The Portland daily press., 1871-03-08

ing horses, repairs OF carts, &c. &c.... L, 1923
Total. $50, o52 o
There is in the city 1912 miles of street open tt
travel, and the amount of pavements laid dowr
is equivalent to nearly three miles OF street
| paved from curb to curb. He. recommend
| that the following streets should be paved thil
year:
| Preble street, from Congress street to Pors-
land street. This street requires II as much
expended on it every year it is kept q gravel
street as it will cost to pave with cobble stones.
York street, from the foot of Centre street to
Danforth
Commercial street, from P. s. & P. depot to
the P. B Il. r. r. depot
Fore street, from India street. to the Portland
COmpany'S works.
Congress street, from Vaughan to Highstreet,
and from Franklin to Pearl street, the side
of which is not now paved.
Middle street, from Exchange to Union
street.
Exchange street, from Federal to Middle
street, requires the pavement relaid. The
grades OF the last three named streets were
changed after the fire, and most of tho side
walks have been laid on the new grades, bu,
the pavement remains the same as before the
hre.
The following streets should be paved as
early a. practicable: All Of Congress stree,
not paved, from Washington street to Vaughan
street; Middle street, from India to Silver st.
Those parts of High and Soring .treets throup b
which the horse car track passes Most of the
streets cost to keep in repair with gravel, ID
~ much every year as it would cost to pave
ihem with cobbe stones
Messrs Galley, Sheridan & Griffith have of.
fersd to lay piece of concrete on trial, and
not ask any pay for it unless it should prove
Satisfactory to the city government. won d
recommend that they be allowed to pave Con-
gress Square or Spring street, from High to
Park street with this pavement, on those co n
ditioos. have examined this apIing a con-
foot OF Incia, that was put down by Them three
years ago this spring, and it appears as firm as
it did month after itw g laid. This pavement
would work well 10 streets that have great
deal of light driving over them, euch as Free,
Spring aud High streets, as it is more free
from noise than cobble or block stone.
believe it would be tor the interest of the
city to spend q sum OF not less than one buu-
.ired thousand dollars year in paving alone
for the next three years. This amount cou
DO raised by a loan and not assessed in taxes.
Two and . quarter miles Of sidewalk have
been laid, Of which over $500 feet have been in
concrete The Commissioner recommen ds
that the sidewalks on India street, which were
taken up when the grade OF the street was
changed be relaid in concrete and extended to
the Grand Trunk depot. In 1869 the repairs
ON Centre street sidewalk and Congress street
walk, from Washington street one half way to
North street. was over six hundred dollars
Since the concrete walks were laid last SUM-
NOR on these streets there has not been dol
lar expended upon them and they are as per-
feet as when laid. He suggests that permits
to open streets should be issued by the Com
missioner Of streets and approved by the May
or, as by this means that officer will constantly
be informed of the work OF that nature that il
being carried on, have a personal supervision
OF it, secure its more faithful performance and
30 preserve the good condition OF the streets.
The Fire Department has been furnished
with six horses and -FOUR drivers, for two engiue
and hose carriages, ready TO start for fires 1T
momeuCs notice. Six horses and -four drivers
have also been furnished to take the other two
engines and hose Carriages to fires, at an ex-
pense to the city Of 81, GA IS. would recon-
mend that the horses used by the Fire Depart
ment belong to that department, and be under
the control of the Chef Engineer, aud # the
teams are worked on the streets, that they be
hired by this department the same as other
teams This would bring the expense of tho
teams into the hands Of the right department.
As they are arranged now, although the street
department. has expended $76748 IS from abe
appropriation for the suDpO t Of the Fire De-
partment, and net for the purpose for which
the money was voted, it does not receive one
cent in return. The money collected from
the Fire Department for the use OF the horses
and drivers is credited on the income account
as receipts from the different departments.
1t is also recommended that a portion Of
West Commercial street be graded, on account
of the necessary and increasing travel to the
freight depot Of Portland & Ogdensburg rail.
road. The construction of heavy retaining
wall is also imperatively necessary. The sum
of $705.6S was expended on this street the past
year, but it was for temporary purpose. A
sewer on Gould street to Back Cove is also re-
garded as public necessity, as the location OF
the street is such that the water from the high
bank on the northeasterly side renders the
street dangerous in its present condition. The
saver and culverts should be built by the city
as very few Vi the people living ON this stree
are able to bear their part OF the cost Of con
struction. The necessity of clerk in this de
partm ent is also urged, as matter of econO
my; and the Commissioner also points out
clerical error OF SIC, 900 against the department
last year for want of proper clerical system
The new law on sidewalks largely increases th,
Office work, and bills cannot be reported uuti
late in the season, instead of at the expiration
of The month, as is required. A more complete
account Of work performed, and the cost Q
teams. &C., can thus be kept, and greater &C
curacy obtained from these records in the esti
mates for proposed improvements.
The property on hand 10 the street depart
ment is reported by the Commissioners at $12,
1880. t-