Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-26

to meet routine expenses until the taxes are
assessed and some of them paid into the
treasury.
ORR SCHOOLS
Demand our careful attention. Weareassesscd
literally for their support, and We pay the tax
cheerfnlly. II should be our anxiety to know
that the money is always judicousy dis
burscd and that the best possible results are OBJ
tanned Let Us inquire if there i not too much
illiteracy among the children and youth who
haunt our public streets during'school hours.
While the community owes an education to
every child and tenders it freely in our public
schools. ought not every youth to accept the
boon. even through the coercion. if necessary,
of the ruancy law The reports of the two
Supervisors who have successfully mad charge
of the schools during the year, will contain
thoughtful suggestions which should be heed
ed. The amount paid on account of schools
has been So. .Oi. of which Sl6.5S4. Is was
in the Village District and S:.0lO.js in the
twenty-thrce suburban districts.
TuE IIIGIiwAYs
our highways have always constituted "a
difficult and costly Department. ON account OF
the mileage. the many Hills and the snsccpti-
bility of the soil to he quilted by water But
they have been well cared for the past wear
without any extraordinary expenditures. In
connection with them, there have been many
permanent Improvements, such rs granite
culytrts concrete sidewalks. and turnpking
with gravel. Unusual rains contributed more
than common to the repair account The
amount of warrants for highways and permi-
ncnt improvements in the Western district wa
still a: in the Eastern district S33a4 T.
l.,u INF far IN ~
district was Sts2 0O in the Eastern district
SOS. 80. \ new highway was built last sum
mcr between the Bangor and Church HUI
roads. at cost of S2s9; another was laid
out and built from point in Britt's Gully.
Southcastcrly, at Il cost of $40.
THr PoLICr AND PATROL.
The keeping of good order in the city and
the protecting of p, rsons and property from
the wanton assaults of the lawlr>s. devolvts
principally upon the Chief of Police: and the
manner in which his department i, conducted
has close connection with the moral as
with the ply steal protection OF the communi-
". Crime and disorder of all kinds should
he rcprcsscd and offenders punished The
vice of ntcmpVrance, so lamentahle in its re-
suits. prevails most where temptations to the
di>ca,cd appcttcs are the most common. OF
the three hundred and si<tv-nihe arrests
made bv the police last wear. two-thir,ls
were for intoxication and misdcetls re-
sulting directly or indirectly from the un-
lawful sale of intoNicants. This indicates
that if the traffic or the drinking could be sup
pressed there would be but little left for the
police to do The popular voice has recent
" assigned To the police the task of sup
pressing it. which | am pleased To say. it is
expected they will accomplish. The amount
q 1
year was S25l0.4o.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
This department was never before >owcll or
gained and equipped. In rc>ponscto a petition
of citizens another steam fire engine was pur-
chased last June the two hand engine, were
discarded. and the companies disbandcd.
Three hose companies were tormcd--,wo in
connection with the steamers and one As
relief company. with headquarters in the Al
lantiC Hall. BY this reorganization We not
only have a more ctficen, department. but AT
least one thousand dollars annually will be
saved in the routine expenses by the reduction
in the number of men on the pay rolls
There have been added to the department the
past year besides the new steamer, one thou
sand feet of new hose, a reservoir of the ca;
pacity of three hundred hogsheads on Crosby
street. and heavier and harder horse in
exchange for the lightcst of the old ones.
The department is in excellent condition and
will remain SO hereafter with a reduced an
.ual appropriation The whole amount of
warrants drawn for it the last year was S9292
%. of which $500 was for the steamer. $500
for hose. $3.50 for the reservoir. and 5000 for
the horse.
THE Cry Poor.
Those persons whom fate or misfortune
has thrown upon the bounty of the comml-
nifty for their daily bread. irrc,istiblv excite
our pity, and test the quality of our gencros-
ity. They are the poor and lowly of this
world whom We are taught not to despise. We
are called upon to provide for them and make
tolerabc. if may be. their pathway through
life. The administration of this department
requires, besides financial and clerical abili-
ties, the exercise of the kindest quality of the
heart and the kecnest perception and sound
Judgment The manner in which il has been
conducted the past year shows that those
qualities have been possessed by the gentle
man in charge. The expenses have been less
than the average in spite of the scarcity OF
employment, while no person has been de-
MED assistance who really needed it. The
Aims House. in the care of Mr.. Wadron and
his estimable wife, has been model of neat
ness. order and comfort. and pleasant home
for those who have no other. The CITY PLY
stefan makes an interesting and valuable re.
port Of his professional services and observa
tons among the city's beneticaries during
the year. The amount paid out by the Over.
seers has been S7o6i SO: cash now on hand
and due the city from other towns seal. 10
the latter being sufficient to meet the out
standing bills.
CASES IN CoTRT.
Only six eases that have been brought
against the city are awaiting trial in ourt
Three of them were pending three wears ago
when the whole number on the docket wa,
eighteen. Two of the six belong to the Ga,
Company to defend, leaving four to whicl
the city must answer. The report of the Cit,
Solicitor wifi show that at least one of tn,
four is frivolous; very likely some of tn,
others will prove equally so. The city i
plaintiff in two or three eases which will prob
ably he settled during the year. 1t is caus,
for congratulation that we are so nearly on
of vcxatious and costly law suits. Til,
amount paid in the settlement of cases tn,
past year was Ss74.67, Of which S7s9.G7 wa
in the form of taxes refunded to b. II. Cush
man.
WORK IN PROGRESS.