The Portland daily press., 1895-03-12
MAYOR BAXTER'S ADDRESS
4 Record Of Progress During the
Past Year.
AN EARNEST OF PROGRESS FOR
TIRE YEAR TO COME.

Important Recommendation Relative tn
Back Bay and Tukey's Bridge-Extend-
ing and Identifying Our Parks-Man
success-A New Armory Recommend
ed-More Care In the Selection of School
Janitors-Street Commission Does Ex-
vision.
The following is the full text of Mayor
Baxter's inaugural ad ress:
Gentlemen of the City Councils:
1t is my privilege to submit to you my
third inaugural address, and in doing SO
it behooyes me to congratulate you and
the citizens of Portland upon the pros
perity which we have enjoyed during the
past year, the end, hope, or nearly so,
of the business disturbances which have
prevailed throughout the country.
While these disturbances have caused
great loss and suffering to many Vt our
American cities, Portland has been SO
situated as to have hardly felt the agi-
tation which has prevailed beyond her
borders. Her manufacturers are fairly
employed, her merchants solvent, and
her financial institutions enjoy the con-
ddenoe of the community. condition
altogether gratifying. The financial
credit of the city during the past year is
exemplified by the low rate of interest
at which it has been a lie to negotiate
loans, it's last temporary loan having
been negotiated at the rate of two per
cent, the lowest which has ever pre-
vailed. You win see by the Treasurer's
report that the public debt has been
decreased during the year $l9,917 leaving
after deducting assets, net debt of ST.,
1926, 1851. Is.
In accordance with a recommendation
in my last inaugural an attempt was
made to dispose of a portion o. the city's
b oldings in the Portland & Ogdensburg
railroad. satisfactory bid, however,
was not obtained, and the stock was with
drawn from the market. There will fall
due within the period beginning March
Isl, 1895 and ending July 1st, 1897, bonds
to the amount of $545, 900 and if sati-
factory price can then be Obtained for
this stock il will, In my opinion, be wise
TO dispose Of at least a sufficient portion
to liquidete these bonds. As have be-
fore had occasion to remark, the securi-
ties held by the city should be sold to
pay the public debt whenever a salts
factory price can be obtained.
TUKEY'S BRIDGE.
A year ago called attention to the
demand made upon the city by the
q nited States government for the con-
struction of suitable draw, which
would involve the building of new
bridge. A careful study of the subject
by the city engineer in connection with
other engine, rs OF eminent talent has
developed an entirely new plan, which
may prove worthy of adoption. This is
to make a solid fill at both ends leaving
an opening of sufficient width for a
Gfaw, with tide gates to enclose the
waters of Back Bay, permitting but
slight ebb ana flow of the tide. IT this
is deemed feasible it will greatly i'm
prove the appearance of the unsightly
and unhealthy mud fats in that vicinity
and the approach to the bridge, as the
nigh banks at the head of Washington
this plan the costly repairs which have
10 be constantly made TO the roadway OF
a bridge composed of planking will he
avoided. Should this plan commend
itself to Major Heap. the present incum-
bent of the United States engineers
office. government survey will probably
be ordered. and new plans made, which
will defer the work until another year.
L the state Of the city's finances permit
you may deem it wise to make an ap-
propriAtion this year as the beginning of
a fund to carry out such plans as may
finally be adopted.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
The reports of the superintendent and
supervisors of schools will show you that
the educational interests of the city have
not been neglected. Our schools are in
a furnishing condition, and provided
with able teachers. That our citizens
have high regard for our public schools
is evinced by the liberal appropriation
made for their support which is about
one-eIghth of the appropriations maze
for all purposes. During the winter,
owing to the prevalence of contagious
diseases, several of our schools were tenn
porarily suspended in order to give them
thorough cleansing and fumigation.
There is good reason to believe that our
present system of supplying books for
the use of pupils is fruitful cause of
spreading infectious diseases. Passing
from hand to hand these books not only
become filthy, but if disease exists in
the school they furnish ready means of
conveyance, and as they cannot be
thoroughly disin fected they are con-
stanG menace to the health of our child
rem. II the bill now before the leRisa-
ture permitting parents to furnish hooks