The Portland daily press., 1881-03-08

ing at 7.30 o'clock. Good speaking and sing
ing may be expected. All are invited.
Collins Portland Band will give a concert
in front of City Hall this evening
Annual Report of the City Solicitor
February %, 1880, the following cases were
pending in court:
City of Portland in equity VS.. P. & r. R. R. Co.
Adeline Walker vs. City of Portland.
John Il. Hull VS.. Same.
John Z. Donnell VS.. John 7. Hull aud City of
Portland trustee.
Geo. ID. b. Witham vs.. City of Portland
Everett Downs ct al, VS.. Same.
Bridget Welsh vs. Same
Albert W. Skllin VS.. Same.
City OF Portland vs.. Samuel Lawrence ct al.
Since the last report the following suits have
been commenced:
Inhabitants of North Yarmouth VS.. CITY of Port
land.
Horace NJ. Sargent VS.. Same.
City of Portland John NJ. Burns.
William Alexander VS.. City of Portland
John Donahue VS.. Same.
Solomon r. Halves VS.. Same
In the City vs. the Rochester road the city
has only nominal interest," and on the fore
closure of the railroad Adeline Walker vs.
the city, has been entered neither party"
Donnell VS.. Hull and the city was settled
John 4: Hull VS.. the city was referred and the
plaintiff was awarded a sum less than amount
claimed. Whitman VS.. the city, an action for
damages, has not yet been decided by the Law
Court. Downs vs. the city, for material for
Fore street wall, judgment rendered for city.
WEIGH VS.. the city, not yet tried. Skillin VS..
the city, Tor damages, entered neither party.
City VS.. Samuel Lawrence ct al, was an action
against the Overseers of Poor of Calais; ver-
dict for city and will be taken to the Law
Court. Inhabitants of N Yarmouth vs. this
city; the case presents question of law with
regard to the power of an emancipated minor
to acquire an independent settlement in his
own name, and will so to Law Court plaintiff
town to be non-suited if action cannot be main
tanned on facts submitted HI. M. Sargent VS..
City of Portland; entered neither party. City
VS.. j. NJ. Burns, case of assumpSt, Judgment
for city. VIM. Alexander and John Donahue
VS.. the city, the suits for wages in the Deer
ing Oaks sewer, not ready for Superior Court
but the question of jurisdiction of Municipal
Court in the case will there be presented.
Halves VS.. city, action for damage, not entered
in court.
No verdict has been rendered against the
city the past year. The report recites also the
action of the city government in the late pro-
ceedings in reference to the Portland & Ogdens-
burg road.
Gas Agents Report.
John w. Deering, gas agent for the past
year, reports as follows:
The stockholders of the Portland Gas Light
Company at their annual meeting held Nav
19th 1880, reelected the old board Of directors
~. N, y.
Esq, President, and Jas. 7. McCobb, Esq,
Treasurer.
The report of President Daveis showed that
the works were carefully cared for, and the
economy necessary, carefully considered, con-
sistent with manufacturing a first quality of
gas of IL candles brilliancy, which from almost
daily observation of the photometer by your
agent, have scarcely an exception to report.
The Treasurer's report showed balance, af-
ter paying expenses and two semi-annual divi-
dPndS of S2 1f6 .2 7 hplipya ba to
be in a highly fiourishing financial condition,
but owing to the illness of the Treasurer am
unable to present statistics. The par value of
the stock is $50 per share, but 1 believe it
would sell for at least SS5 per share if placed
upon the market. The city consumed over
ope-sixth of the sales of the Gas Company,
during the twelve months, ending Dec 81
$780, paying the Gas Company the sum of
S2l,5g2 20 during that period, for lighting the
streets, and public buildings, which sum in
cludes the care of and lighting, and also the
exJinguiShing of the street lanterns.
The street lanterns 451 in number Jan. 1,
1881 consumed during the above time 1910, :
$50 feet OF gas. The average cost of maintain
ing each street lantern for the twelve months
being S37. Sc.
The public buildings, engine houses and
armories took l, S04, $50 feet at cost of $4,-
5I7.23 A small portion of this amount is paid
back to the city when City Hall is leased.
The city pays the gas company the same
price per thousand feet for the large quantity
consumed as the customer of the gas company
pays who consumes but single thousand feet
of gas. These facts, and the city being such a
large stakeholder, seem to suggest some meas
ures should be taken to secure to the city a
large discount from the ordinary price charged
by the gas company, upon the enormous guam
Titles consumed by. our street lanterns and
pubic buildings. AT this time many believe
better illumination than gas will soon become
practicable in our larger towns and cities,
which will be safer, cheaper and better, and it
therefore becomes questionable if it is wise for
the city to continue to own her gas stock.
When the time arrives the city will be obliged
TO pay or renew her obligations. More espe-
cially will this be questionable as long as each
succeeding city government, knowing the city
is large stakeholder, continues to use gas at
the present high prices, considering the large
quantities consumed. L therefore most re.
spectfully recommend some measures be adopt-
ed looking to large reduction in this item Of
city expenditure.
Respectfully submitted.