The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-18

cheaper in the end. As a whole Lewiston has
good sidewalks, and one can get about COM
fortably in the worst of weather
A plan of drainage for the city has been fur
nished by w. H. Bradley, of Boston, and the
Mayor advises that an appropriation be made |
for carrying out the proposed system.
For nine months the city liquor agent has
sold 1872 gallons of liquor for $1O,695.59. This |
gives about one quart of liquor to each in |
habitant for year. Not so very bad when we |
consider that there has been hardly any other |
LIQUOR sold in the city.
After the delivery of the Mayors address,
r. c. Pingree was chosen President of the |
Board of Aldermen, and j. G. Coburn
President of the Common Council, with
E. 2. Tobie Jr., for Clerk. Mr.. E. P. Tobie,
who has served the town and city as clerk,
time out of mind, was again chosen without
opposition. David Farrar, who has acted as
Treasurer for many years, was again unani-
| mously elected. DIR. Eli Edgcomb was chosen
| City Physician, Emory o. Bcknell was re-
elected City Solicitor; Geo. A. Chandler was
chosen Auditor of Accounts; William Lyds-
ton, Street Commissioner; James Sands, Chief
Engineer. Election of City Marshall, for
4
| other officers. is deferred one week.
| AUBURN TOWN MEETING
Auburn held her March meeting yesterday
| Something more than half the voters were
out, about 900 votes being thrown. The Re-
publicans had everything their own way
though the Democrats made quite an effort to
bring out their men. 7. A. D. Fessenden,
ESQ.,, was chosen Moderator by 142 majority
the vote being higher than afterwards. The
town officers were elected by majority of
about $50, and are as follows: Clerk and Treas
urer, Geo. S. Woodman, Selectmen, Thomas
Littlefield, o. D. Bailey and Prentis NJ Wood
man, Supt. School Committee, c. B. Stetson.
As the town officers were all elected on one
ticket, there was time for the transaction of
much other business, though mnch was left
undone, when the meeting was adjourned for
three weeks. There was SO great haste and
perfect babel of confusion, that nothing could
be acted upon with deliberate judgment, and
only few voted upon the different matters,
being ignorant of how they should vote. 1t is
very evident that Auburn, with population
next to Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, posi-
bly, Biddeford, should have city government,
or be cut up into three or four small towns
There are now so many jealous interests that
it is impossible to take a step in the way of
improvement, or even make a judicious ex-
penditure of the money which is raised.
Owing to the jealousy of the different dis
tricts the town voted to return to the old sys-
tenn of repairing roads by district surveyors
having tried the town system only one year.
The village is especially berated, and yet
nearly half the road tax raised in the village
{ last year was expended in the rural portions
of the town.
, The sum of $4,000 was raised for school pur-
poses. This is a few cents more than one dol
: lar for each inhabitiant according to the Gen.
, sus of 1860, and so meets the requirements of
the law. The present population on basis of
one dollar would give about $50 90. So tn
town actually raises for the education of her
children 70 cents for each inhabtant. Lewis
ton, regardless of the census of 1860, raises
$1.75. In Lewiston, every school, rural and
urban, is in session about 40 weeks during the
year; but in Auburn the average is only about
II weeks. And such schools! The report of
f the school committee of Auburn, is anything
but pleasant document to read. The liquor
agent sold S., 410 dollars worth of liquor dur
ing the year; profit to the town 745.
One year ago the valuation of Auburn was
81 ,697 ,082. Somewhat larger now. The liza
entities of the town above available resources
amount to $112,17O or about seven per cent. of
valuation. The value of the public property
is not very great, Auburn Hall being the main
item. For SO thrifty and SO fine town as
Auburn is, her public affairs-schools and fl
nances-are in bad condition, with no imme-
diate prospect of improvement.
Republican town officers elected in Durham
yesterday by one majority. The great battle
could not, surely, have been much closer.
Mr.. G. G. Waterhouse, formerly landlord Of
of the Island Pond House, has rented the
Dewitt House in this city. The Franklin
Company, who own the Dewitt, have appro-
priated $4,000 for repairing and refurnishing.
Work OF renovation commences on the first of
April, will propably take three months.
Sam Hicks, distingu ished caterer to the
public, in this city, is to take charge of the
Boarding Block belonging to the Lincoln Mill
and owned by the Franklin Company. This
is splendid Block and will accommodate IT'S
operatives. BARLOW.