The Portland daily press., 1893-03-14

present time than to call your attention
to few matters upon which you will be
called to act, and first,
Finances.
BY the report of our city treasurer /
find the following:
Bonded debit. So, 900 0o
City notes l3,o0o.ooOo
Making a total of .$113, 100000
RESOURCES
Cash on hand Narch 1893. ....$ 1,164.3S
Due from the several collectors. 44,4e3.24
Due ne o on outstanding bills. .......... $4,000
Making total Of Il, 3S4e 90
With city property March !, '92, the
value of 81, 221.13 made up with the town
farm, Chapman farm, fire department.,
crusher and engine, road machine, school
property, etc.
During the past year by direction Of
the city council survey of the complete
sewerage district was ordered and a
large amount of work has been done in
ulItCLIOu, UuU ulOIO WOLh 0COuo W
be done before complete sewer map of
the city can be made. 1t is very impor-
,tant that a complete system should be
established, and this cannot be done
without an accurate survey of the whole
sewerage district When such map has
been made, and the sewers needed have
been carefully planned, it will be incum-
bent upon each city council to determine
how much or how little of this work
shall be undertaken in any one year; but
it is evident that if such plan is carried
out, it will be much better than to do
the work in a haphazard way, doing
things which would have to be done over
again, or else thrown aside as of no use.
I would urge upon you strongly to
have this survey continued and COM
pleted during the coming year, and as
complete a system of sewerage estab-
lished as circumstances will permit, and
if established it will be obligatory upon
the incoming council to follow out this
plan, ultimately perfecting our sewer
age and getting the whole city under
control.
The map which has been made, carries
the lines of the lots, and it would be
very easy to develop this map into one
that would be useful for valuation pur-
poses, thing which would be of great
value to the city, as without such map
or plan it is very difficult for the assess
ors to accurately determine the quantity
of land contained under any valuation
and the relative value of property. Iii
no doubt true that more or less property
escapes valuation for want of such a
plan, and I would recommend having
this map completed for valuation pur-
poses as we'll as for the establishment of
the system of sewerage.
Streets and Sidewalks.
Since the electric road was established
in the city, SO much has been required
along the main street to do the things
which needed to be done, but which 9TH
erwise might have waited, that less at
tention has been paid to the other roads
than otherysise would have been the case
This will continue to be the case some
what during the coming season, as the
work upon roads, sidewalks, ETC., is not
complete; but yet think that more at
tention may be given to the other roads
and streets than has been given them
during the past year. do not, however,
know of any large jobs that need to be
undertaken.
/ think that one Of tho important
things for the city to determine is the
best manner of obtaining broken stone
for use upon the highways, and that they
should inaugurate the policy OF each
year making certain amount of broken
stone road in as good and permanent a
manner as possible, with the view of I'LL
timately getting all of our principal
roads made up in that way. Although
| broken stone roads need repairs, they do
not need them to the same extent that
| dirt roads do. l think that the new road
from Cumberland Mills to Morrill's Cor
ner, which was established by the county
commissioners in 1891, should have some
attention during the coming year. 1t
will be within the power of the petition
ers to compel action during the present
year, if we do not do it voluntarily.
An appropriation was made during the
last session for the purpose OF beginning
this work, but it has not been begun, and
| it seems to me that an appropriation
should be made and the work actually
begun upon the road, probably to the ex-
| tent of putting in the culyerts needed,
| opening the road and making it passable,
| leaving the matter of improving for an
| other season. This road does not need
| to be graded great deal. as it is not one
likely to be used for heavy traffic. Also
our sidewalks should be kept more pas
sable than they have in the past, and /
would recommend introducing an ordi-
nance to this effect as soon as may be.
| These matters should receive your care
full attention.