The Portland daily press., 1886-03-09
to accomplish their work with the funds that
can probably be placed at their disposal.
M .r,rs AND SEWERS.

Sebago water, there has been dimlnution IN
the death rate of our city, and a marked de-
crease in the number of cases OF fever ana cpl
demic disease traceable to poison from eXcre-
mentitious matter. Our city is admirably slt-
uated for perfect sewerage, being mostly sur
rounded by water and with sufficient eleva-
ton to keep the sewers free. The princlpai
difficulties have arisen from deposits through
the outlets into the docks, and upon the shores
of Back bay. The former trouble has been
partially remedied by the construction of the
large intercepting sewer along Commercial
street. When this sewer shall be completed as
originally designed, in the opinion of experts,
no further trouble need be apprehended from
sewer deposits in the docks. l suggest that
YOU consider the practicability of extending
this wear this sewer from Centre street 10
Maple street. as this extension will accord with
the original plan, and save the city any ex-
pense of further dock dredging in this direction.
The Back bay nuisance has engrossed atten-
ton the past wear, and the work of the season
has been devoted ''to enlarging the lower water
area of the bay by bringing channels of con-
slant water in through the fats and up to the
sewer outfalls, the end in view being the be-
ginning of the process of dilution of the sew
erage from the moment of its discharge; and
its diffusion from body of water constantly
changing. and rapidly increasing during the
food tide, instead of from the flats under its
condition of partial arrest at low water" To
accomplish these results ''the old channel lead
ing from the southerlymain channel to Goulds
wharf has been excavated to the width of 60
feet from the line of feet depth at mean low
water, to the coal Sheds distance of 700 feet,
bringing in to that point the above named
depth of water, and then extending an addi-
tional distance of 700 feet to the head of the
n L u. Il. 20
water From the coal sheds channel 80 feet
wide has been dug nearly up to Deering's
bridge, a distance of 1850 feet, having an av-
erage depth of 5 feet at mean low water. From
this channel another 40 feet wide and 900 feet
long has been dug to the Somerset street loca-
ton at the foot of Pearl street, where it re-
ceives the outfall of Pearl street sewer and a
large sewer which has been built through
Somerset street to intercept the Alder, Preble,
Elm, Cedar, Chestnut and Myrtle street sewers.
With these provisions and other sanitary i'm
provements of a similar character, an account
of which can be found in the city engineers S
report, it is thought no further troubles will be
experienced from the Back bay for some years.
The basis for the above method Of disposing Of
the sewerage, is in strict conformity with the
conclusions reached by commission appointed
to consider system of drainage for the valleys
of the Mystic, Blackstone and Charles rivers,
in Massachusetts,. Many valuable extracts
from their report published in the report of
our city engineer for this year, where appears
an exhaustive treatise on the whole subject of
sewerage, as applied to our Back bay,-a care
full perusal of which is recommended not only
to yourselves but to all our citizens.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Under the supervision of Chief Engineer
GLOVES this important department has been
maintained in good state of efficiency. The
fires which have been numerous, at least this
winter, have been well handled and to general
satisfaction. During the past year new
engine has been purchased, thereby obviating
the necessity of any special expenditure in the
year to come, except for the additional hose
which is annually required. 1t is our para
mount duty to keep this department in fine
order, that all danger from conhagration may
be reduced to the minimum.
POLICE.
This force has been well styled the "right
arm of the executive Upon them are we
dependent for the preservation of good order,
and the practical enforcement of the laws. By
recent changes in the statute the mayor and
board Of aldermen are invested with additional
authority to remove members of the police
without formal hearing. Although, at first
such authority would appear too summary yet
experience had demonstrated the inutility of
law which compassed an officers removal only
after public trial. Under the revision better
discipline can be maintained, and the marshal
and committee of police can be held response
BILE for the efficiency of the organization.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
am not aware that any report has emanated
from this body of its doings for the past year,
but our citizens are generally cognizant of the
good services performed by its agent, Mr.
Stevens. 1t will be our duty to continue it
the coming season, CO. operating with the State
board of health in efforts to remove the causes
Of contagious disease and maintain the gem
eral health of the people.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
Lack of time precludes my making special
mention of the work accomplished in other
departments, such as the almshouse Ever
green cemetery, board of commissioners of
public grounds, &c., all of which are in charge
of faithful officers, taking special care to wisely
expend the moneys with which they are en-
trusted. 1t is certain that our helpless poor
are made comfortable, our cemeteries are being
enlarged and beautifed, while the improve
ments on our parks and public grounds are
going on with continuity under plan that,
with small annual appropriations, will yield
marked results in the course of few years.
uNISPRoyED REAL ESTATE.
The policy which was adopted few years
since of the sale of the city's unimproved real
estate has been bearing good fruit. Land
from which we derived no income, and upon
which we were obliged to yield revenue to the
State, has been converted into taxable proper
ty with homes established thereon, which,
otherwise would have been gained by subur-
ban towns.
1t is disappointment that the shops of the
Maine Central railroad have not been located
as originally conditioned when the grant of
land was made that corporation. 1t is conf
IDENTIFY hoped that they will soon avail them
selves of the unusually fine location offered
for such an establishment; but if not, an
agreement has been made to reimburse the city
for land granted them.
Perhaps at no distant day it may seem
judicious to lay out the city poor farm into
Streets and offer the lots for sale. Much of it
is extremely valuable for building purposes,
and the sum realized from it would readily
defray the expense Of transferring the aims
house to another location, say some island in
our bay. where the inmates would be more
comfortably quartered than now. Such a
transfer would bring large area of land
almost Immediately into taxable valuation.
COMMITTEES.
Allow me to remind you of the great impor-
tance of right constitution of committees.
Very much of the work of municipal affairs
must necessarily be done by the appropri-
ate committees to whom are left mat
tiers of detail and small expenditure. Mem
bers of the council should take those positions
on committees to which they are best adapted
by treining or experience. Frequently they
are solicited to take positions merely to be
serviceable to others. trust that nothing of
this kind will enter into the composition Of
our committees. They should not be organ
lied with view to patronage.
And in this connection let me speak of
another matter, which deem worthy of your
consideration. 1t is the prevailing custom for
members of the city government to furnish
supplies and labor to the city, whenever in the
course of circumstances an opportunity is
presented to do so. This habit has been con-
fined to no party and no administration, and
has become so established that persons some
times seek election to the council to obtain
their share of the city's patronage. Now l
conceive this custom, though perfectly natural,
to operate somewhat against an economical
administration of city affairs. 1t is true that
members of the city government serve with
out pay. and it may be considered small