Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-20

Continued from 1T pise. u

appeopri stions mads for this DEPARTMENT
were fnadequate to meet the expensee, on
accounk Of IL lMge number Of calf for cid
made upon The city. A special appropria-
tiun made Tor repairs Il the aimshouse was
expeuied ia putting service Of lot water
through the baiIdiog. This makes n.ate-
rial reduction in the expense of heating. and
adds much TO The comfort Of The ilmstes.
The unpaid bills of this department. amount
to about 1880. this inciudes $500 unpaid
for the hot water service. About $500 will
be refunded BY towns whose poor have
been aided BY NJ. For the needs and re-
quirements Of the poor and insane depart
ment refer you to the overseers Of the
poor.
Our schools, including the high school,
have cost some over SIG, 900 the rast year.
About $1,000 has been received back from
tuition from scholars who reside out of
town. The above expenses only include
the ordinary repairs, 90 that the above is
about the regular annual running expenses
of our schools. The city has ALDO. compar-
aiively recently, built Eve new school
houses and thoroughly repaired and remod-
elkt u UlIcG LuOEc, oo kAAAs O0A 0ott0th9o - -
40 good a. those of any place in our State.
When to the above is added the fact that no
opposition has been made for years to the
appropriation Of whatever money has been
re commended by the school board, think
can safely say that Gardiner has been very
liberal with her schools. The attendance
has been large in comparison to the number
of scholars in town.
The passage of the free text book lar,
furnishing free text books to all scholars i'm
creased our attendance about one hundred
the first year. ard that number has been
maintained until this year. The attendance
in our Grammar schools in greater than any
previous yesrs, bu. there is small falling
off in the lower grades. This is brought
about by the change in the school laws,
raising the age of attendance from four to
five years. The law as it now stands is
right. Five years is young enough for
scholars to attend school, and while it is
convenient for the mother to have the little
fello rs away . few hours each day. the ex-
ira work imposed upon the teacher is not
rewarded by the results that we should get
if the pupil were year older, and is IN
furious to them, and detrimental to the in
terasts of the school.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the report of the school committee, and the
therein contained.
Our common 10 the Only public park in
Kennebec county. To those who had not
given this any attention, the above state
ment will seem surprising. Our. State i,
far behind our more youthful states of the
West, in this direction. Their beautiful
parks are source of great pride, and large
sums of money are spent in beautifying
them. 1t was through the generosity of the
late Hon. r. II. Gardiner that we can boast
Of ours. Last year an appropriation OF
$1,000, was made for the purpose of making
needed improvements upon the common.
The committee of the city council, having
the matter in charge, expended the money
to the best advantage, but another appro-
priation will be necessary to complete the
work. hope this will receive your favor
able consideration
Mrs. G. S. Palmer of Washington C ),
has presented beautiful fountain to the
city ! to be placed upon the common in the
early spring. Mrs. Palmer makes this
muniHcent gift in memory of her late hus-
band; Gideon Siiuson Palmer, M. ID. DIR.
Palmer was born in, g ardiner June 3,lSl3
He attended our public schools and fitted
for college here, and was graduated from
BowdOin College in the class of 1888 He
sfterward was graduated from the Maine
Medical School. For time after gradual
ing he was principal of our academy, and
m. it with marked success. He after ward
commenced the active practice of his pro-
fession here, and continued at his profes-
sion until 1861, when he entered the army
as a surgeon and rose to the rank Of
division surgeon After the war he re-
turned and remained here until 1869, when
he accepted a position of professorship in
Howard university, Washington, d. c.,
and ever after made that city his home.
DR.. Palmer, during his long resilence 10
our city, was closely identified with its bus
mess interests, and was frequently honored
by cur citizens. lie was a member Of the
school boarl for manv year,. and repre-
sented this city in the Maine House for two
terms. This fitting memorial has been ac-
cepted by the city, and will be formally
dedicated, Msy 30th, next.
The ordinances of the city have not been
revised and printed for thirteen Yeas. In
that time several new ordinances have been
s.yeral laws supeIceding some of
the ordinances have been enacted by the
Legislature, and many changes are needed
As an amendment to the city charter may
be necessary to bripg about some desired
changes, would recommend that a CON-
mittee be appointed TO revise the ordinances
this year, so that if any lie gislation is needed
it can be obtained at the next Legislature,
and the revision completed in time fer the
ne 1t city government