The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-13

wasted. Good streets cannot be main
| tanned without perfect drainage, and
money judiciously expended in sewer
| construction will prove good invest
ment.
| Our city and state make a liberal pro-
vision for the support of public schools.
To gain the best results in the expen d.
(, ture of such moneys, we should have
comfortable and healthy buildings. The
great need of the East End of our city is
such a building. The school board in
their last annual report earnestly recon-
| mended that suitab BILE house be erected,
thus providing better accommodations
in this rapidly growing part OF our city.
| am glad that steps have already been
taken to carry out the desire of the
board and the pressing need of this
locality. | trust you will not overlook
this important question, and will early
co operate with the school board to
speedily complete all plans, and at your
very earliest convenience erect a COM
modious building TO meet these urgent
claims.
Fire Department.
During the past year the fire depart
ment has fully demons trated its useful
ness and its reliability. From actual
provings We are assured OF it's ability TO
successfully cope with dangerous fires,
and am confident that it is fully the
equal of any similar organization in any
city of our class. Its needs and require
ments when brought to your attention.
should be promptly granted. for | am
of the opinion that none but necessary
requests will be made. Upon its proper
and thorough equipment much of safety
and immunity from disastrous confagra-
tions depends, and we should see to it
that the fire department does not lack
what it needs.
From perusal of the report of the
chief engineer find that he recommends
some alterations to Hose House No.2, in
order to better accommodate the Hook and
Ladder company, the purchase of a addi-
tional hose, the setting of more MIGRANTS
and the esta Enlistment of hose company
on the northerly side of the river in the
vicinity of Brown street. He suggests
also that the horses used for the purpose
of the fire department. should be owned
by the city, and that they be employed
on.the streets during the day time, being
kept in the fire stations at night, the
drivers to be constantly in the employ of
the city and to sleep in the fire stations.
These recommendation and suggestions
should / think receive your careful con-,
sideration.
Aims House and Poor Department..
"The poor you always have with you,"
and while it is our duty to relieve the
unfortunate, we esteem it pleasure
rather than burden. The past year has
been unusually hard, and in consequence
thereof, there have been quite a number
of calls for assistance, and while we real
ize that it is very humlliatlng on the
part of those asking aid, we want them
to feel that it is their just due, and
Westbrook is and always has been ready
to respond to all worthy calls
wants and needs of many of our fellow
citizens, took wise and judicious meas
ures in appropriating money to carry on
public works forsthe purpose of giving
employment to those who were unable to
find it elsewhere, and through their
good judgment employment was fur
nished to many, thereby rendering
assistance in the form of labor, which
was taken advantage of by great
many. We all know that it is the duty
of all mankind to relieve; the distressed.
That you may better understand the
needs and wants of this department., RI
will refer you to the report Of the over |
seers of the poor.
And now gentlemen these subjects de-
mand your attention.
We may fearlessly enter upon every |
duty. We feel that some advance has |
been made during the past year, and we |
hope that during the coming year we |
may effect such improvements as shall |
materially and permanently improve the |
conditions of our city and the welfare of |
our citizens.
/. After the inaugural the city council |
by choosing Mr.. Lemuel S. Lane
president. He received every vote but his |
own, which he cast for John E. Warren, |