Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-24
Step by step-An Enterprising Business
Man.

Man.
The life of Mr.. Joel Gray, whose decease
was announced in yesterdays paper, should
be an encouragement to every young man who
begins at the very lowest round of the ladder,
and works his way up into the world, step
by step. His life was quite brief, but it was a
busy one. He was born in Emblem, Somer-
set county, Maine, in 1880, and went to Bos-
ton ga poor boy" when about twenty years
of age. His first occupation there was that
of hostler at the City Hotel, and where, sub
sequenty. he became foreman of the stable.
From time to time, as his means would
warrant, he purchased coaches and hacks,
which he ran with profit to and from the
Eastern depot. Soon afterwards he pur-
chased half interest in the City Hotel,
in company with Mr. Consnt, and about
the year 1858 become sole owner of the
property. Not long afterwards he sold
an interest in the house to Mr.. Bell,
with whom he was associated until his death.
With Messrs. Bell and Bailey he was an asso-
ciate proprietor of Wildes Hotel and at the
time of his death was owner and proprietor of
the New England House on Blackstone street,
| which he bought last February when the city
commenced The demolition of the City Hotel
for street improvements. Viewed from bus
mess standpoint, his life has been eminently
successful, for in addition to the accumulation
| of the property before me tioned, he secured
| a farm of 800 acres in his native town;
| and more, he was prime mover in the build.
| ing of the Somerset Railroad, in which
he was director and large owner, and of
which he was president until ill health con-
PEELED his resignation. In 1864 or 'G5 he rep
resented Ward 4 in the Common Council of
Boston, but declined further service in that
body at subsequent elections.
The Auditor, Treasurer and City Council.
Mr.. EDITOR If you will publish few
words concerning the City Auditor and the
| Collector and Treasurer, it will be, l think,
| in the interest of truth and justice.
| Auditor Lane, in a communication to the
city council last Saturday, said
II fird it exceedingly difficult, if not i'm
possible, to arrive at a reliable, or even salts
! factory conclusion in relation to the receipts,
disbursements, cash in the treasury or bal
ance Of uncollected taxes. l ask to be re-
lieved," etc.
| What was the duty of the city council rela-
tive to such communication Pay the Au-
ditor his salary and let him go? The city
council did not think so; they thought if the
Auditor considered himself incompetent for
his position, he should say SO. and be dis
missed for incompetency, rather than for the
alleged incompetency of some other officer
so they refused to "relieve' him, but instruct
him to do what he ought to have done month
earlier.
1t being understood from Mr.. Lanes own
lips that the discrepancy between his figures
and Mr.. Littles was about t,co thousand dol
lars in .faror of the city, the city council
did not consider it imprudent to re-elect Mr..
Little, although Auditor Lane himself was
a candidate, and in the character of CORE.
spondent had previously apprised the public,
in sensational telegram, of dreadful dis
crepancy in the books of his rival.
| As soon as Mr.. Little was reelected, and