Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-19


Wad II s. Hobbs
" 2-Lcmuel Il. Fowler.
" 3-E. ii. Walker.
" A ID. Townsend
" 5-Ihomas Michel.
" 6--Harvey Chisam.
&" -. S. Sihlcy.
The oath Of office was administered by Capt.
blanchard, after which Alderman Chisam and
Hobbs were appointed u committee to wait upon
the Mayor elect and ASK his attendance for the
purpose Of taking the oath necessary to qualify
hum TO enter upon the discharge of bis official
duties. Alderman Oh sam subsequently reported
thai the committee had attended to the duty
signed them, announced the prese nee of the Nav.
OF elect, Hon. Charles Z. Nash, who thereupou
took upon hlmse f the oath of office, before
{ apt. H. +. Blanchard and in the presence of the
Board.
Prayer offered nv Rev. II. w. Tilden. The
MAY or then proceeded to deliver his
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Board Of aldermen
Our fellow-citizens have selected Us to admins
ter the government of the city for the ensuing
municipal year. They nave honored bv placing
in our care "a trust OF great magnitude. Ia enter
lug upon our duties may we fully comprehend the
responsibility winch l. upon us. The manner in
which We discharge our trust is liable to be far
reaching in its results for good for evil to our
city. Therefore, supphCating wisdom and guild
snce OF our Heavenly Father and a continuance
of Hi. iavors to this Community, let each and all
Al luis nf>t solve that the
oaths of office which We have taken shall be no
empty form of idle words, but that each in his
sphere will perform his work IN accordance with
the dictates ot his conscience and best Judgment.
| desue to say that am especially plea sed to meet
al tins Boart, gentlemen, who, without exception,
are peculiarly qualified, either by Familiarity with
municipal atfais, or 10y large business experience,
by hoth, u render intelligent and valuable ser
wee TO the city, aud who, as l know from their
character and standing IN the community, will
u q Vt n Rta a opiv
er and patriotic motive to do what j. right and
what is best for The city which they are chosen to
cannot refrain from taking his opportunity TO
express 10 my fellow citizens nv he artfelt &C.
acknowledgements for the kind confederation which
they have shown me, by calling me a tn ird time to
the honorable place OF chief executive officer of
the city 1t wa. NV desire to bid farewell TO all
municipal business at the close of the last year |
had hoped that six years Of continuous service in
the City Council would entte me to retire unchal.
lenged. profoundly appreciate the friendlness
which has impres >ed me into the service agsin.
An unusual amount of labor and responsibility
VIII devoye upon this Board the present wear
The associste branch of the City Council which
hitherto since the organization OF the city twenty
eight years ago, has been coordinate with the
Board OF Aldermen, was abolished by the last leg
Islaiure, Ia compliance with a petition of citizens
throwing upon the Mayor and Aldermen all the
labor formerly petoi med by re two boards
Whether tins radical change IN our mum ipal sys
TEN WAS eNpedleut or otherwise time and eXpe-
rience will determine. The Board of ldermeu
will beuceolth be the City Council with no check
uJoD it, actions by any other body. such he ing
the new condition OF things lnto which thu. Board
l. to day lnaugurated, it hehooves to deber ate
fully upon all subjects which may come before u.s.
and TO be doubly careful in every final action.
1t Is proper that | should at thus time present to
you As briefly As possible, an account of the ad-
ninistrs OF OF the several department. during the
year which has just ended. We have been favored
city 10 many ways-as well in havlng efficient
and faithful officers in all the departments as in
an unusual exemption from fires and foods and
other caamtIes, which inevitably augment
pensts and increase the Taxpayers burden. Our
HIGHWAYS
Have been diligently superntended bv the proper
officers and are generally in good condition. Its
no easy task TO keep up to that high point of ex.
cellence which is required of US by the public
our large number of highways aud sidewalks
which in mileage equal more than the distance
between this CITY and the city of Boston. Several
needed, extensive permanent improve men ts were
made upon the highways last year; the one at
WorIomonogus pond, which consisted IN raising
the road from two to three feet above the former
grade for nearly half mile was necessity, as
the water of the pond Annually submerged the
road for weeks and ofteItmes for months render
ing travel not Only dangerous, but sometimes i'm
possible. There was also similar valuable
Improvement made on the Thomaston road wher
it crosses the outlet of Greeley pond near the Sol
ders Home. The expense of this improvement
was generously shared bv GenerslJil q, to whom
MANY thanks from he city are due. The widen
ing of Water ST., e. 10 front OF Central Block and
Aliens new building, a large number OF granite
drains and culveits and several important side
walks, were among the work Of the year. The
total highwty expense WAS 81 ,427 81 in the East
Dstrc', and Sc $50 81 III the Western ID strict
The expenditures tor p, rmaneut improvements
were S3,277 IS. which amount was about equally
divided between the Two districts. Allow me TO
that greatcsutlon should ALWAYS be used when
ordering the Street Commissioners to perform
work. Sometimes the City Council has issued Or
der5 to the Commission to eXpend money
after the highway appropriation has been exhaus.
ted. This is entirely wrong faithful commit,
sioner desires to obey orders; but il is not fol- him
to furnish money, aud long as he is directed to
cxpend it, and he does so economically he should
not be blamed II his appropriation finally becomes
overdfswn and the treasury low. he is OBJ iged
by law to keep the highways "safe and conyeu-
lent fer travellers" Beyond this his ex pc nditures
should be only by your authority, and that au-
thority should be granted only when there are
really unexpended funds.
The SCHOOLS
The report Of the Supervisor will show that our
schools are in their usual good condition. HIS
accommodations and suggestions deserve your
careful attention. Oar Common Schools should
be our pride, and to foster and improve them is
our highest duty as agents of the city. The pei =
centage of absenteesm suggests the question
whether even better practical results from our
large school expenditures, might not be expected
bv the firm and uniform enforcement OF the truan-
cy law. The sum of 1913, 7l3 rs was paid on the
schools account in our city last year. of which
SIS 922 81 was in the Village District and 81 100
81 vided amons the twen,y-hree suburban
districts.
POLICE AND WATCH.
This is an important department. Upon its
conduct largely depends the order of The city, and
the safety of persons and property. The fact that
hitherto there has always been plenty of work for
IL to do, shows that its efficiency shou Id not be
impaired. There were two hundred aud seventy
four arrests last year in nearly every instance the
offe ndeT was convicted.
The City Marshal reports that Of these arrests
ninety mine were for utoxicsIion and e9hty-two
were prosecutions for the uni awful keeping and
sale of Intoxicating liquors. These facts i'm
pressive; they show that a large proportion of the
cost of the deparment-S2, 95l.13, resulted direct.
" from the foarul habit OF lntempeiance, and the
Illicit sale Of liquors. 1t is the solemn duty of
this Board to select a Chief of Police VINO will rig
idly enforce the laws he finds them making no
ception of the against the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors. And let me add that he sincerely
proposes to cripple the miserable sffc, it is quite
important that he follow hi. cases III. the devil