The Portland daily press., 1886-03-09
MAYOR cHAPMAN's INAUGURAL
interesting Review of the City's Af-
fairs.

interesting Review of the City's Af-
fairs.
An Address That viii be Read With
Interest.
Gentlemen of the City Council,-By the
suffrages of our fellow citizens, we have been
chosen to administer the municipal government
of Portland for the ensuing year. In con-
formity to the city charter, we are now as
sembled to assume this responsible trust, and
TO make oath that we will discharge it with
fidelity. 1t is fitting that we enter upon our
duties with due sense of their Importance
and with purpose single to the best interest
of the city. In no other way can we fully
meet the measure of our responsibility, and
reasonably satisfy the expectations Of those
who have honored us with their confidence.
1t is both gratifying and auspicious that so
many of your number are not new to your
labors, but can bring at once into available use
knowledge of municipal affairs acquired in
former city governments. The best service to
the city, generally speaking, comes after ex-
perience; and our citizens, recognizing this
fact, show wisdom in returning, so far as pos
sible, such members of the council as have
proved themselves faithful and efficient.
Upon the Inauguration of a new city gov
ernment, it is customary to review the general
condition Of city affairs in the past, as well as
point out any measures for their welfare in the
future. A retrospective glance over the
previous year, affords creditable showing for
the various city departments; while, in gen.
eral, much is revealed to encourage the friends
of Portland relative to its prosperity and
growth. Several handsome and commodious
business blocks have been erected, and small
manufactures established, adding materially
to our valuation. Much of the activity in real
estate may be traced to the reduction in our
rate of taxation, which has fallen from $2.45
the average rate on the 800 for the ten years
preceding 1883, to $205 the average rate since
then 1t should be our settled policy not to
increase this rate, but to reduce it to the lowest
point that true economy will admit. Formerly
it was the custom, when money was needed
for city uses to issue bonds therefor payable
at some future date. Under this method the
city, like the individual whose credit is good,
was apt to incur liabilities thoughtlessly, and
sometimes injudiciously, because their pressure
was not to be Immediately felt. This custom
was reversed none too soon through the
passage of statute whereby the city is COM
PEELED to pay as it goes and can issue
its bonds only to provide for those which
are HdluIluSs 1L1n p1dCtlCt 10 WOIhluR
out the best results. Our debt is being annual
ly reduced our interest levy is growing small
er year by year; and the rate of taxation
should, with the natural increase in wealth and
ordinary prudence in expenditure, become
gradually lessened, until our city will no
longer be avoided by capital on account of ex-
cessive taxation.
In alluding to the different departments of
our city administration, the one first claiming
our attention is the financial. The city treas
urer has furnished me with the following
STATEMENT OF THE CITY DEBT.
The municipal debt on March 81, 1885,
Less one city note paid since that date, 800
$93eOOO
$1,000 due prior to March 81, 1885 but not yet
presented for payment is included in the above.
Bonds in aid of the Atlantic and St.
Lawrence railroad fully secured by
mortgage and sinking fund, due as
follows:
Due November ?. 1856, s24e,oOo
1855, 5osoOo
Bonds in aid of Portland and Roches-
ter railroad. Original issue
$1,l50e00. Outstanding,
Due July |, 1881, s6275Oo
- 1,o4s,5oo
Bonds in aid of Portland and Og-
densburg railroad. Original issue
Due September l. 1907, 100000
Building Loan bonds, secured by
mortgage of real estate, &c Origi-
nal issue $S95,000. Outstanding,
Due June l, 1887, $4,000
Gross debt March ?. 1886, s4.2S55Oo
A0GitabLe assets.
Gas stock 100 shares, notes receiv-
able and trust funds on which the
city pays interest only, $I04,660 IA
Sinking fund, say, 5l,422 27
Bond secured by sinking fund and
mortgage of the ATLANTIC and st.
Building Loan bonds Sc
cured by mortgage, &c, $4,000
Net debt March D 1886, without de.
duction of value of Portland and
Ogdenburg railroad stock and its
bonds held by the city, 3,0lT,4l7 50
The net debt has been reduced the past year
at least 900; and will be further reduced
before the lst of April next by additional re-
cepts on sinking fund account, &c.
Municipal bonds will mature during the
coming financial year, 1867, as follows:
Due August l. 1856. $4,000
September /, 1886, 10000
October !, 1886, 10000
Making, $4,000
for payment of which the sinking fund will
doubtless be sufficiently adequate.
There will also mature End November, 1886.
DODuS W dlllOuuL VI RZtUtUUU, Tile 1uIluS IOI
payment of which are TO be provided by the
commissioners of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence
railroad sinking fund.
CITY CLERKS OFFICE.
The work of indexing the public records
has been continued, making them much more
available for the use of citizens. As there
still remains much to be done in this direction,
and especially general index of the city rec
ords proper is very desirable, l recommend
that the very small appropriation required to
continue the work. be made.
SCHOOLS.
There is no department which appeals so
strongly to our self interest, and merits so
generous response from every one who has
the we'll being of society at heart, as our pub
lie schools. Through their beneficial workings,
not only is material wealth increased in the
same proportion intelligent labor rises IN
value above unintelligent, but the moral and
intellectual powers are trained for the highest
usefulness. 1t has been truly said that our
public school system is the bulwark of our
republican institutions. Any signs of pro-
gress in our schools are especially gratifying,
and | am happy to state that such evidences
are not lacking, as appears from the reports of
the superintendent of schools and the different
sub committees of the school board. For the
details relating to the various schools and their
respective coHult1On, tne programme OF scnOol
work. instruction, method of government, &C.,
l refer you to the annual reports. l will allude
to one recommendation contained in the re-
port Of the superintendent, as asespecially worthy
of your attention. 1t is urged that public
necessity requires the erection of a new school
house for the School street district. 1t is stated
that the building now employed was, ten years
ago, pronounced by the committee on public
buildings, unfit for further use. This state
ment is emphatieally corroborated by the
supervisor for that district. The superintend-
ent suggests that by the erection of new
building containing six or eight rooms, in
suitable location, the district lines can be
changed SO as to relieve the crowded rooms in
the Brackett and Vaughan street houses, thus
obviating the necessity of providing additional
accommodations in those districts for some
years. AS all appropriations for school pur-
poses are voted by the council, the question of
granting the above recommendation must be
left to your decision.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Our public buildings are reported, for the
most part, in good condition. The City build