Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-16

va &C NJ department of the city of vh,c]
o.. -, ABOUT TO assume charge so fully inter
We 81 a. JIr people as that of highways. TO
.;dae, o0liged to use our street. an
vo,,,s W greater or less extent, and
s;,;-o sn that our tax payers are more pen
tha ou tne question of their proper car,
,rma.! p.lnaps IN any other of the numerou
l., 80 .t ti~. 'o'oay We enter upon. CONSEQUENT
seem; ais department l especially call YOU,
tho ,.s ana ask that you give it more than
"ithout question, we have 200 miles of etc.,.
ana sidewalks within the cirv lint. ~
there IS annually appropriated about saooS
Tor their maintenance, or $40 nor n;ia ~ ~
average. Now when we consider the vsrs
o,oken and billy CO 1dition of the coun,rv n
wnich our city is located, it is no wonder IL
ne tnat often we are unable to keen on,
streets In the condition thev should be with
we amount OF money available for the pur
P"sc our taxpayers, beyond doubt are
~. lining 70 pay Whatever is necessary to give
.nen comparatively comfortable and safe
~aiks and roads, but they look to US to see
tna' their money is not wasted. As YOU are
sate' THIS branch OF city affairs is in charge
" TWO commissioners elected by you, and
accountable To you, and all their voucher,
pass through your hands and in this way are
" quite an extent under our control. The
commissioners are obliged, because of the
large extent OF territory over which thew
nave charge, to delegate part of their DOW.
ers TO surveyors in the outside districts and
these powers are doubtless sometimes wrong.
FULLY exercised, and the city sometimes fail.
10 receive its full equivalent for all moneys
expended. Let US each feel a personal 70.
sponsibility in this matter this wear. and no,
order the subordinate officers of this depart
ment to do larger amount of work thar
their respective appropriations will warrant
ana then expect them to keep within those
amounts. The Monument Park has been in
charge of the commissioner for the Western
district, and whatever work has been done
there has been paid out of the highway an
preparation. As this is the only pleasure
ground of any kind we have in the city, Il would
submit it to you whether our people would
not approve small outlay for further beau.
Trying this already slightly spot.
Water Works.
Asa city we have ALWAYS depended to 8
great extent upon wells and cisterns for waite,
to be used for household and general purposes
together with what has been supplied by our
TWO water companies ona few streets The
gradual building up of the suburban parts OF
the city has rendered it question of but few
years when the wells and cisterns, with the
great liability of their waters becoming con.
taminsted and thus spreading disease and con-
ta9ion among our people, must give way to
some system whereby we shall have an am
pie supply of pure water at a minimum OF
cost. 1t has been the complaint in years
past of one of the water companies. at least
that their efforts to extend more generally
their mains has not met with any encourage
ment from former city governments, and
whether this is by reason of . belief that
the source of supply of this company wai
inadequate, or not. am not prepared to say.
| understand through the public press that
the franchise of the Augusta or johnson
Water Company has been purchased by q
number of local and outside capitalists, and
it is proposed at no distant day, if sufficient
encouragement is given, to start a system OF
water works that will furnish an abundan,
supply of the best obtainable water on all
our streets, and at reasonable rates. In my
opinion it would not be good policy for US, az
city with our present debt, to embark il
any enterprise that would increase this deb
or add an iota Of extra burden to our already
over taxed people. But if some arrangement
can be made looking to the doing away with
our present system of reservoirs and the cut
ting down of the expense of running the fire
department, by substituting MIGRANTS with
sufficient head of water to attach hose with
out using the steamers, it might be practice
able. l know nothing scarcely, of the pur
poses of the water company. Nearly every
city in the State has a system of watel
works as we'll as many of the larger towns
and before coming to any final conclusion,
presume this or any succeeding city govern
ment would investigate fully the subject, by
ascertaining how they had been brough
about, their cost, ETC., in our neigoboring
municipalities.
In this department, while quite larg,
amount of money has been expended in thu
past and q good beginning made, stlllf judging
from the numerous petitions annually pre-
scented to these boards for sewers in various
places, this branch of permanent improve
ments is but in its infancy, and much remainl
to be accomplished in the future. Here, too
we are hampered by our financial condition
and must. of necessity. make our expenditures
in this direction as light as possible, con
sistent with the best interests of our whole
people, taking into consideration, of course
the danger to health and life of imperfect
drainage. The outgoing city government,
has made commendable progress in this de-
partment. A large and permanent iron sewer
sixteen inches in diameter, has been laid
from the top of Winthrop Hill down to the
railroad crossing. there connecting with q
sewer previously built. This has been done
at an expense of about $435, the abutters
paving the balance of the cost, and this can
eventually be extended up Winthrop street
and be made the centre of large number OF
side drains, capable of draining the large fiat
bounded by State, Chestnut, Winthrop and
Bridge streets. Also large piece of granite
sewer has been built, running across the DR..
Webster lot from State street and connecting
with the city sewer on Grove street, at a to.
tai cost of S576. IS, the abetters paying $297..
so. leaving the net cost to the city 3279. 10.
There 10 already sewer running from some
point on Sewall street down across Melville
to Chapel street and there emptyinR into an
open surface drain extending down to State
street, and connecting with the drain just
mentioned as having been built the past year
on DR.. Webster's lot. A very large amount
of waste matter is deposited in this open
drain and makes it a nuisance. at some
seasons of the year an intelerable stencil
arising from it. / don't think in this matter
of sewers it is the proper way to begin At the
wrong end and allow the filth of one section to
be deposited in the dooryards of any other sec.
ton. | presume that in other parts Of the
cty the call for expenditures in this direction
NAV be equally imperative. You will doubt
less in due season take the whole matter into
consideration and give it the attention its i'm.
portance demands.
It has been the practice the past year OF