Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-19
lora! am State .Nems.
Organization OF the New City Gov
Crnmcnt.

met In convention III inc SO'A"
room Yesterday forenoon at ten ciock' III ac-
cordance with section 10 of the city charter
The oath required by sec. OF the charter was
administered by L. H. Titcomb, Esq, Justice
of the Peace The convention then scparat-
ed.
The Common Council elected Geo. s. Bal
lard of Ward $, President, and Granville Z.
Storer Clerk. The oaths of Office were adj
ministered by J. W. Patterson, Esq.
A message was then sent to the Board of
Aldermen, informing that branch of the or
ganization of the Common Council, and pro-
posing convention of the two branches.
The Board of Aldermen concurred and
venton was formed. committee was ap-
pointed to inform the Mayor elect that the
City Council had assembled in convention
and was ready to administer to him the oaths
necessary to qualify him to enter upon the
duties of his office, and to listen to any COM
munication he might be pleased to make.
The Mayor elect Hon. Joseph j. Eveleth,
then appeared, and before L. IL. Iitcomb,
Esq, took upon himself the qualifying oaths.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Martin
The Mayor then read the following address:
Mayors Address.
Gentlemen Of The city Council:
Having again been elected to the office of
Mavor through the favor Of my fellow cit-
zens | offer them my grateful acknowledge
ments for the honor thus conferred, and shall
endeavor to retain their esteem ami conf
dence for the future by diligent and con-
scientious discharge of the duties committed
to my charge.
lam happy so many of my former associ-
ates in Office have been reelected, and as we
welcome new members to our Boards, to fl
the places of those who have retired may
the spirit of courtesy and good will that has
uniformly marked our deliberations for the
past year continue to render our intercourse
agreeable and profitable for the year to come
Whatever our differences of opinion as TO
men or measures, may the voice of discord
not disturb our counsels, and aiming only for
the public good, may We ever preserve
toward each other the most cordial relations
of personal regard.
The judcious and economical manage
ment of our affairs depends largely on those
who will fill the offices under your control.
Great care will doubtless be taken in their
selection, and it is to be hoped you Win be so
fortunate as to choose those only, who will
prove by their fidelity and capacity, that your
confidence in them is well placed
1t is incumbent on the Mayor 'to exer-
else a general supervision over theconduct of
all subordinate officers" and | trust the men
thus chosen by you will be disposed at all
times to confer frankly and freely with me in
regard to their respective duties.
HEH t1 FINANCES.
The debt of the city may be briefly stated
as follows:
per cent. Bonds dated July /. 1868, SIS 200
per cent. Bonds dated July /, 1864, 500
City Improvement Bonds, 2O2, 500
Total amount of bonded debt, S2i1, 800
Total amount of loans negotiated
in former years falling due IN 1872, 52,Il
Loans due in 1873, n, IS, and 10, 9,437
Total City debt, s3o9,4lS
Being reduction from last year of 2,743
The Auditors report will shortly be laid be-
fore you, and will exhibit in detail such
further information as you may require re-
speeding finances.
The difficulty of ascertaning the exact
amount of claims against the city at the close
of the municipal year still exists, and | re-
peat the suggestion ef last year, that here
after all bills presented after the month of
February of each year be referred TO the sue
ceeding administration.
HiGuwAYs, &C.
The appropriations for the past year were:
For repair of ljrhways, Sil,50O
For snow bnls. 1900
For new bridges, l,ooO
For new streets 1000
100
Commissioner j. +. Arnold of the Western
district has paid:
For repairs, S5,lS0,l5
For snow bills, 69O.45
For new bridges, l,079.9S
For new streets, 4lS.O2
81 369.20
Commissioner j. L. Ward OF the Eastern
district has paid:
For repairs, So, 1924
For snowbills, 45+.42
For new streets, o3s. 59-5, S75.95-l3,2i 5.l5
1,45i.S5
These sums and $3.50 drawn
by others, 4o.l3
Leaves balance unexpended of l,4O9.G6
During the year Mr. Arnold has laid . 900
wards of concrete walk and LOO feet of
curb stone, and has built two new substantial
bridges on the Brook road, costing 81 ,019.9S,
in place of those destroyed by the storm IN
October last.
In the expenditures by Mr.. Ward are in
cluded 81, 100 for an important improvement
of the bridge on Bangor street, So for re.
building the Rowland bridge on Church's hill
and $3.50 for ii new stone culyerts.
refer you to their reports for further par
tcuars in regard TO their several departments.
In addition to the ordinary appropriation
for highways, $2,l27.60 have been expended
under the direction of q committee of the
city council in building stone wall on Bridge
street (near Lancey's block) which is l44 feet
long, lG4 feet deep, with an average width
of six feet. The work, though somewhat
expensive, seemed Indispensable 1t has
been completed in a substantial and work
manlike manner, at a fair price, and will ul-
timately prove more economical to the city
than temporary or less costly structure.
FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Chief Engineer Vickery reports this de-