The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-02
WEsTBROoK AFFAIRS.
Some of the Municipal Reports-The Du-
ties of the Auditor,

An adjourned meeting of the West
brook city council was held last evening.
William w. Webb was elected to serve as
clerk in Ward 3, at the ensuing munici-
pal election.
The ordinance in regard to the duties
of the city auditor, offered by Alderman
Warren at the previous meeting, was
read, it having had two previous read
ings. The ordinance covers all the ne
cessary bills that should come up to be
considered by the finance committee.
Alderman Warren explained the de-
tails that made such an ordinance legal
necessity, and offered an amendment
that would result in common transfer
of unexpended balances.
Alderman ,Goodell thought that the
idea was quite right, butit .-light'in-
fringe on the charter of the city govern
ment.
Alderman Dana suggested that these
balances might be covered in to the con-
tingent fund.
City Solicitor Ray raised some legal
points. He argued that it was not safe
at any time to evade the spirit of the
charter. He thought it would be better
to go to the legislature for an amend
ment to its charter rather than seek to
evade the present provisions.
After further discussion, Alderman
| RI ont tn
amendment, which authorized the city
treasurer to retain all unexpended bal
ances subject to the action OF the COM
mittee on accounts.
The amendment was passed by unan-
imous vote, and the ordinance then took
| its third reading.
| Other Business.
Tne value of the hose house and prop
erty in Saccarappa was reported as S547o.
and at Cumberland Mills $3.50. The
school property amounts to $4,000.
An order was passed that 1900 copies
of financial statement be printed for
the information of citizens previous to
the municipal election.
| An OfuCE was pdooCd SObOlAAS5 oiS
charge for sewer account OF MIS-. "A. ..
Merrill.
Abstracts follow of the reports OF the
municipal officers which the council has
| ordered printed:
Valuation and Taxation.
The report of the board of assessors
shows that the city has a valuation OF
So. on. .226 in real estate and $1,007, ,697.25
T in personal property, a total of So, ,054,
923.25. The whole number of polls is
| 177S. and the tax assessed $5334. The
rate of taxation is two per cent and the
poll tax So. Twenty families are receiv-
inc municipal aid. A supplement to the
report adds $3.50 to real estate, $4,000 to
personal estate and SIS to polls.
The total of the tax assessed on real
estate was $40, ,949.42, and the total tax
on personal estate $50, 149.24, which with
the polls and supplement makes the to-
tai Of taxes assessed $3.50, 6,647.3
The City Poor.
The chairman of the overseers Of the
poor, lCapt. Elisha Newcomb, eulogizet
superintendent Sawyer of the tow
farm, and spoke very highly of the cit,
nhysician. The number of inmates O
the almshouse at the commencement Of
the year was nine. Two have died, ont
has been discharged and two have beer
added during the year.
Fire Department..
The report of the Chief Engineer o
the fire department, Chas. HI. Leighton
shows that there have been seven fire
during the year with total loss of $12,
$40, on which there was insurance to tn
amount OF II $1S,500. The department
consists of two efficient hose companies
the city being well fortified with hy
drants that supply water from Sebag
: Lake through the main of the Portlant
Water Company. The chief enginee
J recommends the purchase of 1000 feet o
: additional hose and hook and ladde
truck. ifsf3
The report of the city physician
!. board of health, ETC., will not be made
, public until the printing of the city re
port, but they are unimportant.