The Portland daily press., 1894-11-06
10 YOU WANT FIRE BOAT?
The City Fathers Ask the Advice Of
Citizens.
MUNICIPAL BUSINESS TRANSACT
ED LAST EVENING.

Mayor Baxter vetoes the Oak Street Wild
IL ening Because He Was PersonallysInter-
Veto-A Report on the Subject of Elec.
trio Lighting-New Buildings and Other
Matters.
In the regular monthly meeting OF the
City Government last evening, the principal
question was the proposition to purchase
IRE boat. The ball Wa set a rolling in the
Common Council when Mr.. Kent of ward
three, from the committee on fire depart
ment made the report already mentioned
IN the PRESS in regard to the purchase of
fse boat. The offer of Mr. jsa iah Daniels
manager of the Harpsweli line. to sell the
steamer Chebeague to the city for S550O was
presented in this report with the recon-
mendation that it be accepted. Then Mr..
Kent introduced the following order:
That the committee on fire department
be and are hereby authorized to purchase
from the Harpswell Steamboat company the
steamer 'Chebeague,' to be used for : city
hre ooat, and other necessary municipal
purposes, under the control of the fire de-
partment, Tor sum not TO exceed $500,
ana In payment thereof, the city treasurer
De, ana he is hereby directed to issue city
notes. payable to said company of $1l0C or
less each, payable in one, two, three. four
and i've years, respectively, bearing IN
terest at the rate of four per cent ner
annum.'
AS soon this order was presented.
Councilman Holland moved that a ioint
convention De held. This was done. and z
norda had
port OF the committee on fire boat was read.
Alderman Little then related that the
committee had had reliable proposals which
justified them in believing that for running
the boat yearly. the total expense of the
boat would be $2s00 year. This would save
the $500 pay which is used year for extra
fire boat service. and $1,000 which the city
pays yearly for harbor master, breaking ice.
etc.
Alderman Thompson said it was astonisb-
ing to see how cheap things appeared on The
instalment plan, and how much they would
finally cost. He would like to present some
estimates:
Purchase of boat, $500
Needed cha nges, 500
Tump 2thU
Fitting for breaking ice, $50
ouuufies, $50
Total, S1o.Qoo
As for running the boat the captain would
cost sos monthly, the engineer SIS and tho
fireman s45- The coal would cost $500 year
y, interest $500. depreciation $1,000 and in
surance Sl25. Thus the yearly cost would
be $500.
Alderman Randall said he agreed with
the gentleman from Three. 1t would cost
$4,000 year to run the boat ami she would
De constant pickpocket from the city The
idea that wharf room would be givcn the
boat free was delasion. Coal for he boat,
which must have steam up all lie tine,
would cost nearly $1,000 year.
Mr.. Little then read ID letter from a lead
ing insurance agent. saying that with fire
boat rates on Commercial street would be
reduced five per cent.
Alderman Randall retorted that the rates
would be reduced anyway.
Councilman Haskell said the Chebeague
was good boat, but it would cost S500n
year to run her properly, and he did not be-
lieve such expenditures would be wise
Councilman Mcdonald called in question
the condition of the Chebeague's boilers.
Councilman Nickerson explained that both
the eng Ines and boilers were in good shape.
He thought it was question between the
Chebeague and no boat at ALL
Alderman MCGOWAN thought that in the
resent conflict of opinion the minds of all
= citizens should be taken, and he adov-
tSd public hearing at Reception hall at
iiich all ssshouId he invited
Alderman Thompson concurred i'll this
idea; and Alderman Little also
Alderman Randall thought til - they
wouldn't know any better how 10 eo,eat
the end of a hearing than now.
When the joint convention, broke up,
Alderman Thompson presented and the
aldermen passed order filing Monday
evening, November IL, for public bearing
on the matter of fire boat
The Common Council agre ed to this hear
ing.
MAYOR BAXTER vEToES.
Mayor Baxter presented the following
veto message to the Board of Aldermen
Gentleman of he Board of Aldermen:
return TO you without my signatme an
order passed at the last meeting of the city
government TO pay tue owners of land to
widen Oak street the sum of $40 2ST.
My>reason for SO doing is based upon
section 81. chapter of the Revised
statutes, mo member of a city government
shall be interested directly or indirectly In
any contract entered INTO by such govern
ment, while he is Il meilb, thereof; and
contracts made in violation thereof are
void"
do not wish to be understood as desiring
10 thWart the wishes of my fellow citizens,
DR. of the city council, or as being opposed
Continued on Eighth Page.