The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-03-25
ORaAN1z-Ar1ON
OUR TWO CITY GOVERNMENTS.
BIpDErORp.

| pointed on CREDENTIALS, reported Iull
Board present. On motion a message
was sent To inform the Common Council
OF the temporary organization Of the
Board OF Aldermen, and request them to
meet In joint Convention.
The Common Council being tempora-
rily organized. George S. Googins was
chosen permanent President, aud +. ii.
Hayes, Clerk, and message was sent to
the Board OF Alderman to inform them
OF the organization Of the Council.
JOINT CONVENTION.
i The members elect OF the two Boards
assembled, made choice Of Alderman
Haines as temporary Chairman of the
City Council. A Committee was then
raised. consisting Of Aldermen Hamilton
and Kendall and Councilman Bracket, TO
inform the Mayor-elect, that they were
| ready to Hear. any communication he
might be disposed to address them.
The Mayor-el.ct, Edwin w. Wedg-
wood. ESQ. was then Introduced to the
Council by Mayor Clark. and the oath Of
office was administered to him by the
City Clerk, aud to both Boards Of the City
Government.
At this stage Of the proceedings very
fervent and appropriate prayer was Of
fered by Rev. j. Hubbard. Jr., where
upon the Mayor came forward and de-
livered the following Address:
Mayors Address.
Gentlemen of the CITY CotoieiI:
By our acceptance OF the trust delegated to
us in the recent municipal election, we have
given the strongest assurance oil our hten.lon
| to perform the resulting duties with energy
and fidelity during our brief official term. No
| renewed PROMISES, at the present time, can
| add any weight of obligation or give additional
confidence TO those who have heretofore Ia
favored the selection or disapproved the
| popular choice. Our acts must determine
whether that choice has been judisiously made.
To perform our duties well will require time
and labor, n prompt attention to all subjects
| that properly claim notice, and an honest de-
| sire TO promote the public interests. III VIII be
| fortunate for. rvs, and the interests we nave III
| charge, If we can Justly feel, at the close oil
| the wear upon which we now enter, that our
| official conduct has been prompted by such
| motives as the candid judgment OF our fellow
citizens shall approve.
Some important changes in municipal affairs
have occurred in the last year. The radicai
| change in the administration OF the Fire Dc
partmcnt, and the large OUTLAWS necessary to
effect IL, have made the year somewhat famous
| i'm our local history. But the general and gen.
erous approval OF the property holders oil the
| city, who recognize the advantage oil the new
|
property from destruction by fire, has made
The change much easier than was at first antici-
6nted Tho policc Office and watch house
| which have been provided within the same
period, supplies deficiency that had been oh
| served for years, and renders the admlnistra-
| ton of the Police Department more elective.
| considerable change was made i'm the school
system within District No. I, by joining the
duties and Office of school agents with those oil
| supc~intending school committee. SO lar as
have learned, Il has proved satisfactory lnno-
yatiou upon the former method. III am
rightly informed, the Legislature mas, oy a re,
| cent enactment, provided that the powers oil
school agents throughout the State shall be ex-
| ercised hereafter by tho experimenting COM
| mittee or supervisors, within their towns.
shall not attempt TO give statement In dc.
Tail of the appropriations and expenditures oil
the last year. Approximate general Statement.
shows the appropriations, exclusive OF interest
and discount items, to be little more than
ST., 900. The amount of warrants drawn by
the MAYOR are but slightly in excess oil SiO,OOo.
The bills for which warrants have not been
,irawn will probably equal the unoxpended
balance. The reports OF the proper oiheers
will be laid before you soon, from which full
and accurate details maybe learned. IL is be,
lieyed they will present n satisfactory financial
exhibit for the past year, ana show substantial
and permanent improvements in the property
of the city, corresponding to the increased ex-
penditures.
The amount Of outstanding notes is
now, S&t,oS W
The amount OF outstanding bonds is ls2,3OO %
Making , ,o,., Of s2o6,so2 90
The total of last year was Zoo'ioo w
'"o~ xsas Of sl,35i 90
These figures show the entire amount OF out
standing obligations, without the set-oif oil any
resources nj the command OF the treasury LOT
the liquidation of any portion OF the indebted
ness.
The suggestions so forcibly made by Mayor
Clark i'm his address in relation TO the propriety
of funding the floating debt of the city and
providing for the payment of the bonds that
will soon mature apply with increased force ut
the present time and will deserve carry atteh-
ton. In this connection, l suggest that the
State bonds belonging to the city, w virtue OF
of municipal war debts, may be made available
nv exchange or sale, for the payment oil most
of the out standing notes, now ONtrdue, ana oil
those bonds which will fall due at an early day.
learn that the sum OF Sif,Ofio. IN state
bonds is awaiting the call OF the Treasurer,
and as, by the terms of the law, they are to be
| arnlied to the extinguishmcnt OF such indebt-
| edness rs accrued prior to March Z, 1868, u
| seems peculiarly appropriate to make the APP
plicatiOn to the payment oil that portion OIL INC
| debt which is due upon ueIllahu' -
The public schools merit, and will receive
much of your careful thought. Expenditures
| for the support of the common school system
| have usually been of so liberal character Us
To demonstrate the general interest OF the
whole community in the subject. Notwith,
standing the rapid development oil new and
stirring facts in the world of science and OF
art, thinking men are still persuaded that the
| intelligence of the large numerical portion oil
| citizens must be founded in, the instruction
and discipline which pertain. substantially, To
our public school system, and feel that every
circumstance which surrounds us demands in-
creasing interest in the subject of general edu-
| cation. Population is advancing, and IT is OF
| the utrnost.importance that the dbihty for sell
| royernment which is founded upon the intel
ligent training OF early lie, shall AT least Keep
| equal pace with increasing numbers.
| Different nationalities arc meeting mere anu
t,k;n,, on the relation of citizenship, and IL Is
| desirable that the present and future genera
| tons Of our country, from whatever ancestry
/ derived, shall be united in support OF TINS sys-
/ tenn which has proved 80 efficient in lifting the
| citizen for the performance OF the duties oil u
/ freeman.
The efficiency Of the Fire Department seems
/ secure beyond reasonable doubt. Expert
/ ence has already demonstrated its capacity,
/ and leaves no room for fear OF its failure under
any circumstances that are likely to occur.
| The report Of the Chief Engineer will furnish
j Won with such facts aud recommendations rs
propsrly belong to this department..
| The subject of reservoirs is OF great import
ance, inasmucha as they furnish in many por-
tons OF the city the only supply OF water to
/ extinguish fires in their vicinity. have been
informed that defects exist in somc.of them,
and therefore suggest an early and careful sur
| yey of them by those who shall have the mat
ter specially in charge. They are perhaps
i more liable TO neglect because concealed from
i ordinary observation. The Chief Engineer
4 has pointed out several localities where ne,c
/ reservoirs will be needed soon as the city
can afford the necessary outlay. The subject
| Il presented. however, without expectation
that any unusual work will be undertaken the
/ present year.
The opening and repair Of streets, the laying
of drains and the building of sewers has be-
come a subject Of great aud continuing I'M
portance. The natural formation of lands in
highway district No. makes 1t difficult and
extensive to open streets and establish easy
GRADES for travel. Suitable sewerage is cores
Sondingly difficult and expensive. In every
i Il raj