The Portland daily press., 1896-03-10

our city, ag we'll as materially add to the
comfort of our citizens. These are per-
manent improvements. and we cannot
spend money for better purposes
FOREST AVENUE.
After being informed last summer by
the County Commissioners that 1t would
be at least two years before we could be-
gin the work of, widening Forest Avenue,
we decided in consideration of its con-
dition to macadamizs it, which has been
done from Deering Bridge to Coyle's
Gully, at an expense of $1100, and it
is now in better condition than for fears.
We hope before this wears out to begin
the work of widening.
The awards of the Commissioners
for the land damages appear liberal, and
hope the claims will be speedily settled,
when we will have it in our power to
make one OF. the finest avenues in any
city, adding to the value of all the prop
erty TO which it is the thoroughfare and
dCiag much to encourage those desiring
to settie among US, and bring into the
market our unsurpassed building sites.
DEERING AVENUE.
The petition presented to the County
Commissioners for the widening of Deer
ing Avenue from 491S feet to &C feet has
not as yet been favorably answered. It
has been endorsd by the city government
Of Portland, and Is SO maDifestly pub
lie necessity and the cost SO Insignificant
that it cannot long be delayed. / would
urge that you take such action as your
wisdom may direct to hasten this impor-
tant Improvement.
SEWERS.
We have built the past year 1914 feet
of sewer at cost of s12, 23s. 70. There
has been no case within my knowledge
where the taxes received from new prop
erty have not more than paid the city
one-third interest on the cost. Therefore
besides being a necessity for health and
comfort, they have also proved good
financial investment. Nearly eight miles
of sewers have been constructed in the
CITY within the last five years. There is
now under contract a sewer on Oak
street to Stevens Plains Avenue, which
will be built this year. Surveys are also
being made for a sewerage system on
Congress street near the division line be-
tween Portland and Deering, which will
be distinct from any sewer system which
we now have, with a different outlet
and will require careful study to perfect
the topography of the ground being SO
varied.
The report of the City Engineer, which
will be placed in your hands is very OK
haustive and valuable, and I ask for it
your careful study.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS.
There was made a contract with the
W estbrook Electric Light Company, who
furnish us with 1853 incandescent lights
Oh an all night schedule They are giving
us excellent service and the city never
was better lighted. 1t will be necessary
to add to the number of lights, as certain
sections Of the city seem to require it.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1t seems to me that ths time has come
for the city of Deering to provide itself
with steam fire engine, to ba located at
Woodfords. 1t is not wise policy, gentle
men, with the amount OF valuable prop
erty at this point, to delay in the matter.
can ounce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure. And we can better
affor d to buy it now than after we have
met the loss OF perhaps thousands of dol
lars worth of pOrperty which at present
seems to offer tempting food to future
flames. The engineer of the steamer can
do other work for the oity. and still be
within call when needed. We have a
very energetic and faithful
force of volunteer fremen, and
let us put into their hands effective APP
paratus for the work which they are SO
ready to do. The firu alarm system which
we provided last year is step in the
right direction, and will prove invalua-
bic: would recommend that two adj
ditional boxes be located, one at East
Deering and the other in Ward Seven.
Let us continue the march Of improve
ments till we have a fire department.
equipped With all requirements essential
to the city's needs.
WARD ROOMS AND HOSE HOUSES.
Ward rooms and hose house accommo-
dations have been provided the past year
for Wards and 8. and are much needed
Wards 2 and z, which are now the on
ly places where the schools are disturbed
for the elections. / would recomme nd
that as soon as possible places should
be obtained Tor these purposes in those
sections of the city.
In Ward l would very much like to
see on a central lot building that could
be made useful for Ward purposes, po-
lice station, room for II steam fire en-
CINE; and on the same lot a city stable.
where the horses would be at hand for
fire service. By so doing considerable
, Expense can be saved.
POOR.
The same careful, judicious manage
ment that has SO long characterized the
board of overseers of the poor still con-
tinues. Each member OF it acts as pru-
IDENTIFY as if spending his own money
and with equal caution. A city with
such officers is highly favored. There
has been con siderable sickness at the
farm and three of the aged Inmates have
died. Everyth ing is in the most perfect
order, both in and about the house. All
things necessary to the comfort anu han
piness of the unfortunate occupants are
provided.
: The thoughtful BLINDNESS of the over
seers in placing suitable monuments to
mark the resting nlacas IF tho ,,oo. +bot