Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-03-11
Organization of the City Government.

The Board Of Aldermen eject met AZ tho
aldcrmen> room. Monday March : at 10
O'Clock A. NJ. and temporarily organized by
the choice Of CALVIN +. JOY, President
fnf'd-That the returns Of the several
ward officers b. accepted evidence. o, the
election.
hemtsrS ~ the Hnari n -itjey7ieH.
The rou 81 the officer, Of the Board Of
Aldermen elect wa- called and the foilowiu.
answered to their names Ward /. Lc,i {.
Beckwith. Ward ,. Jane. [. Chilcoit ward
3. Robert Gerry. Jr. Wards +, Frank r. Nj
Gown. Ward ;. calvin r. joy
I'oted-To take recess FOR the purpo,. Of
meeting in Hancock Hall 10 listen io the in
augurai address OF the Mayor elect snd 10
complete the organization OF th. city govern
ment.
Aldermen 10! and Chiicuit were appointed
a committee to notify the MAYOR elect that the
Board Of Aldermen elect were waiting and
ready TO proceed with the installation The
committee attended to their duty and escorted
the Mayor elect to the Hall PRAYER wa,
offered by the Rev. Mr. Hubbard Judge Geo.
P. Dutton then administered the oath Of Office
to the Mayor elect and the Board Of 4 ldermcn
were sworn by the new Mavor.
MAYOR Mason then delivered hi, inaugural
address follows:
Gentlemen ofhe Boari of ilder1aea:
You will hardly expect Of one whose ex-
perience in municipal affairs ha. been some
what limited aud in 80 short time after the
annual election OF municipal oficers. AN ex-
tended address. or more than brief ausiOn
to the various matters Of interest to YOU. who
have been chosen to administer the affairs OF
our city for the coming year. Such >ugges-
tions as am able at this time 10 make must OF
necessity be from a hasty examination Of the
account. and reports on fle in the variou, de-
partment-.
From such examinations, am able 10 report
the financial condition OF The city a. follows
viz:
INTEREST BEARING DEBT.
Bonds maturing June /. 1887.
8 per cent, 1880. 90
Bonds maturing June /. 1892
$40 per cent, 1000 %
Bonds maturing June I. 1897.
8 per cent, 5000 90
City note Mrs.. Reeves.
per cent, 300. 90
City note Union Mutual Ius Co.
5 per cent, 1000. 90
City note Michael Goggius,
per cent, 100000
City note Geo. Parcher estate
per cent. 1890 90
City note Mrs. John Black
per cent. 1000 90
City note c. W. Wasgatt,
per cent, 800 90
City note Hancock Co. Savings Bank,
per cent, 1905. 90
Balance due Bickford fund. f46Il
High School debt. 10000
Total debt, sss .3es. IL
From an examination OF the order books
and Treasurer's accounts, find very few out
standing orders, and an interest bearing debt
lower than at any time since the first wear of
our corporate existence. In the last two wear,
there has been large reduction Of the debt
as Feb. 9, 1884. the reports give the debt al
$4,000 10 which would make the reduction in
two years sl1203.99
The financial report for the year 1870. the
first sitter the adoption Of the city charter,
gives the debt at Sc, ,l5s 50 with uncollected
taxes amounting TO Sl0,170O0. The city debt
Feb. 9. 1856 was go. 396.1l with S16,s2. GA in
uncollected taxes. This seems to be eneOurac-
ing and IT should be our effort TO 30 guard the
contingent and all expenditures as TO further
decrease the interest bearing debt. To do this
there should not only be economy in every de-
partment, but IL will be necessary that the
taxes be promptly paid and that the system or
habit Of carrying over from year to year one
half or more of the previous years commit
ment be broken up. II tie S16.s21.6 Ga be
promptly collected, it will not only be un-
necessary TO borrow to relieve the treasury,
but all demands when presented can be
promptly paid. And in this connection 1t
may be well to mention the matter of property
valuation for taxable purposes. The total
valuation the past year, real and personal. was
about 81 .636, 1880 While il Is q difficult mat