The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-15
$2l4,29o 90

$2l4,2so 90 --e
It appears by this statement that the entire
unsecured debt of the city Is 81, ,322 $40 80.
Set of against this, is the public property of
the city. Although this liability, considered
by itself, may seem and In fact is large, yet it
valuation in round numbers Is $30,O00,0 900; an
increase during the last decade OF nearly
$S,O00,000, while the number of polls have al
most doubled, and this in spite of the great
fire lof 1865, which in twelve hours swept
some ten millions from the financial cap
ital of the city. Our growth has not only
been rapid during that period, but it has been
solid and permanent And it continues with
accelerated force. We need but look at our
magnificent warehouses, our manufacturing
corporations, and our connections with Eu-
rope by steam. Portland by its location on
the map of the country, is inevidently des-
tined to be in time one Of the great depots of
the worlds commerce. In addition to the
railroads built or in progress, radiating from
our city as their centre, every new road char
tered in this State must by the infexible
laws of trade, be tributary to US.
Thus the future opens up to US career Of
prosperity, which is sure security tor the
debt OF the present.
But in one aspect, this liability Is an honor
to Portland. 1t was largely incurred as q
SOopAcusi0A VI Pu0AS RdIiAotioLu, WHICH tuC
life of the nation was at stake. We furnish
ed men and means, without stint or hesita-
tion, to put down the rebellion, waged in the
interest of human bondage. Our money and
our credit were freely given, and we can well
afford to carry for awhile longer these finan-
cial liabilities, in view of the glorious result.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
You will learn by the report of the school
committee that the schools of the city are in
satisfactory condition, and to that document
you are referred. The public school system is
not to be regarded as mere convenience; it
is an absolute necessity. Portland has for
many years been able with just pride to
point to her splendid school houses and her
able teachers. trust that we shall not only
maintain our high and merited reputation in
this respect, but that we shall be ready to re-
spond to the increasing demands of the future.
So important do regard this interest, that I
do not hesitate to say that the citizens of Port.
land will heartily sustain whatever expen1i
ture may be deemed necessary for this pur
pose. Any policy that contracts the educa-
tional privileges Of the people, or the comfort
and convenince OF both teachers and scholars
is to be deprecated and avoided as of the great
est injury to the best interests Of the commu
| nifty.
1t is true that the sum expended for schoo
purposes is quite large; but no investment
make larger returns. 1t has been a matter
| OF some discussion, upon whom devolved the
| duty of determining the amount OF money
annually required for our public schoois'
| Without entering into the merits OF tnat ques-
ton, may be permitted to suggest tnat' as
| the establishment and management oI our
schools are by law placed exclusively under
| the control of the school committee, they
would seem to be the proper party to decide
| .hot matter. On the subject of salaries to the
teachers, while 1 would inculcate the most
careful economy, am clearly of opinion the
wisest policy is to pay sufficient to secure the
permanent services of the ablest educators
| otherwise our schools become merely tempora
ry stopping places of those who propose to
| enter upon other professions, or who are
| waiting for more profitable opportunities in
| other and more liberal localities.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Your attention is particularly invited to
| the report of the Chief Engineer OF the Fire
| Department.. Since the fire OF 1856, this de-
partment has been greatly improved, and its
efficiency demands our special notice. But ]
am advised by those who, by their intimate
knowledge of the facts, are more competent
to form an intelligent judgment, that much
yet remains to be done to make the working
of the system perfect. / commend The sub.
ject to your consideration, merely remarkin,
that over careful saving in this department
may prove IN the end to be practical waste