The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-03-24
Organization of the City Government.

rooms Monday forenoon at 10 O'Clock for Or
ganization. All answ red to roll call. The
Mayor, Board of Aldermen and Common
Council We're sworn in by Joseph William
son, Jr. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. A.
Savage of the Unitarian Church..
Mayor Thompson then delivered the fol-
lowing address:
THE MAYORS ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL: The
citizens of our City have again, with gratfy-
ing unanimity. entrusted us with their munic-
ipal affairs. The account of our stewardship
for the year just closed has been written and
recorded, and by 1t we are to he judged.
Doubtless, we have in some things erred i'll
Judgment, but that have faithfully and
fearlesSly striNen to do our duty for the best
interests of the City, think VIII he general
Iy conceded The experience of the past VIII
enable us to fully appreciate the Importance
"t positions and to guard against and
avoid amy mistakes we may have made.
| earnestly hope that We shall counsel with
each other, and that the harmony which
characterized the deliberations of the last
City Council will not be wanting in this.
The amount of appropriations which we
are required to make are hurlensome and
Will not materially vary from year to year:
therefore many mproNelnents which we
would like to make must be necessarily post
poned. There are certain improvements
which seem to he impcratlNely demanded,
even at the risk of an increase OF taxation.
In 1889, the Legislature enacted Chap. 2S5
OF Public Laws OF that year, relating to the
construction of drains and common sewers
This law was made applicable to our City
by a vote of the City Council in 1890, and in
pursuance thereof d plan of constructing and
maintaining a system OF sewerage adopted
During that year a sewerage was construct
ed extending from Cross street, along Main
STR to Frank lin thence Fran lin
street to Charles street. This law provides,
in substance: that those who are benefited by
such sewer shall bear one half of the expense
of construction, to he assessed by the Munic
ipal Officers In the case OF the sewer above
named that the assessments have been made,
amounting to S1;'A.S 50, which should, and un-
doubtedly WILL be forthwith paid INTO the
Treasury. The acceptance of the provisions
of this law by the City Council was made
necessary by the introduction of water by
the Belfast Water Company followed by the
very general use thereof by the citizens. The
pure quality of our water and the excellent
service provided 10y the Company are potent
factors tending constantly and continually
to increase the consumption thereof. In view
of these facts it becomes our duty to provide
ample means whereby the water used for
different domestic and other purposes may
be conducted into the Bay. The foregoing
facts also involve sanitary considerations
which require us to treat this question fairly
and intelligently. Should the Council deter
mined upon an extension Of the sewer syS
| tenn during the present year, | suggest for
| your consideration that the pipes be laid in
| the resident portion OF the City, it seems
| to me to he needed there more than else
where a the present time, and We shall, in
| all probability. experience less trouble III
| collecting the assessments. 1t may be proper
| to state in this connection that ON the 10th
| day of November, A. d. 1892, there will be
| paid into the Sinking Fund established for
| the ultimate redemption Of the railroad mort
| gage bonds, amounting to - 900, the sum
ol Sl5oo, and the City will of course receive
| that amNunt less from the dividend ar-
| count Of the B. & NJ l.. II. Il. Co. This
amount Will have To he made up by taxation,
| and hence ottr appropriations must be IN
| creased by that sum. | do not perceive the
necessity OF Increasing amy other approprla-
| tlon.
| The building of roads and Keeping them
| in proper repair presents, under the system
| in vogue. d problem full of intricacies. A
good road was never built hy accident, nor
| maintained by ignorance.
| The selection of highway surveyors re
| uuircs much care and Judgment. The office
| was not created especially for any particular
| man, and should be bestowed upon none
| who are NOT competent and Wiling to dis
| charge the duties in a satisfactory manner
| The test should be, the best road for the
money expended. The highway tax is re-
| necessary burden, and very Frequently we
| are forced to the conclusion that it is eNpend-
| ed in the same spirit. Nevertheless, it is
| the entrance fee to community life the price
we pay for lie privilege of living together
| We. in this city, have severed our allegiance
| to that antiquated and ridiculous idea of
| working out our road tax.
! This is a step i'll the right direction, and
| trust that the idea embodied in this depart
| ure from old methods will bear fruit in the
| be placed under the supervision of one COM
| petent head, who shall be he'd to the same
| strict accountability that the heads of other
municipal departments are
| Sometime during the month of September
| next the contract between the city and the
| Belfast Electric Co. will expire, and you
will be required to make some provision for
| the lighting of our streets. This is matter
| of much Importance and should, and
questionably will, receive your careful at
| tention. | recommend that the question be
investigated without delay, that may be
| in position to secure for the city the best
| service for the least cost.
At the commencement of my adminiStra-
ton, one year ago, after advising with the
| Council. | detailed two police officers for
service during each Sunday. The expense
has been comparatively tritlng. while the
results have been very gratifying and | rec
| cmmend a continuance of the service during
| the present year. Indeed, the police service
| under the management of our excellent ritN
| marshal has been most efficient, as evi-
| denced by the general peace and good order
| which have prevailed throughout the year. In
| February last lookup was constructed in
| the basement of the city building. for the
| Imprisonment OF the disturbers of the peace,
who are arrested temporarily. and am sat
| istied that it will not only prove an eco
| nomcal investment for the city but will
| greatly aid the police force III the effective
| discharge of their duties.
| In my address to you one year ago, said
| that | was informed that our fire depart
ment was thoroughly equipped and in good ,
efficient working condition, and that its eff
| ticiency should be maintained in any event.
| That with our unsurpassed system of water
| works, our fire department, well manned
and otticered, could prevent amy extended
| conhagration; that to this end our people
| taxation, and that the cling of safety from
ample compensation for all necessary out
| lay.
| The experience of the year has not enabl-
| Ell me to state my belief i'll the matter better,
| hence repeat and adopt, and will only add
| that in proof of the efficiency of this depart
| ment, attention need only be called to the
| absence of fires, during the past year, with
| in the operative limits of the department
| which have been destructive of any consider
| able amount OF property.
| The experimenting School Committee re-
| port the several schools to be in a prosper
| Gus condition, and recommend the employ
ment of a Superintendent, who shall devote