The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-23

debteunesS, chargeable solely to Railroad ac-
count The interest upon the Railroad debt
which will fall due the present year and must
be met by taxation is Si3,411,90.
The figures are us follows:
Amt of Bonds sold 6140Oo.
Interest on do 6,S4O
Amt Municipal Loan $4,000.
Interest on do $50.
Amt Notes tTemp. Loan GS,49T 40
Interest on do (E5timatedD 4,162,D.
Total debt $.0T ,497 40.
Total Interest S43,471 80.
For city purposes proper, and payment OF
interest on War Loan, there will be required
the sum Of S2l 900 as follows:
For Contingent Fund 100000.
z Highway : 100000.
< Paupcr 100000.
- School 6,O00.0O.
. Fire Dept = 100000.
Total S21 10000.
This is the financial condition of the city.
We must accept the situation As we find it.
Our responsibility, however, dates only from
the present hour
From the various reports that have been
made to the late City Government gather the
following facts:
SCHOOLS.
The Public Schools of the city are in better
condition than USUAL. Their has been i'm
proyemcnt ana advancement gencralIy-but
much vet remains to be done to make them
what they ought to hc-the chief interest and
pride Of the city. The suggestions Of the
school committee rs to consolidation Of certain
districts, and Improvement o school houses,
should receive your attention. The Legis lature
last winter enacted law giving towns the
right of elccting a school supervisor instead OF
a school committee do no know that such
a change is desirable in our city, or that it can
be legally made this year.
HIGHWAYS
| have seen no reports in reference to the
streets and highways. | presume they are in
average condition. That there is great deal
of money and labor wasted under the present
system of taking care of them seems obvious.
Whether any better system can be, or should
be devised, Is tor you to dett rminc.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department is in its usual state Of
deficiency. 1t is a matter of pride to our city
that this Departmental such vital interest is
kept up 10 its high standarCl-eSpecially As it
depends upon the voluntary action of our
young men prompted by no fee or hope of re-
ward.
The Poor of the city should receive your at
tention and care. | have heard, however, no
complaint that they have been neglected, or
that the Pauper fund has not been we'll applied
The City Physician reports their condition Of
health to have been good. lie also represents
the sanitary condition OF the city as satisfactory
rs usual.
The City Solicitor reports that no suit i'll
which the city has any interest in now pending
The Sexton reports that the whole number
of bnria- in the Cemetery for the past year has
been g. The condition of the Cemetery demands
your attention. No neglect or waste should he
tolerated.
Po4ICE.
have seen no Police reports. The enforce
ment of law and order is absolutely essential
to the welfare Of the cry. Without it, Our city,
however beautiful or attractive otherwise, can
l., !, a..
end the Police force should be well organized,
and made up of good men. A good Policeman
must have Sei-control. To control others, he
must control himself.
There are various suggestions might make
if the condition of the City Treasury would al
low. | recognize, however, the fact that
economy is an imperative necessity. Other
wise | might suggest certain expenditures to
increase the attractiyeness Of our city generally
rs place of resdence-ls a home.
4. & NJ. il. RAILROAD
Before concluding gentlemen, wish
to say Il few wordS about our Railroad,
| say our Railroad, and designe,lly; the
owns the commanding Interest,", the chief
stockholder She hollis 60l9 shares OF stock
the par value of which is S601.9 But this
sunl-great As it is-does not express the entire
cost to the city. The Railroad has really cost
her S,45.005. That is the amount she can
charge on the debt side Of her account with the
Railroad. 1t includes discount on bonds ana
payment Of interest as follows:
Issue of Bonds in 1865, $50 900.
1870, ll9,2OO.
Interest coupons pal 99-!@, i3,55,S a
Deficiency on Loan acct. sale of
Bonds testinrtccD. $500
And what amount shall be placed at the
credit Of the Railroad? When the Road was
started. tile idea. and hope, was to increase our
business and trade by connecting our city with
the MooSehead Lake region. That increase of
business would add to ollr population and en-
hancc the value of property. But, the Road
does not as yet directly reach that region, and.
under the present management of the Maine
Central Railroad, cannot do so by using that
Road Can, therefore. that expectation be
realized if the Railroad is allowed to remain in
is present condition? 1t has been calculated
also, for nearly two years past, that the city
stock through the lease of the Railroad, would
surely furnish income to the Treasury, which
would take care of the larger part Of the Rail
road debt interest; but the Maine Central Rail
road Co., in reputation of their own contract,
and in violation of law and of right, as we be-
lievc, have refused to place the Road under the
operation of the lease, or TO abide by the de-
cison of the Referees mutually chosen. Can
this expectation of income from stock be
realized under the present condition of lifairsI
1t seems, then, that we have little As yet,
either through increase OF business, or income
from stock, to place ut the credit OF the Rail
road on its account with the city. Can the city
do anything to improve the account? do not
see that she can The Directors have the en-
tire control of the Railroad, and tile city has
merely the power of a storkholder to be eXer-
ciscd only in approval or diSapproval of their
action, when the same shall he brought before
the stockholders. And now it rests with the
Directors to determine what shall be done to
secure those ends for which the Road was built
contract for \ lease was made nearly two
years ago with the Maine Central Railroad Co
duly sanctioned by the stockholders Of either
Road-whch contract, by its inlucement of Il
larger rental and low rates of carriage, caused
our Road TO be detected from the line upon
which 1t was started, and to strike the Maine
Central Road 1T Burnham. The Directors of
our Railroad have been Instructed by their
counsel that it is good and valid contract, and
can be enforced Whether it shall be or not, is
for them to determine. Ano Their plan, which
is looked upon Etvorably, and has the good
wishes Of our citiZens-s to abandon the lease
except rs to damagcs-and push the Road on
towards Moosehead L.akc-thus connecting our
Guy directly with the many thriving towns in
that region. But, still, it is for the Directors to
determine what course shall be adopted. And
yet our citizens generally must not cvatle their
responsibility in this matter In order to act
understandings and wisely the Directors must
know upon what pecunary aid they can rely.
The city can do nothlng-the citizens each and
tNcly ONO u lnclil, lllllsu come 1OrWaru ready TO
assist. Whatever differences Or divisions may
have existed in the past-there must now be
unity of action. The welfare of the city must
alone be considered. Our motto should be
The city expects every man will do his duty
Finally, gentlemen, for myself in the dis
charge of the duties of mayor, | ask and shall
expect to have your aid and advice.
WIN. G. MARSHALL.
Belfast, March Goth, 1871.
The Convention then dissolved and the two
boards separated.
The Common Council completed its organiza-
lion by choice of Charles Baker, Ward 3, as
President; John w. IIaraden, as Clerk.
IN CONVENTION.
Convention was then formed for choosing
the customary City Officers. Mayor Marshall,
presiding.
John III. Quimby was elected City Clerk, and
duly sworn by the Mayor. Daniel Haraden,
City Treasurer; Lewis W. Pendleton, City
Physician; N. Abbott, City Solicitor; John Poor
City Sexton; Charles R. Thombs, Chief Engi-
neer; Adelphus B. Mathews, City Marshal;
Frank b. Frederick, HarbOr Master; @. p.
Carter. Highway Suryeyor CitV District: Har-