The Portland daily press., 1891-03-24
This being done, our debt statement would
show as follows:

ing loan commissioners, 1850 10
Sinking fund, $l,eOO,422 "A sl.29l, Os2 "a
Net debt March, 1891, $685. 67 6s
Thereby giving us the privilege of the Mas
sachusetts and New York savings institutions
which cannot legally invest in the bonds of any
city whose net debt exceeds s per cent of its
valuation.
The valuation of the city for 1890 is ss5.6ll,ssO
s per cent of which is $l,7sO6OO
Our net debt being l,655,467 GO
Amount below the legal limit of
Massachusetts and New York, $l25,l32 "a
In the light of the treasurer's statement, the
city has reason to congratulate itself upon the
condition of its finances.
REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.
The growth of the citys expenses can be
checked in some, but not in all its items. In
the making of appropriations for the coming
year we cannot be too careful in the exercise OF
| the discretion committed to us. in keeping our
expenditures as low as is consistent with the
actual wants of the city, and so make the bur-
dens Of the Taxpayers as light as possible.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO MANUFACTURERS.
The question of offering inducements where
by new industries would be brought to our
city, has been agitated to quite an extent, both
by members of the city council and the board
OF trade, during the past year. 1t is clearly
our duty to do what we can to persuade new
enterprises to locate here which will give en-
ployment to labor and increase the demand for
real estate, thus promoting the growth and
prosperity of our city. To my mind, no in
ducement would be SO potential in this direc-
ton as reduced rate of taxation.
STREET LIGHTING.
The lighting of the streets, parks and public
places OF the city by electricity, is subject to
the terms OF contract entered into on the
part of the municipal authorities with the
Consolidated Electric Light company. on
the 3lst of October, 1890, to run for
one year thereafter. The price paid is 10000
| per annum. 1t is an expensive luxury; but
am very sure that our people would be very
| loath to dispense with it now, especially the
brilliant arc system which is so helpful in police
administration and adds SO materially TO
the comfort and safety of tie citizens. AS to
the incandescent system, permit me to say, that
viewing it by its own feeble light, am unable
to see its superiority to the "light of other
days"
regret that have not been able to examine
the reports of the heads of the several de-
partments carefully enough, to warrant me in
making at this time, any specific recommedna-
BILE suggestions contained therein. This will
be pleasant duty for me at some later day.
Under the provisions of the city charter shall
avail myself of the privilege of communicating
to you from time to time, such information and
recommending such measures as the best inter-
ests of the city may demand.
STREET RAILROAD SERVICE.
The question of street railroad transporta
ton is an important one and growing in i'm
portance as the population of our cities in
creases. None of US would willingly return
to the days when there were no rails in our
streets and no horse cars to meet the wants of
the large mass of our people. The nconven-
fence we suffer from this source is more than
made up by the advantages which our citizens
as whole, derive from a we'll regulated street.
car service. New methods of traction and
motive power are being introduced which,
while furnishing more rapid service, involve
new elements of danger to the public.
The use of electricity for lighting
and other purposes where dangerous cur
rents are used, is accompanied by hazard to
the community which can only be offset by
extra precautions and care in the construction
and maintenance of the lines. The public has
Alright to demand that the highest degree of
care and skill shall be exercised in these mat
tiers. Applications are now pending before the
legislature for charters for street railroads to
be operated by electricity. No rights in the
streets of any city should be granted to any
railroad, for an unlimited period of time, nor
without strict municipal supervision and regu-
lation, so far as the manner of maintaining and
operating such road is concerned. Especially
is this the case with electric railways. Local
control in these matters should never be taken
away, by general Legislative grants. With the
advance already made in electrical science, and
improvements yet to come-for who can doubt
that il is the light as well as the motive power
OF the future-it is quite possible that horse
power in street railroads may be done away
with in the near future. But the time has not
yet come, in my opinion, when the citizens of
Portland would wish to see electric cars sub
stituted for horse cars, on the principal thor
oughfares of our city. Our people are not
prepared to say that they prefer speed to safe
ty. When they are offered a motive power
that combines greater despatch and equal Sc
curity with the present system, am very sure
that they will not be slow to adopt it. By
virtue of the authority of the city council, the
experiment is about to be tried of operating
the Deering line by electric power. This line
offers good opportunity of testing the eff
cheney, safety, and comparative cost of such
system, and may enable our citizens to Judge
as to how far, in the future, il may safely be
introduced within our city limits. 1t is but
just to say, and il is a matter of congratula-
ton. that under the efficient management of
the Portland Railroad company, a corporation
owned and controlled by our own citizens, we
have as good street-car service as is to be
found in any city Of New England.
WATER RATES.
The city council of the last year caused to
be appointed the board of water commission
ers contemplated by its contract with the
Portland Water company, who have made in
vestigation of matters under said contract, in
GLIDING the rates charged to water takers by
said company.
The importance of this matter cannot be bet
ter stated than by these words from the report
Of that commission:
"Since discontinuance of the old sources of
supply of water from wells and cisterns, Sebago
water has become almost a universal necessity
in Portland. This necessity is perpetual one,
and will continue to grow in magnitude in
proportion to the increase of our population"
In face of this permanent and ever increas-
ing necessity, the obligation of the city govern
ment to secure to the people the indispensable
supply of water at fair and just rates. cannot
be avoided.
Quoting again from the same report: 1--WE
are confronted on the one hand by a general
conVlcuon In the community that the COM
pany's rates are excessive, and on the other by
the property rights and interests of the COM
pany, and of stockholders largely resident in
this city. The company is a valuable adjunct
to the city, for the article in which il deals is
essential to protection from fire, for sanitary
purposes, and for personal comfort, to every
man, woman and child in the community
From these words the delicacy, difficulty
and importance of the question of rates plainly
appear. Justice and liberal dealing with pri-
vate persons, who assumed burden which the
city in its corporate capacity might not for
years, have been prepared to bear, and who
carried to successful operation this great work
of bringing water from Lake Sebago, must be
reconciled with the rights and the interests of
every class of citizens. The city government
should have no prejudice or Partially in deal
ing with this subject; but striving to ascer
tain what is its duty towards all concerned.
should discharge that duty as 1t is shown to
be, justly and promptly.
If the questions involved can be settled by |
fair contract, let that course be pursued. If no
between the conflicting interests can
be reached, nothing will remain but to resort to
the equity court. But, before taking the latter
course, the city council is honorably bound to
make every reasonable effort to gain clear,
appreciation of what it may reasonably and |
Justly ask at the hands of the company.
And now gentlemen, tender youmy hearty