The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-11
CITY AFFAIRS.
mayor Melcher's Inaugural Address
to the City Council.
Gentlemen of the CITY Council.

" tHe lily CounCHs
Gentlemen of the City Council:
While it is an honor to be called by our fell
low citizens to represent them in the affairs o.
the city, yet it carries with it great response
ollltes that must not be neglected or dis
regarded.
In assuming these responsibilities for the en-
suing year, we should keep constantly in mind
that the business affairs, and to quite an extent
the good name of our fair city, are IN our
hands, and should be jealously guarded and
watched with constant attention and care on
the part of each member of the city govern
ment, and we shall need, throughout our term
of Office, the Divine guidance of the Great
Ruler besought for us here day.
Personal and partisan interests must give
way in all cases to the interests of the city,
and we most honor ourselves and best serve
our parties, when best serving the city.
The report of the inspector of buildings
showing the number Of buildings erected the
past year both for residences and manufacture
ing purposes, and the figures of the city mar
shars report showing decided decrease in the
number OF arrests for drunkenness and other
crimes from the average of the past ten years,
notwithstanding the large increase in popula-
ton and the still larger increase of excursions
centering here are both most gratifying to all
our loyal citizens, and prove that our city is
not only enjoying steady and healthy
growth, but is also improved in its morals,
delghting us in the realization to some extent
OF our most cherished hopes. and give us good
reasons to claim still more emphatically that
our city is becoming more and more desirable
for residence and favorable for business. at
tractive to strangers to invest and settle here.
and advantageous to our own young men to
here build for fame and fortune.
You will be called upon to decide very i'm
portant question IN the management of the af-
fairs of the city this year. The unusually
heavy demands being made for expenditures
on streets, lire department and schools, in ad-
uiuon TO the usual necessary appropriations
mat must be made for the care of the public
buildings, the poor, police department, light
ing, &c, &C., if granted, will require an in
crease in the rate of taxation.
BY care and economy in the appropriations the
past year, the rate was cut down to $40 on a
thousand, as low, and lower with the exception of
one year, as any year since 1868.
1t is still too high, for at the present rate of
interest prevailing in this part of the country,
capital is not attracted to any city with rate
of taxation as high as this; but as this burden
OF debt is on us, it becomes the important
question with those who have the management
of affairs, to decide how much shall be done
under all the circumstances.
In no better way can new industries be at
tracted, ard established business and manufac-
turers encouraged, than by economical man.
agement of public affairs, and low rate of
taxa ton attained.
We all sincerely desire to see our city grow
ing and prosperous; we also delight in having
1t clean, healthy and beautiful. All these
matters for the year, trust will be wisely ar
ranged.
10 assist you as much as possible in this
Will briefly mention some of the more impor-
tant matters that demand your attention and
that you are required to act upon.
The first and very important matter to
consider is the present financial condition of
The city.
The municipal debt March 81, 1889, was
Joupon and registered bonds, SIS, s640,5OO
coupons ana registered bonds, AS, 727OO0
Trust funds, $4,000
Jity note due May l, 1882 7o'OOO
Citg note due July 49, 1889, 10000
o sl,47o5OO
81 1889, $4,000
$l,S76,5OO
: ter railroad, original issue sl,l5OOOO
Due July !, 1897 4l6OO0
Bonds in aid of Portland and Ogdens. '''''
burg r., original issue O., 1850, 900:
L,, September |, 1907, 100000
City note due May A, 1890, which will
be paid from the sinking fund this
year. 10000
Total liabilities. s8.oa2 500
AVAILABLE ASSETS.
200 shares gas stock at par,
notes receivable and trust
funds on which the city
pays interest only, slOi,7l6 4s
sinking fund. say, $4,000
Balance due from building
loan commissions, S3O26 03
Net debt March 8. 1890, s2,7o3,757 40
The city has 23,56l lilo shares Portland
ind Ogdensburg railway stock on which the
'ity is now receiving one per cent per annum
n dividends from the Maine Central railroad,
md after three years from date of the lease
Sept /, 1885, they pay the city two per cent
per annum, payable quarterly which is cred.
ted TO interest account aud estimated as in
come.
The gross debt of the city has been reduced
the past year $l54,0O0, and the net debt about
$65, 900.
There will probably be further reduction
OF the net debt before April l, 1890, by addi-
tons to the sinking fund.
The gross city debt April l, 1877, s6.050 200
The gross city debt March 8, 1890, 3,O22 500
Total reduction in thirteen years, sS,O277Oo
STREETS AND BRIDGES.
The appropriation for this department for
last year was $4,000, and the expenditures
have been kept within the appropriation. FIRE.
luent and heavy rain storms have made it par
icuarly difficult to keep the streets in good
yet efforts to attain this have not
been spared. AS much permanent work has
been done as the appropriation would admit.
Congress street from Pearl to Myrtle, and from
high to Park, has been paved With granite
blocks. The following streets have been
Federal from Exchange to Monument Square.
State from Congress to Spring.
Danforth from State to Brackett
Kennebec from Green to Pearl.
New streets have been opened as follows:
Sherman from Grove to Mellen.
Grant from Grove to Mellen.
Moody from Munjoy to Eastern Promenade.
Harbor Grace from Island Avenue to the
Landing.
Eastern Promenade from Cutter to Congress-
and the way to the new ferry slip.
There is greater demand for permanent
work on the streets than you can possibly
answer the coming year, but everything should
De done in this direction that it is possible to
10 with the means available.
1t is imperative that Congress street should
80 paved at least from State 70 Grove and
hat this too long neglected work be completed
IN Commercial street. That part of Fore
street which lies between Union and Exchange
streets, and Union from Fore 10 Commercial,
ire greatly in need of new paving. Tukey's
and also Vaughan's bridge will require quite an
In rlr1ffh ar,a in .&.@
plllng for the work required on these bridges |
Is now on hand and maid for