The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-13
Mayor chapman's Address.

Mayor Chapman's survey of the condition
and prospects Of the city is very interesting
and very hopeful, Though the growth of
Portland is slow it is substantial and the
class of people attracted within our limits is
for the most part a desirable one and one
that can be depended upon to guard the
cty's interests in the future. Though not
yet entirely recovered from the effects of the
era of railroad building Portland is gradually
emerging from the burden Of taxation then
laid upon her and every year witnesses sub
stantial reductions of the city debt. The re-
duction Of the gross municipal debt for the
last eleven years has been $2,500,000. Dur
ing the last year 1t was over $4,000. This
reduction has been accomplished too with
out seriously arresting the progress of the
city, and without excessively burdening our
tax payers. These facts of themselves speak
volumes for the skill and prudence of our
municipal administrations.
The record Of the past year has been one
OF progress in the right direction. There
has been.a steady advance in all departments.
The health of the people has been more Sc
curely guarded by the establishment of an
efficient board Of health, the building of new
sewers and the extension and repair of old
ones. the improvement Of the Back Cove
territory and the virtual adoption of bet
ter system for the collection and disposal of
house offal. The cause Of public education
has been advanced by the erection of new
school houses and the renovation of old ones
A better enforcement of the laws has been
secured by the establishment of the police
signal service. The convenience of the pub
lie has been enhanced by the paving and
macadamizing of old streets and the build
ing of new ones. All these Improvements
have been costly, but they were demanded
by due regard to the public welfare and
the City Council were fully justified in pro-
viding the money needed to accomplish
them.
Every year brings its problems. Mayor
Chapman touches on some of the principal
ones that the new City Council will be called
upon to attack and solve during its admin
istraton. Perhaps the most important is the
disposition of the Portland d 0gdensburg
railroad. 1t is high time that some action be
taken in regard to this property. 1t cannot
drift on in its present condition without dan
ger that Portland will lose its whole invest
HeuL. 1ut true pOuCy 10 thO OuC ouSbcSItu,
though not actually recommended, by the
Mayor, namely, its lease or sale to some cor
poration whose interests are so thoroughly
identified with Portland's as to give assur-
ance thet il win be used to build up our city.
The improvement of Back Cove is still an
unsolved problem, and continued work there
during the coming year is demanded both by
sanitary and industrial considerations. The
extension Of High street, the opening up OF
the poor house property for building pur-
poses, the sale Of the city gas stock, and the
removal of old city hall and the construction
on its site Of a soldiers monument, are per-
haps matters Of minor Importance, yet never
theless they are all intimately connected
with the general welfare and convenience OF
our people. Mayor Chapman's suggestions
in regard to all Of them are we'll considered,
and will no doubt meet general approval.
Mayor Chapman very properly in the con-
Guiding portions Of his address refers to the
one point-and it is the only point--in which
his last administration was criticised, name
ly, the enforcement of the liquor law, and
repels with some warmth, as was perfectly
natural under the circumstances, the insinua-
tions that have been thrown out that his
administration had neglected its duty to that
law. He afirms that his treatment of that law