Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-25
Doings of.he Ci,y Council.

A special meeting of the city council, called by
the Mayor, was held Tuesday evening, May 3D.
Alderman Libby from the committee on Fire
Department. on petition, reported an order which
was passed, authorizing the purchase of gong for
the Pacific Engine, in place of the one broken at
the steam mill fire last October.
An ordinance fixing the compensation of the
CITY Treasurer and Collector at one and one
fourth per cent on all sums collected by him, was
passed to be enrolled.
The following communication was received and
read in both branches:
CITY OF AUGUSTA,
MAYORS OFFICE,
May %. 1876
10 tie Common Council and Board Of A(dt1n'en'
At the meeting of the City CouLch held May
10Th, it was ordered that the Mayor and commit
tee on Fire Department be directed to sell the
old Engine House on Bridge ST., reserving the
right to occupy it six months" As am not con-
WINGED that it would be good policy for the city 10
sell the engine house referred to, unless the oi'y
Copncil shall have first made provisions for new
one. ON some accepted lot, hereby respectfully
decline to act or serve further on said committee
Of sale.
In this connection, acting under that provision
Of the civ chatter which directs the Mayor 10
communicate from time to time to the City Coun-
81, sncb information and recommendations as tie
business and interests of the city may IN ms opih,
ion NAV require, l will make few statements ana
suggestions for your consideration
ri The house above mentioned was bullt up-
an the site which it now occupies "A years
oro and during that time has served Ia tolera-
HE manner the purposes OF the hrc department
The spot on which the building rests was not well
selected-it being steep, wei oaak,aSet perras
nent structures are frequently erected on worse
spots and the location in reference to the proper
~ eSposed to fire throughout the city, IS excellent,
and can hardly be improved. The CHIEF delect IN
the building at the present tune, Is, as uiG Ter
stand itnot that the superstructure Is TO any I'M
nortant degree impaired but that the foundation
Stones have in some places been forced from The
Milling on which they originally rested' py inc aG
lion of the frost on the water when mas oeeh al,
ln,yad to flow down the bank, under the house ana
ar"nnd the foundation. Had the building rested
~ a Granite LEDGE the same amount OF water WIN
ths frosts of twenty four (24 winters, would have
rendered it equally unstable sewer Oh cpn lH
cradle size emptes directly unaer .nc ornuiNE.
Aaain. the WEARING OF logs under the platform IN
front of the house, is pushing against the south
wall with the power of several elephants thus
diligently aiding the water and horsepower III TIC
work of pushing the house down mn.
ID II the city sells the building as directed py
the order of Nav 10th, and thus converts 1t INTO
nriyate property, the purchaser VIII haroiy DC eN-
ppected to submit to the hardship Of having pub
lie continue to flow ,S Sno o,r e, o upon
street wharfng to crowd his property down hill 70
injury yin be 0ssSs upon Of eoa hs ss to
make an eonn vail along the street limit, if
the property eTt should be sold. If the building is
sold, the excellent brick house IN which the
steamer Cushnoc is kept, near by Will necessarily
be abandoned and sold. also. ,,.. n.;,ho,t
3d. If the city thus sells the building MMhG ~;
making sure provisions for new one, 1t VIII m
cur great liability to be forced into the NECESSITY NY
ofhiring Of private parties some hpil9is w. and
nse of the department, less eigibly located anu
less . convenient and desirable than the old one
see no economy nor other reason for seiling inc
old building until new one has been hhai'y o'-
termined upon. a o.hors
4th. Practical men, workers in stone and others
have freely expressed their opinion that an IN
movable granite foundation can be placed uauea
the engine house the present lot, at an @
much less than that for which a well located iol
could be purchased. The following are prices