Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-17

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district has amounted to $3,9O5.27; new
streets to 500, and snow bills to $7G7.58,
making the total expenditures, in the eastern
district, for improvements, repairs, new
streets and snow bills $7,174.7l.
Thus it will be seen that the aggregate ex-
pense for repair and improvement of high
ways, in both districts, has been SlS,943.3l,
and for snow bills 81, Ss0.4G. Large sums,
truly yet the ordinary repairs have not been
larger than usual, and the snow bills much
less than the previous year, and not over the
usual amount. 1t will readily be perceived,
that the great increase in the expenditures on
highways this year, comes from the large
amount of unusual work which the City Coun
ell felt impelled to order This much NAV
be said in justice to the Street Commits
sioners, who should not be held responsible
for the amount of work directed by competent
authority. The commissioner for the eastern
district has discharged his duty with prompt
itude and faithfulness, and so far as my OBJ
servaton goes, with good Judgment and
| apparent economy.
In the western district the commissioner
has he'd more difficult task, with larger out
lay, on heavy jobs, and he fell into some
errors of judgment, which more experience
would have avoided; his faithfulness and in
tegrity have not been questioned. A review
| OF his work may commend him to your candid
| and favorable Judgment. Both officers have
the merit of promptly rendering an account
| of their expenditures and closing the affairs
OF their department.
| Our public schools continue to maintain
| their high reputation, and are furnishing
their full measure of usefulness. In keep
| ing pace with the progressive educational
efforts of the day we shall best subserve the
! cause Of popular education in our city. Let
us not be tardy in adopting any approved
measure of progress which may promote
| their usefulness.
| The poor at the almshouse have been kind
ly cared for by the faithful superintendent,
and at about the usual outlay in connection
with the income Of the farm. The season has
been one of partial depression in enterprises
requiring labor; yet, under the good man
agement of the overseers, the general expense
of supporting the poor has not been increased
| beyond the usual amount required.
| AS the orchard on the farm is diminishing
| in production from age and decay, would
| recommend a more rapid enlargement of the
new one, which has been started in more
| favorable location.
The effective work, at the fortunately few
| fires, to which the Fire Department. was called
during the season, showed that in its members
it probably was never more efficient than at
present. The material of the department is
in effective condition; the steamer and
machines have been thoroughly overhauled,
repaired and renovated and new hose provid-
ed hut deficiency yet exists in the water
| supply; two hydrants of large delivery have
been purchased, and will be placed on the line
OF the Augusta water company's pipe, on
State street, as soon as the condition of the
ground will permit; one will be placed a: the
crossing of Winthrop, and the other of Green
street. These proving successful, other n.y.
drants will probably be placed on the same
street, and on Water street. l would recon-
mend the construction of reservoirs at needed
points which may not be reached by the water
company's pipes.
The last City Council, near the close of
the municipal year, authorized the purchase
of lots of land, one on either side of the river,
for engine houses The purchase failed;
and. although there is no pressing necessity
for the immediate erection of additional en-
CINE houses, yet il has been thought desira-
BILE to secure suitable and adyantageously To-
Gated lots while they can be obtained at rea-
sonable prices, with this view the subject is
presented for your consideration. The ordi
nance recently passed regulating the keeping
of kerosene and other intlamable and danger
Gus oils, has attracted the attention and elicit
ed the approval of persons in other places,
who have made insurance their study. The
ordinance obviously requires amendment, in
the first section, to accomplish all that may
be desired by the enactment. would recon-
mend that suitable regulations be made for
the safe keeping of gun powder, and for the
inspection of buildings endangered by fire
from defective or insecure chimneys or heat
ing apparatus.
The police department has been managed
with the usual ability displayed by the chief
officer; with a small number Of active and
1,a,.a hoo
kept quiet, and offenders promptly arrested,
and the evil inclined deferred from the com
mission of crime. The ingenuity and per-
severance OF keepers of tipping shops, in
violating the law in spite of the utmost vigi-
lance OF the police, is highly detrimental to
the best interests of the city, entcng as they
do young men to excuses injurious to their
health and prejudical to their character and
usefulness. The "moral suasion" which is
sometimes so effective in winning to the paths
of temperance and sobriety is not always
proof against the temptation and entcement
of the tipping shop. Stringent laws may
be useful and necessary to protect the weak
minded against the evils which beset them
from this source. The difficulty in enforcing
law, should not deter those officers OF the law,
whose special duty it is, from being vigilant
in its execution. just so long, however, as
any considerable portion of the public shall
think, from the stringency of law, that the
seller is oppressed in his business, just SO
long will he fad means to continue it and
sympa,hizers who will justify it. Much of the
evils of intemperance, one would think,
might be mitigated if special effort should be
made against those who sell to persons drink
ing to excess, rather than by a general but
difluse fusilade all around. Perhaps the
police, already effective, may be more so by
concentrated effort in the special line indicat-
ed.
The paving and draining of Water street is
of so much importance that it may we'll claim
your early attention. The constant and in
creasing traffic over this street requires
street bed of substantial granite to keep 1t in
form and facilitate cleanliness and drainage,
and to remove that unsightliness which gives
the unfavorable impression of dilapidation
and decay. The substantial buildings on
either side Of the street from the northerly
end of Bridge block to near Oak street, fur
nish the necessary foundation and abutments
for sidewalk and curb stone to sustain the
arching pavements. In connection with the
pavement a section of sewerage to underlie it
should be constructed in accordance with the
general plan for sewerage delineating the sur