The Portland daily press., 1895-03-12

Gentlemen Of the City Council:
In beginning this new municipal year
it is fitting that in the spirit of the
prayer just offered We should invoke the
aid and guardianship of the Almighty
Ruler Of the Universesf who's with such
wisdom guides the affairs Of the children
OF men, for his help and direction, that
wisdom may begiyen us to discharge the
duties that are beforesu us. 10 some of us
this is new experience. and we shall,
therefore, need to ask your kind foFbear-
ance. But l know we are all animated
by Il single purpose that of advancing
in every way the interests of or beloved
city.
| fully realize that the year before us
is one OF great Importance as there are
many questions to be acted upon that
will require the most careful considera-
ton that we may so guide affairs as to
command the confidence Of our citizens.
Our needs are many. and our resources
| limited; therefore the strictest economy
will be needed At the same time q
wise liberality should be shown in adding
to the attractiveness of our already beau
| tiful city. We are growing rapidly in
| population. New houses are springing
up in all directions, and the demand is
| for the comforts and conveniences of
| other cities. This we should give, even
| If the cost be large, for in no other way
can the great gains of the past few years
be maintained. and increased to even
| larger proportions Our city is one of
| the most attractive places il the country
for residence, rs we see by the new
houses SO rapidly multiplying around
US, and with our diversified scenery and
| large extent of country one must be hard
| indeed TO please that cannot find a loca-
| ton to mis- taste. The business oppor-
tunities are also excellent. With tide
water at our doors, with railroad privil-
eyes of the best, an effort should be
made to induce the Introduction of man.
ufactures-that great source of wealth
and prosperity 10 communicated every
| possible privilege gTanted, II has been the
policy OF tl,ia CITY. in the past to encourage
| them. and this, with our facilities as a dis
| tributing point. should prompt us to make
greater efforts to secure them.
Extreme care should be taken to keep
| our rate of taxation low, reducing it from
the present rate, if possible, high taxes be-
| ing great hindrance to d rity's growth b,
preventing the influx of capital into com
munisy, moth for industrial and residential
in yestments.
FINANCIAL.
| 1t gives me great pleasure to be abIs to
present TO you such an encouraging fnan-
| 1894, our city valuation was $3,39S, 455. Since
that Time the growth in improved property
has brought the amount up to over three
and one half millions of dollars fS3, 5OO. 0OO.)
| Our debt is as follows:
Bonded debt, S93.475. 0C
Temporary loan, 1880. 0C
City's one-tbird sewer debt IA 1903 81
| Making gross Of SIPS 1903. 60
We haye.as assets:
Sewer assessments due from abutters 1898.
(which will he collected this year. Sl3, l2O. Vi
Sewer Assessments. 1894, 6,1s9. 2S
Sewer deeds, East. DeeIing. CTS SO
Tax deeds b cid by the city. 3.5l2 "a
Due on tax commissions. 1888, 268. Is
I1ue nj commissions 1894
Making a total of. S33,7ls. "A
Leaving the net debt of the city, not in
cludipe real estate or schoolhouse property.
S95. 81. it being a reduction of $6,4ls.0 o.
from tie debt of last year. The percentage
eff debt is 2.Sl. The bonds falling due ara:
| July ], 1896, $2.500g0
November i. 1885. 100000
| There are no further bonds due until
| AnriI. 1897. We have city property as fol-
| lows:
r cal estate. S $500. on
| City farm and stock, 1870 .87
SchoOl-houSes, - r- .- 60 ,O00. OF
Fire apparatus and other person 80
| al property, 9.O07 90
| A total of. S67, el7.s7
Gould this property be counted IS s.oa IN as
| set. it would extingush, within $500, the
| total Indebtedness of the city.
SCHOOLS.
| The matter of the education of our chill
dren is one of the most important we nave
to consider. affecting not only their present
| good. bit all the future of their lives. For
no purpose do we so readily contribute.
There should be no retrenehment here
| In there great democratic institutions,
| where the child of the poor man and of the
rich meet on a commonslevel. for common
purpose, every facility should be afforded
o give to both such an education as viii fit
| haIls for life of usefulness:SS ST.
= schools are in Furnishing condition.
~ r:"Yjna in etficie my. Our teachers are
| 9iul and conscientious, doing "a good
| 1''tb. l}y reference to -fhe report of he
cpA Aittee, Iou will find they make good
/ ~ bcE cities. With the increasing growth in
ohulation, the time viii soon he near when
increased school aecommcda lions will be
| nrccssaTy. e~. sas-.-
STREETS.
| The streets of our city are in fair condi-
ton, and compare favorably with those of
our neighboring cities. large amount Of
concrete sidewalk has been laid the past