Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-03-21

ing towns, and Augusta might ~ veil rea,
| the oehent OF 1t as any other town.
Inc monument should have an iron fence
around ii, and the ground Immediately aronnd
it should be properly graded.
| APPROPRIATIONS
Inc appropriations for the current munich
pal year will be about the same as last yea,
| we shall have to appropriate $1,000 to nav
the temporary loan negotiated to paw for the
Soldiers Monument. yet l think we IAN cut
down other appropriations enough to cover
H. ana thus save increasing the rate of taxa
tlon- My aim has been to keep the rate of
taxation as low as possible, and then try and
reduce the Indebtedness of the city, at lea.,
| a little. l have succeeded in making q ma.
| terlal reduction during the past two wears,
and shall earnestly strive in that direction
this year.
PERMANENT IMPRovEAESTs.
Inc permanent improvement made during
the past year have been of considerable
| magnitude. Among the larger improvements
are the bank walls between Badger & Man
ieys office and that of f. c. Allen. on either
side of the street leading to Town Landing
This was much needed improvement, and
~NNh scNuic GU AZ uloucEdlt expense. con-
sldering the amount of labor and material
required. Drains have been built in four
places, namely: from State street to railroad
shops on Court street, over land of G. C.
'ose and others; from Grove street down
gully, over land of j. P. Wyman; from State
street, near Augusta House, over land of
bowdltch and others: from Sewall street.
! through Western street. to opening in Man
SION House lot drain-in all about 23OO feet
Nineteen hundred feet Of this drain has been
paid for at an average cost of about 50 %
per foot. the balance having been built on
winter contract, as the stone could not be
hauled to the place where it was needed ex-
cept in winter. This 2300 feet of drain is of
large size. being % feet square inside, and all
OF 1t is paved in the best manner. None Of
1t Will need repairing during the life of any
person now living in Augusta. These drains
have all been built low enough in the ground
to enable any street or house TO be drained
INTO them and have proper pitch.
-Four concrete walks have been built the
past year, namely: one in front of Mansion
House lot. on State street; one on two sides
OF r. {. Aliens new block, in Market
square; one on Ciannett street east side
river; and one on Bangor street.
More drains will be called for the present
year, and l believe reasonable amount
should be built each season till Augusta can
boast OF better drainage than at present.
PATENT TRAPS FOR SEWERS.
During the past year we found that open
ings in sewers where water closets were
turned into them were becoming nulsances.
In order to abate these nuisances
we put patent traps in several such openings,
and they have proved an efficient remedy
There are other drains that will have to be
attended to this season. No drain that has
water closets emptied into it should have an
opening without a patent trap. | therefore
recommend that patent traps be ordered to be
placed in all openings in drains Of this char.
acter.
TELEPHONE FIRE ALARM.
Now that the telephone system has been
perfected in this city, call your attention to
the question of having a Telephone Fire
Alarm. The telephone alarm can be secured
at nominal cost per year, and Superinten
dent Belcher will, in the near future. explain
its workings to you. To me the project
seems feasible, and it will be for you to deter
mine whether we shall avail ourselves of it
or not. l respectfully ask your candid con-
sideration of the subject.
WARD ROOM IN WARD OxE
again call your attention to the need of a
ward room in ward one. Through the
courtesy of the Directors of the village dis
trict we have been allowed to use the school
house on Grove street for a ward room for
the past year. for which kindness they have
my heartfelt thanks. We have got to have
ward room in ward one. and the sooner we
secure it the better for all concerned. ask
your early attention, gentlemen, to this
subject.
Orr MUNICIPAL COURr.
After l6 wears efficient service as Judge of
the Municipal Court, Judge True retires with
the respect and good will OF every one. Judge
Andrews commences his official term today,
and he has my best wishes that his official
career may be as honorable and efficient as
his predecessor.
TEMPERANCE.
The only remarks on temperance wish to
make, is to call your attention to the almost
entire absence of drunkenness our streets
at the present time. We have been free dur
ing the past year. from those spasmodic tenn
perance excitements which always rebound to
the benefit of the rumseller and are disastrous
to the temperance cause There is no place
in this State, or elsewhere. where drunken
ness is less prevalent according to the popu-
laton, than in our city. This happy state of
affairs is largely due to the good sense and
efficient administration of our police force.
CONCLCsION.
| cannot close this brief communication,
without thanking my fellow citizens for the
endorsement which they gave my administra-
ton for the past two years. ! have endeav-
ored by my official course to prove myself
worthy the approval of my fellow-citizens,
without regard to party; and the proof which
they have given me that have succeeded. is
very gratifying to me: and shall try. in the
wear to come to continue to merit their ap-
prOval.
Gentlemen of the Board. ask of you, that
YOU will aid me in giving our fellow-citizens
an honest efficient. and economical admins
tration: and from your well known character,
I know that do not appeal in vain.
I am now, gentlemen, ready for the duties
which await us.
P.O. VICKERY.
ArGrsTA. March 20. 1882.