Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-21
cised in preventing any increase whatever Of the
debt or liabilities of the city.
HIGHwAYs AND SIDEWALKS

HIGHWAYS AND ClDEVaLhS'
The highways and sidewalks are always source
of concern and anxiety to the city government
Those in our CITY are exceptionally expensive ano
difficult to keep in perfect condition. nope anu
trust the street commissioners whom you are 10
entrust with their care, will be competent, ana ac-
ceptable to the people. Their ONCE nnder o an
present system, i, extremely hard to fill. THINK
the time must come when the city will depart from
the present practice, and employ street engineer
for the scientific supervision OF that department.
The expenditures on the streets, highways ana
sidewalks last year were ShoVo.'9 anu "el :
about eoually divided between the Eastern ana
Western districts. The snow bills have amounted
to s. 229 81, seven hundred dollars Of which went
TO paw the snow expenses of preceding year.
Poor DEPARTMENT.
The unusually depressed condition Of business
the past year has multiplied to an extent unprece-
denied in our city the calls for municipal aid to
persons more or less destitute of food and CLOTH
ing. The expenditures in that department have
been $6,690.60. This is an unusual sum, yet
presume it has been disbursed with wise discrimi-
nation by the overscers. Sixty-two Iahiaies'
comprising $40 persons outside OF the aimsnouse,;
have been the recipients OF aiu 10 tie
S.. S47 49, The heads of most OF these iamli,es
can in ordinary times earn enough 10 DC ihuc-
pendent of charity; yet for months pas. .h.'t ely
has beehive can get no WORK anu mus. nov
hclpw Probably there are comparatively many
Of the male benefcaries of the city who couid at
the streets, provided the overseers haa tue author
itv to require of the street commissioners sucn
employ ment This suggestion Is maze ior your
consideration, and if practicable, nope the pan,
which is heartily endorsed by the overseers, Will
he carried into effect. Also the teams connected
with the City Farm, should be similarly employed
when not engaged in necessary labor ON the iarin'
The city was called to mourn early IN the year
the sudden death of Mr.. A. w: Hall, VINO Tor
several wears had been the valuable superlntend-
emit OF the CITY Farm. His place has since been
filled bv Mrs. Hall and Mr. G. X. Hall, her son,
whose Joint management has been very sans
factory to the overseers.
OUR CITY SCHOOLS.
The sum of Sl0,252.l9, comprising the allow
snces BY the State, was appoitoned 10 the several
school districts last year for the maintenance Vi
our citv schools Ii IS sincerely to be hoped that
the money has been judiciously laid out; beiieve
it has been. The number of scholars registered
was 2269, of whom | 1856 were in the village DIS
trict, which is in charge of board oil directors.
The cost of schooling in the twenty one ds'icIs
which are under the direct supervision OF the ciy'
was about SAL per scholar.
The Supervisor who was elected last year IN
place of the former board OF experimenting
school Committee, has devoted great deal OF
time and attention to his important charge Ills
report will be laid before YOU IN due time.
Surprising as it may seem, the average attend,
ance at our public city schools Is only ABOUT ~
per cent of the school census enumeration.
would be glad to see the law for compulsory at
tendance fully enforced IN our CITY, 1neIe IS Nv
reason or excuse for illiteracy among the rising
generation, when the school house stanas 80 in-
willingly open to every chfd.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The expenses of the Police department during
the last wear amounted TO 81 ,909.2l that the de-
partment has been well Administrators attes'co ny
the good order which has uniformly existed g,
The report of the City Marshal shows as usuai
,l,o fact hat the dutIes OF his depart
meut are made necessary largely by the existence
of dram shops which cater to the vltlated appe-
ttes of unfortunate persons Inc prosecutors
for the year number 213, one hundred and twenty
of which were for drunkenness, my lot ,,luo'
selling and forty four for assault and battery,
probably arising mainly from the use oil strong
drink.
CITY LAW SUITS.
The City Solicitor reports eighteen actions now
pending in the Supreme Judicial Court IN winch
the city of Augusta party VI these cases seven
were entered in court the past year. five of which
are suts to recover for injuries from alleged de-
iects in sidewalks and streets.
In view of the remarkable ease with which
suit may be brought against the city whenever
person on the street makes a ms-step, careless or
otherwise, and receives personal injuries, wouio
repeat the recommendation Of the solicitor that
the City Council make some provision for the m
ycstigaiion of accidents at the time they occur, IN
order that the city may not be liable TO De ae-
tauiteu OF Its rights Wnen tte causes aiS Viva
The FIRE DEPARTMENT.
An efficient fire department is of very great
Importance to our property holders. a vast
amount of property is constantly in jeopardy from
fire by accident, lightning or the lncendiary iae
torch of the latter has caused three alarms the
past year, one of which resulted in the destruction
Of dwelling house in the night time
A startling alarm is liable to occur at any hour
of the day or night; and whatever the weather,
the distance the danger, our resolute and faltn
full fremen are expected to respond to the cry ana
rush to the rescue. To provide every possiple
facility for the extinguishment OF hres Is the DUTY
of the CITY Council 1t is for you, gentlemen, to
TO make sure that all of the apparatus of the de-
partment shall be of the most suitable and effect
i've kind, and that the, machines, the hose, the
ladders and the carriages are constantly in good
repair. -,
The report of the Chief Engineer will give you
a complete account of the fire service, and con
tains a few very important recommendations. lie
believes that it would be wise for the city to ex-
change the two hand machines for new steam
fire engine, and place the engine in the house on
the east side of the river. This would permit q
reduction of the department force from eighty
three men to forty, and effect saving IN tue sal
aries and expenses of at least 81 900 annually.
In my opinion it would be best to retain Tor the
present one of the superseded hand machines, and
locate it on Cushnoc Heights, where there Is
large amount of property now inadequately pro-
tected. If the purchase of new steamer seems
to YOU to be necessary for the required efficiency
of the service, would suggest that it may be we'll
10 inquire if some skiltul machinist in our own
city cannot build it much more economically and
quite as thoroughly any firm beyond the State.
In this way the purchasing money can be kept
at home, and give occupation to competent citl-
Zens in midst.
The Chief Engineer recommends the purchase
of hook and ladder carriage, and intlmates that
it would be appropriate to send the old one, on
account Of is age, to the Centennial Exhibition.
lie represents that some immediate action must be
taken in relation to the Bridge street engine house
in order that it may continue to be safe for occu,
pancy. He hopes that action will be taken toward
the erection of new and adequate building.
These, gentlemen, are all matters of grave i'm
portance, bearing as they do upon the subject OF
taxation or further municipal Indebtedness.
leave them to your consideration, convinced that
YOUR action will be cautious and intelligent, and
such as will render the fire service sufficiently
effective and at the same time do no violence to
the wishes of the tax payers. The net expendi-
lures in the department last year were "a, 443 w.
CITY PHYSICIAN.
The City Physician presents, believe for the
first time in the history of the city, report OF
the years work in his department. giving the
number of his official professional visits, mortu-
airy list of city benefciaries, and other facts of
terest connected with his office. The example
nc Oh ovt