Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-21
CITY MATTERS.
Facts OF Interest Cleaned From the
Reports OF Different Departments.

.Below are given abstracts taken from
the reports made to the new city govern.
ment by the heads of the several depart
ments of business done in those departments
during the past year:
From the report Of the School Commit
tee it Is learned tha, the number of scholars
in the city April l, 1859, was 3,6l4. Of
whom there were l.603 in the Village Die
trlct, 529 in the Williams District and 4S2
in the rest of the city, an increase Of 1872
from the preceding year. The total
amount of money for school purposes was
S2l ,903 03. The apportionment Of SlI,-
643 ,03 (S6 932 so from the city and -. no.
20 from the State) available for common
school purposes was as follows: Village
District, SG,Oll.25; Williams District, 81
1888 70; Common School account Country
schools) 50 ,5GG 2l. making total Of sIl,-
643 O3
From the summary of statistics Of the 10
subuaban schools it 10 learned that the
greatest number Of daily recita,ions in any
school was SO, while the average was rs.
The average wages of female teachers per
week including board was o. 80. The
committee speak in very hattering terms Of
the good work done by the teachers in the
several school. and say they were fortunate
in not being obliged to have much change
in teachers for the year, there beng but %
different teachers for the 18 schools.
In speaking of school finances the COM
mittee say the great increase of school
population in the city and diminution in
the country districts, without an increased
appropriation, makes it necessary to keep
increasing the extra apportionment for coun-
try schools to make up for the decrease In
their proportion of scholars, so that last
year the rural schools, with IS per cent of
the school population, received 81 per cent
of the school money. This might be reme-
died in part by a greater city appropriation :;
but the trouble is largely inherent in
the present complicated school system" :"
tjrctions raised to changes in this system
the committee believe are based mostly o.
imaginary foundations adding that the
supposed inequality of school prope,t- Goes
not exist. AS matter of fact school
property Is very evenly distributed. I'm
reference to the 5000 appropriated for
beginning to supply books to the
school, they say it has been Of the create"
benefit, enabling ,h, M to furnish over 400
text books be'des q supply Of writing
books many of which have been long
reed.d for efficient work. The committe.
in their report .'a'e "A graduate from one
of our rural schools. As now conducted, 10
as well fitted for high school work - the
grammar school graduate Of equal natural
ability" In his report the City Physician
ssye the amount Of sickness at the slms
house during the year has caused that In.
| stitution to partake largely of the nature
~ = NJ kuf -
facilities, and recommends the providing
of apartments for isolation of cases like ty-
phoid fever, tuberculosis, etc. He further
makes several recommendations regarding
the remuneration for treating outside cases
and adds that the total amount of revenue
from that source the past year was bu,
Sl39
In City Marshal Morse's report We nnd
that during the past year there were Gl9
arrests; 1877 arrested for drunkenness and
committed and f1ed, 100 discharged on
probation; left OF on good behavior. l47 {;
sent out Of the city, rs; committed to
industrial school. The persons tha. have
been given lodging and food during the
year number 1876
The City Marshal has served 85 war
rants for search and seizure and has made
| 10 seizures. There have been Al disturb
ances settled withou, arrest. ~ stores found
unlocked, 81 runaway horses caught, 36
dogs killed. 5 lost children found and ~
horses cared for on the streets
The Chief Engineers report shows thu,
the Fire Department has been called out
nineteen times three times the present
year. The engineer rt comnends the pur.
chase this year Of 1000 feet Of hose. The
force Of the department at the present time
consists of 81 men Some repairs are
needed on the engine houses The reser.
voir, are reported in good condition with
the exception Of the one on the corner OF
Bangor ard Cony streets. A hose wagon
has been purchased the past year At an ex
pense of s425 and the old four wheel hose
carriage. The total loss by Are the pas
year a. near AZ could be ascertained 10 %,
33l, on which there was an insurance OF
o., 800.
1t appears from the Street Commission.
er's report for the western district thai q, :,
643 90 we're expended for repairs durin,
the summer and SsGl 50 for snow bills
for the eastern district the sum ner bill,
were %, 293 oil and the snow bills A522 Ga
i From the City Solicitors report II sp
pears that but two suits have bee,
commenced sgainst the city vi hin the pas
year The first, VIM X. Downs ". Au
gasta. claiming o., 900 iamages for injur
les to bis shoulder, alleged TO have beei
caused by . supposed defect in the side
walk on Water street, last 50 inner, will b,
in order for trial at the next October term
The other, Susan A. Carter vs. Augusta
!. to recover $50 10 for pauper supplies.
returnable at the next April term. Tn
town Of Alma threatens suit against tn
city to compel payment Of q large bill 70
pauper supplies furnished Chas. Moran