The Republican journal., 1888-03-22
Organization Of the City Government.

Organization Of the City Government.
The new City Council met at the city rooms on
Monday at 10 A. NJ, for the purpose of organiza-
ton. All were present except Councilman Fred
crick w. Brown, of ward four. City Clerk Murch
read the names of the City Council elect, who were
sworn in by Joseph williamson Esq. The Clerk
then read the returns for Mayor and stated that
the certificate had been given to the Hon. A. c.
Burgess. MIR. Burgess was presented and took the
oath as administered by Mr.. Williamson. Prayer
was offered by the Rev. J. A. Savage. Mayor Bur
CESS then delivered the following
ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL:
In accordance with the City Charter that "thc
Mayor shall from time to time, communicate such
information, and recommend such measures as
the business and interests of the city NAV REQUIRE
have the honor to lay before you such informa-
| ton as appears from experience and the annual
| reports of several departments made to the out
gong City Government and by it referred to tho
| In coming one.
The municipal year past has been a busy one,
and in many respects to he remembered and re
ferred to in the future for the accomplishment of
| so much for the prospects of city,-for with
| this year past came magnificent system Of water
works, a Free Public Library, and the refunding
of the mortgage bonds of the b. 4 NJ. ii. l.. r. X.
| Co-all OF which have been accomplished, or arc
in process Pr. of futment.and which reflect much
|
| year, for the courage and fidelity with which they
have aided the accomplishments of these import
| ant results. The refundng of the Sl50,00U siA
per cent mortgage bonds of the b. 4 NJ. ii. l.. X.
H. Co. by the exchange for mortgage trust bond
| bearing four per cent, is i'll rapid progress and
will require but short tine for it, full exchange.
! am glad to state that up to this time more than
| 100000 have been exchanged the balance only
waiting notice to the holders.
The City Treasurer makes Il full and clean report
of the financial standing Of our city, showing
total liabilities to be s6ls OO7 p, total assets (avail
able 5l1 43 AZ, show ing net balance of indebted
ness of $l0O,jr5.19.
The Wilson trust fund, is safely and proitably
invested and amounts to s3l, 81 49, and the income
| the past year amounts to $l:tS743
The llazeltine trust fund, which includes the
new Free Library building and land, is also safe
lyand probably invested, and amounts to SCI 342 80
and the past year, the income was S337. 30.
The income from both the Wilson and IIazeltEe
| trust funds is available for of the Free
| Library and for educational purposes.
The liazeltine Free Library is now nearly ready
to be opened to the public, and it already contains
over 1000 volumes. which does not include pam
phets, unbound periodicals and newspapers. The
| funds available for yearly will soon put this
library in first class condition. The building is an
J ornament and credit to our city-a standing
monument of honor to the bcncfactors who endow
| ed il.
The report Of The experimenting school commit
tee shows that the schools in the central or city
school district are in a most excellent condition,
In charge OF faithful and competent teachers, who
show great devotion for their work. In the outy
Ing school districts while there is general show
ing Of progress, still there is much to desire in
changing for the better and more advanced meth
DDS. some of the teachers are quite Young and
inexperienced but still showing the good qualities
of the teacher others of much experience in teach
| ing have very ordinary schools and show little to
commend. | would recommend that the standing
committee on schools, together with the supcrn
| tending school committee, consult and advise with
the school agents. to the end that the best teachers
| only he emplOyed-for Il loW salary often brings Il
low state of educational Improvement i'll the dis
trict schooi-far salaries to good teachers will
| bring the needed changes and reforms.
of sha1 fhn
of more than 200 persons for drunkenness, and
to the outside observer fearful showing but this
| Is 4 false and misleading showing, for more than
ninety per cent. OF the arrests were persons not
inhabitants of Belfast, but known as tt;imps and
Nagabonds, passing from place to place, who
simulate drunkenness. plead guilty 10 it before
| the Police Court and Trial justices, and get 4;
thirty days support in the county Jail, only to be
set free and return perhaps under another name to
their comfortable quarters, to whom Imprisonment
III a good Jail is earnestly sought, and the reports
are spread broadcast over the country, showing
| the demolazed moral tone of our city which is
charged to our own inhabitants falsely. ! would
again call the attention q" the City Council to these
things, and eneavor to see if some needed changes
| cannot be made to give better results.
| The officers have done good police duty, and
| show commendable efficiency.
In the Fire Department, decided change has
| been made iii the past year. Last summer during
| the building and finishing of the Belfast Water
Co.'S Works, steam fire engine engaged, and
although but little used il gave evidence of
| disposition to cope successfully with fires We
| have now Il fine system of water works, IA ample
| supply of pure water with heavy pressure and
hydrantS well distributed about the city, and feel
confident that we can cope successfully with any
fires. The result already is reduction OF insur
ancc rates OF from - to 40 per cent and further
| reduction will be made in the future With the
| change from engines to water works sweeping
change is necessary, good quantity of best rubber
hose, with hose carriages and other necessary out
| fits have been purchased and Il good efficient hose
| company organized from the old disbanded com
| panes. our h.c department i, BOW yiSilant and
| efficient. 4 COOL hook and ladder carriage well
| needed | pSt
| mend that the Council take early measures to pro
care it.
| healthy condition The whole number of patients
visited was co, and the number now under trent
ment and no contagious or infectious diseases
| in Belfast
The Local Board of Health have mad. no re-
| ports. some attention was given last wear ~
| them to sewers and other matters with soo.i re
suits. a good system of sewage will be needed in
| the near tuture-possby the coming suMmer-in
consequence of the introduction If water through
| ont the city limits. and earnestly urge the City
| Council to carefully consider this i.Aportaat mat
ter which is nearly allieI TO the health Of our
people, neglect Of which on our part would he
almost criminal.
| The reports of the superintendent OF Grove
Cemetery and City. Sc ton shows the whole mum
Der Of deaths to . be u Died elsewhere and utter.
| red here, r. This department is in competent
hands, and is carefully and faithfully m;mag ed.
=, The City, solicitor reports the case of Harrison
liayfor'l vs.. City of Belfast having gone to the
Law Court and decision may lie expected at an
| carly 'las The only other case is Daniel IIaralen
an! others. trustees under the will of the late Ma
thanie Wilson, and now before the Probate Court.
THIS is believed to be case of technical legal
liability of the trustees for six per interest
| ON moneys on deposit in bank, while waiting ac
| ceptance of the trust by the city of Belfast and
| not negligence or mismanagcmcnt on the part of
the trustees of the fund. No actions have
been commenced by against the city the past
municipal year.
l would urge upon the City Council the necessity
| OF the most rigid economy i'll all departmcnts-not
| the nggardy "penny wise aud pound foolish
policy, but careful inspection of all bills, of all
work, holding each disburser of money to his full
share of resi'onsibility-pay no bills until careful
| ly made and properly approved by the proper
officers, to the end that the best and most no I'll
work may be done, for the money expended, and
that we to whom our citizens haze couIded such
important truats may at east haetb satisfaction
of knowing that we have 9o1e onr whole duty.
| A. G. isi.nGEss, Mayor.
Belfast, March -, 1850.
After the delivery of the address the boards
separated for organization Mr.. Frank f. Crow
ley, of ward three, was elected president of the
common council, and Mr.. Charles NJ Craig clerk
The boards then met in joint convention for the
purpose of eleeting officers for the municipal year.
The following were elected
| City Clerk-L. ii. Murcl
City Treasurer-N. +. Houston.
City Socitor-Joseph williamson
| City Physcian-A. c. Ellinywoo,i.
| George ID. McCris.
Overseers of the Poor--N[. p. Woolcock A. L.
| Brown and Harrison Hayford.
Members of experimenting School Committee
y. L. Brown for three years, and j. A. Savage for
| one year.
| Chief Englneer-H. T.. Mcdonald.
| City Marshal-H. +. Mcdonald.
City SeXtOn-Dana Ii. SolIthworth
llarbor Master-Geo. II. Osborne
Truant Officer-J. ID. Tucker.
Highway surveyor of Central Distinctly f.
| Triggs
Highway surveyors were elected AS follows:
| No. IA. r. Bowen.
No. IS. W. Olson.
No. "a. +. Bracket.
No. 4-E. NJ. Cunningham.
No. 5-LOretto Hayforl.
! No. G-Wales Miller.
No. Fred Downes.
No. S-James ii. Perkins.
No 9-Joseph L. Whitaker
No. l0-JOscph II. kaler.
No. 1l-Frank Davis.
No. l2-H. ii. Smallev.
No. l3-Stephen Pierce.
No. AS. X Richards.
No. lj-.John III. Berry.
Sexton in West Belfast--Fred 4. Griffin.
sexton in Ward Four--Frank l.. Emmons.
Sexton in Ward Fiye-Lucius c. Stephenson.
sexton in South Befast-.Janes W. Wood.
sexton in Southwest Belfast-P. q. Hunt
Measurers of Grain and Sat-Nathanel ShoIes.
f. ID. Curtis, Ben ID. Field, Doane PattershalI Ed
ward Sibley, e. s. Bickford and James A. Curtis
Fence Niewers-Freeman W. shepherd Geo W
p.rk II u