The Portland daily press., 1870-07-08

A special meeting of the City Council was
held last evening

oALy AMAlrhs
A special meeting of the City Council was
held last evening.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Orders Passed-For the payment of $12O. 96
to Catherine Sheridan in settlement of suit
against the city for damages caused by the
flow of a sewer upon her premises; to pay
Alice McEwan $500 damages caused by fall
upon York street; to exempt the property of
the Portland Water Company within the city
from taxation for five years; to fix the grade OF
Anderson street according to the report of the
City Engineer; directing the Street Commits
sioner to cut down an elm tree on Center
street, the second east from Free street; di-
recting the Horse Railroad Company to pave
their track recently laid on Congress street,
and to complete the paving of their track on
Pearl street; authorizing the paving of Middle
street, between Pearl and Market streets, the
pavement to be of stone and the work to be
done by contract; authorizing the construction
of sidewalks on Oak, Locust, Spring and An
derson streets.
Petitions Presented and Referred-Of e. l..
Wing that the rent of the City scales for the
year 1869 be reduced 1925; of E. A. Norton ct
al, that the grade of Pearl street, between
Middle and Commercial, may be fixed aud
that hearing may be had upon the same; Of
L. G. Patterson ct al, that five street lamps
may be located upon Bramhall and Arsenal
streets and the Western Promenade; of Levi
Weymouth, that a portion of the west end oil
Congress street may be discontinued; of vari-
Gus parties for sidewalks on North streets.
An ordinance fixing penalty for the throw
ing of any substance into any reservoir or
fountain Of the Water Company, or otherwise
corrupting the water, was referred.
IN JOINT CONVENTION.
The Boards went into joint Convention for
the purpose of hearing gentlemen from the
Public Library and other institutions.
John Neal first addressed the Convention on
ha1. ~? fIn ,Iio ;hror az hot
they did not come as beggars, asking for aid
for themselves. They gave their services gra-
tuitously. They asked the city to make this
institution part of the public school system.
By means of this institution young people can
educate themselves and carry their Information
beyond the limits afforded by the public
schoos. They proposed to make their library
wholly free and pubic and ask the city to help
them.
Mr.. Noyes said that the library contained
upwards of 10 COO volumes. During the past
year 81, 900 volumes were taken out to be read
| at the homes of the subscribers. The library
| is open seven hours a day to all who may
chose to come to the rooms for the purpose O
consulting and reading their books He made
| a statement of the various sums appropriated
| by diff ,rent cities for the aid Of their public
| libraries He then read a paper signed by
| three fourths of the life members of the Insti
| tute, making tender of their collection to the
city upon conditions that the city will main
Mr.. Washburn said that the Library pro
posed to turn over to the city its 10000 vol
umes, worth at least $13, 600, and the result al
| most entirely of individual donations, and il
| the meantime asked an appropriation of $1E0(
| to keep the library in operation this year. HI
proceeded to argue very forcibly in favor of thu
| establishment of free Public Library. He
based his argument upon economical and edu
cational principles.
| Mr.. Barnes stated that the Portland Athe
10 &l,Asv -
| to the city to aid the free Public Library il
case one be established.
Mr.. G. e. Jose on behalf of tho Mercantile
Library said he thought that that institution
had equal claims upon the city with the Pub
| lie Library. They asked for $1,000.
This was all he had to say on behalf of tn
Association. AS an individual he very mucl
doubted whether it was good policy for the cit.
to furnish the means for the establishment of ;
| Public Library aud to continue and increase
| the same. This has never been done by an
city. The most that has been done is wher
the broad charity and mun6cent lberality G
some individual has laid the foundation the
cities have assisted the enterprise.
Mr.. Washburn replied that this was jus
the present case. The Public Library will dc
nate their collection worth $4,000, and tn
Athenaum property worth $4,000, which
would make basis sufficient for the city t
act upon. The city was limited by law to a
appropriation of $4,000 per annum, but tina
sum was sufficient TO carry out the enterprise
Mr.. Holden, for the Mechanic Association
asked for a share Of the funds if any were
be given to other associations. He though
| that the raiaisg of small associations woul
reach different classes aud be productive
more good than one grand consolidated libr;
The Convention then dissolved.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
A few petitions were referred and after IL
| IiSsnIutipp IF tho CopVrntIOn the GOnucIl
| journed.
CAsco STREET Picnic. The Casco sire
, picnic 10 Evergreen Landing was compile
success. The clambake was delicious al
! everybody called it the perfection of cookir
The Society with their friends turned out
ndSse and loaded down the Gazelle on all ext
: trip. Only one accident occurred which CT
t ated some excitement for few moments. T.
young ladies were swinging when the rope
the swing broke precipitatipg them to I
ground. Both tainted away and it was fear
i that serious injury had been inflicted, but th
a shortly came TO and it was ascertained Il
g they were only slightly bruised.
d PORTLAND g. KENNEBEC RAILRoAD.-Tl
lie Company is making decided improvement
"a Brunswick in remodelling their depot. I
n ladies and gentlemen's rooms are greatly t
IS iarged, and will be furnished in a manner
u correspond with the times. The restaurs
If Eept by William 3. Fields will be first eli
to in all Its appointments, and will comlortal
To- accommodate about one hundred and fl
s. You can get as good meal at this place as
i. most if not any of the hotels, and the tray
Is ling public have found this so,