The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-06
oITY cove RN N EMIT.
Regular monthly Meeting Of the
City Council.
The Water Commissioners to Confer
with the Company.

The regular meeting of the City Govern
ment was held last evening.
In Board Of Mayor and Aldermen.
Absent: Messrs. Rand and Bagley. This
business wa transacted:
ELECTRICITY.
"An ordnance relating to wires and
apparatus for electrical purposes. and an
ordinance comforting additional author
ity upon the city electrician and relating to
the supervision and regulation of wires for
electrical purposes were passed TO be or
dained.
These two ordinances operate to one end,
viz: To strictly define the obligations OF
the electric companies and To put under the
control of the city electrician the entire sys-
TEN Of electrical wires and apparatus In the
city, and invest him with the authority TO
see that all statute regulations In regard to
electrical apparatus, insulation Of wires,
etc, are strictly complied with.
SCHOOL MATTERS.
The special committee previously aD-
pointed to investigate decreased expenses Of
the school board, reported the Increase due
to Improved methods OF instruction. and the
policy of the committee to allow fewer schOl-
ars to each teacher.
ORDER TICKETS.
An order was passed providing that all
purchases by different departments be made
with written orders.
WOODEN BUILDINGS.
Henry st John Smith was given permiss-
ion TO erect an elevator on Union street un-
der certain restrictions.
Ella G. Snow was gwen permission to erect
new wooden building at the corner OF
Spring and Fletcher streets.
FIRE ALARMS.
An order was passed providing for the
construction of twenty key boxes TO assist
In giving alarms. These boxes are placed ON
the side Of the alarm boxes. In case of fire
you break the glass front, take the key out
aud ring In the alarm.
WATER AGAIN.
Ordered, that the board Of water commits
sioners be empowered to confer with the
Portland Water Company and consider the
question Of water rates charged by them to
manufacturers and other large eonsumerS,
also rates charged to private consumers and
to make report of their doings to the city
council Of the present rates charged and
such notifications as the company and the
commissioners think reasonable TO make for
the future board.
THE CITY BUILDING.
1t was ordered that the Senators and Rep
reseDtatlyes TO the Legislature elected from
this city and senatorial district be requested
TO exert their influence to procure the enact
ment by the legislature at Its coming session
Of the bill entitled IAN act to confer certain
powers upon the county commissioners of
the County Of Cupberland and City Council
Of Portland" the object of which bill
Is to enable the county commissioners and
City OF Portland TO enter into negotiations
for the termination Of tine existing lease Of
the land occupied by the City Building and
to enable the county and the city each to ac-
quire a title In fee simple to the premises re-
spectively occupied by them.
UNDER GROUND.
The New England Telegraph and Tele-
phone Company notified the city government
OF their intention to petition the legislature
for permission to place their wires under
ground.
SETTLING BACK BILLS.
Orders were passed authorizing the city
treasurer to pay Rufus N. Merrill S25 for
services on the dump the past year.
To pay $3.50 interest on Clapp fund to
Widows Wood Society.
To pay, Martha A. Merrill $50 for land
rights on Long Island.
To pay Eastern Granite Company S236 for
granite blocks bought In 1884
To pay A. T.. Fuller S22.97 for supplies for
street depal tment in 1885. 'S6 81.
To pay Henry Soule S612.30 in full OF
claim against the city.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The bond Of II. r. Sargent as constable
was approved.
The committee on claims reported leave to
withdraw on petition of John Finnemore.
An auctioneer's license was granted Levi
+. HOyt.
The report of the recorder of the Munich
pal Court was ordered on file.
Permission was granted the Consolidated
Electric Light Company to erect two poles
ON Congress street.
An insane person was committed to the
asylum.
The auditor reported several appropria-
tions exhausted.
The report Of the mayor on the census of
tne city, taken by the assessors, was accept
ed; 1t will be found elsewhere.
Tne REQUEST OF the managers Of the Home
Tor Aged Men for a lot In Evergreen was re.
Ierred to the trustees OF Evergreen Genie
terry.
In Common Council.
Absent; Messrs. Brackett, Welsh, Smith,
Stevens, Josselyn and Westwood.
Reading Of the records was dispensed
with.
MANUFACTURES.
Mr.. Conant read the report of the commit.
tee on manufactures which was accepted
and sent up. The committee believe every
thing possible should be done to enlarge the |
manufactures of the city. They think |
great deal has been done by reducing taxa.
tion to bring In new Industries, and the still
greater reduction to be expected in the near
future. The lowest possible rate of freight
on goods imported or exported should be OBJ
tained Another matter too little considered
is the speedy delivery of shipments. Many
consumers who n W buy elsewhere might
be made customers of our manufacturers and
traders could they be assured of quick de-
livery OF all goods purchased, aud it Is also
matter for united action on the part of those
directly interested. There should be- a strong
feeling OF loyalty to home products.
Mrssrs. Rounds, Gallagher and Conant
were appointed permanent committee on the
part OF the board.
LIGHTS OUT.
Mr.. Conant said that his constituents
complained OF the early hour at which the
electric lights were extinguished in the
morning.
Mr.. Gallagher said the committee had the
matter in charge and 1t was proposed to rec
tlfy the evil.
WATER RATES.
Mr.. Chapman offered an order that the
water commissioners be instructed to pre-
sent report OF the result Of their confer
ence with the Water Company In regard to
rates In Portlan /. In accordance with the re-
quest OF the Water Company. at the next
regular meeting OF the City Council. Passed
and sent up.
OUR SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Rounds offered an order that the COM
mittee on public instruction cooperate with
the school committee to readjust the school
lines so as to reduce school expenses, aud
report at the next meeting Of the City COun-
ell. Passed and sent up.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Papers from the upper board received
concurrent action.
Some committees Of conference were an
pointed and the committees agreed.
The orders to transfer unexpended bal.
ances from unexpended appropriations, and
for the treasurer to pay bills from the money
where expenses had Outruu approprIations
were laid on the table in this board.