The Portland daily press., 1889-01-01
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Special Meeting OF the City Council
Yesterday Afternoon.
Deed OF the Public Library Presented
to and Accepted by the City.
Hearing Granted on the Proposition
of Annexing Deering.

A special meeting of the Board Of Mayor
and Aldermen was held yesterday afternoon
for the purpose of accepting the deed of the
Public Library from Mr.. James p. Baxter,
and also for granting hearing to a commit
tee of Deering gentlemen who were present
to ascertain The sentiment of the City Coun-
Gil in regard to the proposed annexation of
Deering to Portland.
In Board Of Mayor and Aldermen.
Mayor Chapman presided and the full
Boad was present The Mayor stated that
| the first business to cone before the Board
was in relation to the Public Library. He
then asked City Clerk Burgess to read the
deed of gift by which Mr. James P. Baxter
gave and conveyed to the city. in the consld-
1 Grafton of one dollar, the land and the build
| ing thereon for the purpose and use of free
public library. and also for the Maine His
| torical Society. The pressure on our columns
prevents the publication in full of the deed
| which is a very lengthy document 1t gives
| the building now known as the new public
library building, to the city for the use of the
Public Library and the Maine Historical So
| ciety, subject to a right of way for the Port
| land Society of Art from Congress street
through the corridor of the building to the
| Society of Art building in the rear. 1t also
| assigns to the Public Library certain rooms
in the building, and certain other rooms to
| the Maine Historical Society.
| The property is conveyed to the city on
| condition that it is kept reasonably well in
sured, and all income derived from letting
the hall in the building be used for pur-
can be occupied by the library when the
i trustees believe it necessary to have more
room. If the Maine Historical Society
should find it necessary to move to other
quarters purchased OF. given to them. the
| rooms which would in that event be left
vacant can be used by the library. Should
it become necessary the governing boards of
the societies acting with the city, can sell
| the property and purchase other more suit
able property to be used for the same ,pur-
pose. The deed is signed by James p. Bax-
ter and Mrs. Baxter. After the reading of
| the deed by City Clerk Burgess, Alderman
Smith offered the following order which was
unanimously passed.
RESOLVED, That the city accepts, with grateful
| acknowledgements OF the generosity of the giver,
| the conveyance of the land and building made by
Mr.. James P. Baxter for the purpose Of public
Treasurer be and hereby is authorized to sign, ia
| behalf of the city. the indenture making the con-
veyaace, presented at this meeting, in Testimony
of Its acceptance OF the trusts therein set FORTH
PETITIONS.
| luo iouoWluS fctiblOuS WtIe couSiueIeu
OF Maine General Hospital for abatement OF
| $7475, the sewer assessment charged for using
| the Gilman street sewer. Refer ed.
OF Israel Hicks for $50 for physicians attend
/ ance ON him In setting broken arm. Referred.
OF William ID. Jones, for license as auctioneer
Granted.
ORDERS.
The following orders were passed.
That the City Treasurer pay to Widows Wood
Society the sum Of $40.
Mot Epapla Iana I.a I'D 10 Z
mot street sewer free of assessment.
That the committee on public buildings be In.
No. during the present municipal year.
The Mayor appointed William Abbott
special policeman without pay.
A message asking for joint convention
was sent to the lower board, and the request
granted.
In Joint Convention.
The joint convention was called for the
purpose of electing subordinate city officers
and granting hearing to committee OF
gentlemen from Deering who were present
to learn the views of the members of the
City Council in regard to the annexation Of
the whole or part of Deering to Portland
Arthur L. Mitchell was cleo ted city con.
stable.
The Mayor stated the purposes of the con-
vention and said the Council would be very
| glad to hear from the gentlemen from Deer.
ing.
Geo. G. Hopkins, Esq, in behalf of the
| committee-from Deering, said that the sub
lect Of annexation OF Deering, or part Of it,
| is one that has been smOuldering In Deering
for some time. 1t had eliminated in the
present meeting. The people of Deering feel
| that they belong to a district that should be
included in Portland. In area Portland is
the smallest city according to its population
very nearly built over, and the future growth
must necessarily overflow into surrounding
territory, most naturally, perhaps, into Deer
| ing. The question we are here to ask is, "Do
| the people of Portland want us?" do they
| favor annexation under fair and equitable
terms ?"
| Mr.. Hopkins then compared the valuation
| of Deering with Portland, and the rate of
taxation in both places. He said the propo-
| sition was to make the indebtedness of the
| two places the same before Deering was an
| nexed. Deering would ask the legislature
| for power to issue bonds to the amount of
| $150, 200, which will make the debt of Deer
ing equal to that of Portland. This sum
| would establish a system of sewerage and
! pay the other municipal debts.
Then question arises. how much repre-
| sentation will Deering be entitled to when
annexed to Portland. We want two wards.
Another question Is In regard to the rate of
L soAoehOh shas nOuA0 oC iuPOcCu upOn DccI-
ing.
Alderman Hobbs-"Is it the desire of the
whole town to be annexed with Portland p"
Mr.. Hopkins-"1 have heard on all sides a
desire expressed not to have the town sliced
up. but have Deering as q whole annexed"
Alderman Hobbs-"Will $4,000 pay for
laying out sewers 10 Deering?"
MIR. Hopkins-"It is not proposed to have
sewers all over Deering. 1t is estimated
that $4,000 will pay for sewer connecting
with fhQ p0rflaud avta ~
| the head of Pleasant street in Deering. Then
Libby's Corner and East Deering need some
sewers"
Councilman Crockett wanted to know If
debt of Deering between $25O,OOO and $780,
600. Mr.. Hopkins. replied that 1t
debt N about aN' s25o.ocs. This This would sSifi
be more than 8 per cent of the towns vaua-
ton, and therefore it would be necessary 10
obtain authority to issue the $4,000 bonds
by special act of the legislature.
Mr.. Hobbs thought 1t was rather late
hour to bring up the matter and wanted to
know just what the citizens of Deering
Mr.. Hopkins said they wanted to know
the opinion of the City Council in regard to
annexation. Does the city want Deering?
Mayor Chapman said: 81 am decidedly
in favor of the annexation of Deering if It
be glad when l can drive out and
see the Portland e. Ogdensburg
car shops and know they are
within the city limits; when can see shoe
shop going up in the suburbs and feel an in
terest in it because it is in the city, because
Deering and Portland are one. Still more
shall l be rejoiced when see the State CAPT.
tai located on the Western Promenade over
looking its reform school. It's bound to
come some time. The trouble with us has
been lack of push and energy. / believe
annexation would help Deering and help
Portland. 1t would make us city of $4,000
people, and give us more Importance in the
State and in the country. The question of
annexation only lacks terms. If the people
of Deering are willing to take the chance of
being over taxed, do not see why we are
not safe In risking annexation"
Aldermen Smith and Redlon said they
were in favor of annexation if it could be
accomplished by just terms.
Alderman Cunningham said he was oppos-
ed to annexation on the terms stated by the
gentlemen of Deering.
Councilman Crockett said that he had al
ways felt that Deering and Portland be-
longed together, but he thought Deering
should not be taken in on other tnan equal
footing on just and equitable terms.
Alderman Shaw entertained views similar
to those of Councilman Crockett, as did also
Alderman Hobbs.
Mayor Chapman said: "As l understand
1t the Board Is in favor of annexation on
equitable terms to both parties. / think
this Is the message the committee can take
to the citiZeDs of Deerinp Tn NV mind an