The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-03-27
Address OF Mayor Marshall.


years, and congratulate myself upon having YOU to
share with me the and management of the "a"
fairs OF the city for the coming year.
FINANCES.
The financial condition of the city has not chang
ed materially during the past year. The situation
to-day is substantially as it was year ago. The
railroad debt remains the same, and the intcres
thereon will be henceforward tor each year the
in amount rs last year, TO be provided for by
nua tax But it is expected that before long thu
CITY railroad stock will provide some income to he'll
pay that tax decision in the railroad suits pend
ing in the Supreme Court has yet been rendered
1t is hoped decision will be given soon, and in ia
of the railr adj If such hope shall be realized
| the financial condition will be much improved div
| idends can be looked for from the preferred stock
and the railroad taxes thus materially lightened
| Municipal notes to the amount of 81 10000 be
| come due this year, for which you must provide
| means of payment. These notes given by tho
city in 1869, to raise money to pay railroad coupons
| then falling due and unprovided for by tax. The
burden properly belonging to that year is therefore
| partly borne by this.
purposes solely, was 500 ,23o So. The expenses fol
the coming year cannot probably, be less The taxes
therefore tor the present year will be about the same
those of last year. That our taxes are large there
can be no question: but that they are larger than
those OF other cities OF this State or elsewhere,
! cannot with truth affirm. And yet an impression
| prevails, to encouragement it seems to me,
that are taxed more previously than all other
| similar communities. Taxes in Belfast, prior to the
| last two years. have been comparatively light ana
much less for the last quarter OF century than they
| Were generally in other towns of similar size,
iitncc II is tHdl tHt WtiSHt t' lllt
present burden seems great. But another cause, in
| my opinion, for this belief that taxed more
than other cities is the fact that the percentage
taxation is greater here than elsewhere. This, how
ever, is owing to the low standard OF our city vau
| alton. Our valuation is lower than that of other
cities, and, of course the percentage OF tax be
greater than theirs to realize the amount of
money. Our State valuation is about one-f0urth
| more than our own. Would it be OF any advantage
to raise valuation to that standard, higher
and thus reduce the percentages If to DO would
| shift the burdens Of taXes-so that one class OF
| than now, certai My, with the belief l have that
| the present distribution and apportionment is an
| equal one could not advise such action. But, if
the valuation could be raised prorata upon each tax
payer, that each persons tax would be the same
as at present, think it would be well to do 80 /
| confess however, that l am not we'll enough ac-
quainted with the details OF the tax books to form u
satisfactory opinion as to its practicability.
| Last year l recommended the trial Of a new sys.
TEN OF collecting taxes. advised the allowance of
discountt to all persons paying taxes before the l"th
| OF August-that being the day when the coupons On
the city bonds to the amount of $4,000 tall due on
each yearand suggested as one reason that the Col
lector did not receive his tax books TIL July and 1t
was exceedingly difficult to collect the amount ne.
| cessary in season for payment. The plan, however,
| was not tr ed. Objection made that the allow
ance OF discount would favor the rich tax payer At
the expense OF the poor one certainly do not SO
understand it, l should not advocate il. think
an inspection of the Collectors books viii show
that poor men pay their taxes and as prompt
| ly as rich men, and that those who are dilaory in
paying their taxes are generally able to pay at arr
time, but delay payment merely to save interest up
on the money In short, believe the present sYS
TEN encourages dilatoriness and neglect in paying
taxes by holding out the inducement OF saving IN
| terest upon the money for each day OF delay And
hence the taxes NOT collected within the year
they should be, but Iun along into the folio wing
years
SCHOOLS.
Our schools upon the whole IN good condition
Perhaps it would be safe to say that they
better. Yet some changes Necessary in order to
render them as efficient they should be. Some
schools are crowded with pupils, and the teachers
nvpr wit tEh 1l nth
parativey empty, and the teachers have not enough
scholars to make their labors efficient But would
particularly call your attention to the necessity Of
"a free high school The legislature of last winter
passed act in aid of free high schools, which pro
vides that the state shall pay to every town that
| maintains such a school sum equal to that appro
priated by the town, not exceeding S50001 The
city should receive the benefit of this appropriation
| inasmuch it will pay its proportionate share OF
the state tax. To do so, however the city must
make an appropriation for the support and main
tainance of free high school, to be expended by
the persons required by the law. And | would
recommend an appropriation for that purpose Of
$4,000. This sum with equal amount received
from the state, can be paid over to the central dis
trct and the district use the same together with
its own appropriations to maintain a 1ree high
school, which shall be open to eligible persons re-
siding within the limits Of the city.
The amount to be received for schools the present
year from the state, through the bank tax, will be
considerably larger thaD tor the past year which
was S226O 90. AS the deposits OF the Saving Banks
increase the school fund is enlarged but even
the aid derived from that source is very important
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department has done good service the
past year. Whenever an alarm has sounded by day
night the Engine Companies responded promptly
and brought out their machines ready for action At
six fires. which occurred at night they have worked
hard Tor many hours aud saved, undoubtedg,
large amount of property. Complaint is made as 10
the power of one OF the engines; but the engine is
light and easily handled occason requires, gain
ing generally the honor of throwing First water"
And it is frequently OF more Importance TO put wa
ter upon fire quickly than to throw it tn great
distance or in heavy volume But | submit the
needs of the Department to your careful attention.
Recent CONGREGATIONS have awakened greater inter
est in all matters pertaining to protection from FIR
than before and must to il that there
shall be neglect on part in providing reason
able security. And it seems to me there can be
doubt that the water supply for fire purposes is 81
tirely inadequate for the wants of the city. Cur
reservoirs are not only small and few in number,
but they constructed generally that there is
little water in them during the heat and drouth OF
summer when there is the greatest danger OF tn,
spread of fires They should be so built to hold
water at all times and so placed as to be readily fill
ed from the drainage OF surface water, if no other
means of filling them shall be provided The atten
| ton OF the late City Government called last
November to the project of introducing water tor
| fire uses from the ''Muck," called, and commit
tee appointed to examine into the feasibility OF
doing. The early winter prevented any thorough
| examination. There seemed to be a great conflict
of testimony as to the amount OF water to be obtain
| ed at all seasons OF the year from that source;
some persons who ought to know the facts. assert
ing that the "Muck" was dry in summer and frozen
solid in winter,-While others made statements d.
rectly to the contrary. may say here that an ex
animation lately made showed considerable depth OF
water beneath the ice which covers the Muck ;
but is that the fact every winter There can be
question, it seems to me, but that the city should
put this natural reservoir it it furnish the
amount of water claimed for it but that must be
| tablished first by satisfactory evidence.
There has been added lately to the Fire Depart
ment Il Hook and Ladder Company. This is ali
efficient company, and will be an important addition
to the working force and efficiency of the Fire De
partment.
HIGHWAYS.
| The highways, bridges and sidewalks within the
| city limits need constant and attention. The
| amount in cash and labor, expended upon them the
last two years. has been considerably less than here
tofore They are, however represented to be IN good
| average condition. | think the system adopted OF
locazing the highway tax has worked well. But
the great need is good and efficient highway survey
| oTs They should not only know hoao to build and
repair roads but they should be prompt and attcn-
| tive to their duties. They are clothed with import
ant powers and have great responsibilities. The CITY
receive great benefit receive great loss accord.
ing as they shall discharge their duties. trust you
WILL IN the selection OF such surveyors be influenced
| only by considerations OF the public good, without
| bias from personal claim or preiudces.
| 1t would seem as though experience, derived from
many years of experiments should be able
| 10 determine the correct methods Of constructing
and repairing highways; nevertheless there is uni
complaint is continually made as to the way survey
ors are doing their work If it possible to put
surveyors under some competent practical man, and
| compel them to follow his directions and plans |
| should be glad to see it done. When complaint is
made to me in such cases have no right or power
to intervene, neither can assume t o have better
| knowledge or Judgment than the surveyor specially
elected for that work. If there such supervision
think better system of drainage and sewerage
would be adopted to the great relief of our streets
| and highways.
| POLICE.
There have been fewer breaches OF the peace, or
disturbances of the good order of the city during
past year than usual. The police have not been
cslled upon to intervene very often to the extent
arrests, and consequent proceedings in the Police
Court, but yet they have done good deal of quiet
work which has often put stop to open lawless pro
ceedings and Prevention is better than cure" But
/ wish more had been done. 1t is OF great import
ance that the habits for med through many years OF
indulgence, OF frequentng corners of streets crowd
ing sidewalks, and INDUCING in scurrious language
| and unseemly conduct, should be done away stamp
ed out; and the City Marshal sh ould be melted and
encouraged by the citizens generally to persistent
and constant endeavor to accomplish such result
That rum is almost always at the bottom of these
disturbances is very evident No complaint has been
made the past year to the municipal officers NJ VIC
ation of the Prohibitory Law in selling Intoxicating
drinks yet it is plainly apparent that the law is VIC
lated daily and hourly. Public opinion in this city
not up to the point of requiring an enforcement up
the part of the city, at the cost that would be in
| vOlyed, of the strict provisions of the law but il