City uses. Thus being deprived ofive school
houses the School Committee were for time
sadly at a loss to provide for the thousand
children so uncerimoniously turned out of
doors. To have them at such time about
the streets was out of the question. Finally
application was made to the City Council for
authority to erect two temporary school
houses on Congress street. one near the cor
ner OF Market street, and the other near Lo-
Gust street. H
The order was promptly passed and the
Two DulldlhsS erected at cost of 81 402S. .9S
The furniture, which cost i'm addition $3.50
was selected SO as to answer for the naw nor,
manent school house now building. ',f
BY this judicious arrangement The cb;,drep
have been provided with comfortable quarters
until new permanent buildings can be erect
ed na ad5 IaI = SS''n "
An order was passed in the (,itv Council