Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-07

The extension Of the sewers is the great
work Of the immediate future; liberal sp.
propositions will be required for this pur-
pose. 1t should be systematically done IS q
part of an entire system and not in detached
fragments. This subject demands serious
consideration.
Hydranes aud Water.
Hydrant No. 80 has been located on
Maple street the past year, near the new
mill Of Bangs Bros. The long distance
required to extend the main took the
rental out of the contract with the
Water Co, and the price agreed
upon, to compensate Tor the additional
cost was = rental aEd half
for this hydrsnt The location of hydrant
No 4G, near the railroad crossing renders,the
same practically-useless much Of the time.
1t should be locsted at some point near by
where it can be kept in condition for instant
use. was assured that an iron pipe
would be extended from the pumping sta
ton to above the dam, but the work has
not been done. am assured it will be
done the coming season.
Highways.
yrhe methods Of repairing highways in
this city are most crude, expensive and
unsatisfactory. This work should be con-
Quoted under the direction of competen,
men with q view to ae permanent work as
can be obtained. Roads require to be kept
up as they wear out little by little. The
annual June repairs result in bad roads
and great cost. The streets most used
should be first put in permanent condition,
S,,., -,iu xusf
ces OF the city will permit and steadily
extending year by year.
2 The highways and sewers should be
under the direct control Of the mayor, city
engineer, and a third person to be named
by the mayor and aldermen. The street
commissioners should be the agents OF this
board, and held strictly to execute its
orders. No person or corporation should
be allowed to take up paving or excavate
the streets for sny purpose without the con-
sent of this board.
| recommend contract with q compe-
tent civil engineer for the thorough semi
annual inspection of Kennebec Bridge, and
report to the mayor and aldermen
This will insure its proper examination
without danger Of its being overlooked.
Poor Department.
This department has been admirably cor
Quoted during the past two years, and 1
have not felt called upon to give it that
personal supervision which otherwise might
have been required. The past year has
been one requiring vigilance on the psrt
of the overseere, ard the accounts show
that they have confined the expenditures
within the limit of the appropriation. I
SUI assured that all bills not rendered, will
be fully met by the amount now due from
other towns, and leave considerable bal
snce in favor of the department. I had
this same assurance yesr ago. and an
pleased to report that the facts have justi-
fed the assurance. An extension and re-
pairs of the city farm buildings should re-
ceive the attention the City Council.
City Records.
An appropriation should he made for in
dexing the city clerks records especially
relating TO the location of streets and
sewers, street lights. city ordinances, etc. =,
or these matters should be coIated In a
separate volume, devoted to such purposes,
The Financial Ysar.
The financial year should be detiued, and
the appropriations should be made to cover
a fixed period of time. During the past
two years have without authority, rendered
an account fer a financial year running
from, March to March !, that is, all bills
contracted from March l, 1889, to the
inauguration of the City Government of
1889, l assumed rs expenditures of that
year, and adopted the same rule for the
year 1890. this would place the expeadi-
lures from March l, 1891, to Msrch 1874,
among the expenses of the year follow
ing, as these bills must necessarily be
adjusted by my successor, and so on from
year to year, the rule appears to me the
best possible, and ensbles the city officers
to report as required by the city charter
before the third Monday in Msrch.
All appropriations should lapse at the
end of each fusncial year, ard any sum
remaining unexpended should revert
to the treasury until re-sppro-
prlated. No other course can be
safely adopted Il will be seen that the
undrawn balances are represented by
uncolleeted taxes. have shown that these
taxes are not worth their face. II then we
take any account for instance highways,
special, the undfswn il stated at S652,II
if we carry this forward to new account
and spend the amount mex. year, together
with the new appropriation, we are simply
drawing upon cash which is not to be
realized entire for six years, and oae-third
of which is never to be resIzed. Carving
this through all the departments we could
show on paper that we were keeping within
our appropriations while in fact we were
steadily running behind.
found the hvdsant rents .snd water rates
hal rot been paid AZ the contract REQUIRED.
but bad been paid twice each yesY ,Jupa 1
and Dec. lst. This leaves the rem, 5ae
Rom Dec. l, 1s.i0. II this method con-
tinues each city government. will nav one
years rental and the amount due from Dec.
i. to March 1, should nc. be regarded as an
outstanding bill to be covered by a def
cheney. The same rule applies to the sap-
port Of insane sna to the rent of the police
station, which has been paid for one year
ending January ]. 1891. There are other
cases Of ike nature which il is unreces-
ssry to ianumsra.e.
sm Pleased to sckrosleIea n general
en1rt on the part OF ali city eff eSrs 4, AID
IL xespng expenses IS how a. possible,
In conclusion l have to express nv
appreciation of eouresies extended bv the
members of the city 2ovefamen. and CITY
osicsrs We hsvs differed is some mat
ters but cur differences have been such A.
mishs be expected bscsrse men must ,iif.Y
ia eiiaicss. If they have oFfrilns. and in
all c<ses | have fernd willingness to
scknow}sdss and correct errors when
pointed GUS sxssHsi to Ali my best wishes.
l ex'end to the paal.e my grateful .appre-
clssioa for the f.3HDr twice conferred, ard
retire Nth ti,@ cprssisasasss Of h.yjns
siSen my best energies to the pablie ser.
vice, however lacking The results may be,
1 sHiy hope ugr ssccssscrs maj be able 10
amend where We have been in error. and 70