Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-04-08

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Mayor Grants Inaugural Address.
Geutlrmen II tho CITY Council
We are now about entering upon our
official dutie.. and custom requires me To
Law before YOU the work which will be
necessary for you TO act upon during the
coming year. The present financial con
dition Of our city is subject for you to
consider. aud should you find the public
interest requires liberal appropriations
viii cooperate with You in applying II
with prudence Ia the desired end. or.
should YOU. amer careful examination.
find il necessary to curtail expenditures.
IN order to meet liabilities. il not TO the
extent which shall cause suffering in any
Of the branches OF our government. 1t
shall have my support am pleased Ia
report no waste IN the past. or prospec-
tive large expenditures required in the
future. while all the different departments
II our city demand liberal outlay In
Keep them in complete order. there J. no
one which requires eNtrsvacsnt appro-
priations. which may not be made safe ~
temporary repairs. lou Will decide
whether 1t j the proper time To make
permanent or temporary repairs on all
public works. and apply our means to-
wards the payment of our debts.
herewith present statement cf our
Ciiv treasurer ~ 10 the financial coudi-
ton of our city ~ the close of the year.
ending March 9Th. ai.i which has been
properly endorsed by the finance commit
tee OF the past city council. (Thi> state
mcnt has been heretofore published
The whole number oi warrants drawn
hv me the past wear, j. 40. amounting To
S15.0l6 p.
The policy heretofore practi~r1 81 al
lowing the expenditures to exceed IN" az
populations from year 10 year. will in
me ohlige Us 10 resort 10 burlen,omc
-axation. or an increased funded debt.
aud which we should avoid If possible
sinking fund, sufficient 10 absorb our
floating debt should be created. with a
view 10 accomplish this end | would
recommend appropnating two thousand
dollars the present year for paying city
debts.
SCHOOLS.
Oar schools have. through the past
year been literally supplied with money
amounting in the aggregate To nearly
eleven thousand dollars aud which you
will find by the report Of your school com
mittee, now on file. has been the means Of
/ promoting much good. marked ina
/ proyement will be observed in nearly all
cur numerous school districts. aud in
some. prospective new buildings Tor edu-
I oa'iDnal purposes are talked OF. which
VIII add. when completed. an appearance
OF thrifl and progress. | would advise
I The continuance of the public bounty for
educational purposes IN all its branches.
/ Oar scholars are yearly sent abroad for
want OF good schools al home and a large
/ sum ofmoncy expended in this way for
I want of a more perfect system at home.
We should foster our schools and allow
I none to excel Us in this respect, for on
. the Intelligence OF the people rests our
prosperity, or downfall a. a nation. You
will lind ia the extended report OF oar
I experimenting School Committee. sug-
I gestiOus aud improvements recommended
/ which il would be well 10 examine before
making your appropriations for schoo!
purposes. Netting adds more 10 the
beauty and orderly appearance OF a city or
town. titan the we'll arranged aud tine APP
pcarance OF their public Institutions for
educational purposes.
STREETS.
Our streets are not in condition at
present, fur u To judge the amount pece,-
>ary 10 place them 10 repairs for Spring
travel IL i 4 source al regret. that We
should be- burdencd with the length and
unfinished condition OF our streets. 10 no
case has a Commissioner of our streets,
since we have been city. given universal
satisfaction. The reason j. plain To- be
seen by the practical road maker. The
road bed i inperiectly made IN almost
every instance. and in wet weather, poor
! ly drained. hence the wheels ofour heavy
teams sink Ia the hub IA mud. The smal.
sum annually expended j. hardly sufl-
Client TO place two miles Of our principally
Travelled streets 10 perfect order We
Shall continue TO have complaints. and
commissioners hated and found fault with
while We deal out TO them appropriations
hardly sufficient TO patch up and smooth
over the worst holes. leaving miles Of
,uuhen AMI depressed roads 10 carry of
the flow OF every gulch and brook which
I prefers 10 seek this channel in preference
to the higher surroundings. The only
way to improve i TO make liberal appro-
prlation> with imperative orders to leave
no road. however remote, without it, pro-
portion OF the money expended on it, re-
pairs. Like the school fund. this money
should be widespread and carefully di>-
trbuted through the whole city limits.
Z \ Ou Will find a good and well arranged re-
port from the Street Commissioner. now
on die. with the amount expended on tn.
several streets, and To whom paid. We
plod along year after year under the same
I old customs. aud find We have made no
progress. i there no way TO avoid this :
II not. we must resort TO Rail Roads in or
der 10 carry of the bulk OF transportation
which Is now carted on heavy teams. nut
( ting and spelling the work of DAYS in 4
SINGLE passage from point 10 point Dif-
erent methods aud materials suggest them
( selves 10 our notice. as best adaWed for
/ road making. among which are stone.
/ gravel, plank. aud wood Of all kind
Opinions differ widely as TO the best met n
( Cd and material for durability aud ecouo-
my. proper system of drainage should
/ be first applied aud then we have every
| reason TO believe good roads would be the
result al a small amount of outlay.
1 SIDEWALKS.
Our sidewalks are much out OF repair.
OWING 10 the small amount appropriated
the past year. Ny opinion is. some differ
rnt method al construction should be
adopted We have miles OF decayed and
! decaying sidewalks. and are each wear ex-
tending them through the city, blocking
the cutters and bitches over which they
are usually constructed.
| would recommend discussing with
! plank aud substituting gravel. concrete,
and tagging, where il can be had. and
remove the walks away from the bitches.
wherever IL is possible 10 do so. Our
st:eet bounds were well defined the past
year and permsnent monuments placed
wherever they could be at the street cor
ners, which has resulted in improvements
to our streets, with prospective good the
coming season. Our sidewalks should be
constructed, as far as the limits OF the
streets will permit, from the roadway.
thus giving width and beauty to its an
pearance. Nothing adds more to the good
appearance of city than q wide and well
shaded street. By constructing wide and
good sidewalks, it will induce those who
own the adjoining lands to set out shade
trees and improve their grounds, adding
to their beauty and taxable value. double
the cost of constructing the walk. In