The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-03-12

seers have no more power, without coming to
the City Council for authority. to erect a
building or make repairs beyond the sum
prescribed in the ordinances, on city prop
erty, than the school committee have to erect
and repair school-houses. My attention was
called to this matter by observing in the
overseers' report this year an item Of $1,662.
IS paid for repairs on the almshouse and
fences, and also, by the fact which has come
to my knowledge that barn was built last
year on the farm costing nearly $4,000, in
both cases the money being taken out of the
appropriation "for the support of the poor"
and without authority from the CITY Council.
This, think, was an irregularity, although
undoubtedly none was meant. In the future
more strictness should be observed in such
matters.
l would also observe, that acting in a
fduciary capacity as the overseers do. it
would best comport with the fitness of things.
with public sentiment, and 1 may add, with
the law, that they should not purchase sup.
plies of their own members. 1t is hardly
consistent to be seller and purchaser at the
same time. The purchases from time to
time, of the principal articles, at least, should
be in open market by advertised proposals.
Another matter connected with this de-
partment is worthy of mention. The poor
AoAai, oo ooAoo, oWuSO ny tuo CITY, CONSISTS VI
above eighty-four acres of land, about one
half, wherein the buildings are, on the north
erly side of Portland street, and the balance
composed of outlying lands on the southerly
side of Congress street, and the whole not
really to be considered in the suburbs of the
| city, since the village of Libby's Corners
stretches some distance beyond. Population
| is tending in that direction, and it is evident
| that this large amount of real estate is be-
| coming too valuable to be much longer used
| for farming purposes. The interest on it's
value, together with the taxes which would
accrue to the city, if it were cut up into
streets and building lots and brought into
| the market to be improved by private parties
would go very far toward paying the whole
expenses of the department. Not only this
contingency, but also that of the ultimate re-
moval of the almshcuse itself to some less
valuable site. should be kept in view in max
| ing expenditures both upon the land and
buildings.
I have occupied SO much time in the con-
sideration of the important matters pertaining
to the foregoing departments, that I must
refer only briefly to the others.
| / call attention to the reports of the harbor
master, city physician, and city solicitor for
| information concerning the affairs in charge
of these officers respectively. The report Of
the CITY Sohcltor, Respectfully Will snow that the
legal affairs of the city have been conducted
very efficiently, and with more than ordinary
success.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The personal and mechanical efficiency Of
this department continues. Members have
been found at their posts ready for duty, gen.
tlemanly in bearing and behavior, and thei,
engine-h houses and apparatus kept in good
| order, To their eff ciency in checking fires
at the outset, may be attributed in very con-
siderable degree our exemption from large
fires the past year. The smallness of the loss
has been most remarkable.
| Whole number of fires in the city from
March l. 1877, to March l, 1878, g.