The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-10

through franklin to Fore street, and
the extension os the Commercial street
sewer westerly TO Maple street.
In my last Inaugural called Alteration
10 Inc proposed Back Bay sewer for the
Improvement OF tho sanitary condition
OF tna6 region, plans for which had been
prepared by the eminent sanitary engi-
neer, Mr. Rudolph Herring of New York,
II cohne0t1on with the Commissioner of
HuDilo Works and Mr.. f. G. Jordan.
Inc present drainage of the entire north
efh slope Oh the city, having population
9 u hhearly twenty thousand, (2O,00O) is
talnlng nearly five hundred, (5O0) acres.
wnioh, at low water, are exposed to the
ac1ioh OF the sun and air, The plan
auop1ea provides for an intercept1ng
sewer extending easterly along the south
M ~, snore OF the bay to a point near
oa ny oflage, from whence it will be
S Salile'a 20 temporary outlet near the
6I I trunk bridge, and eventually to
foaiiiefoy's Rock. This sewer will be of
suincleht capacity to receive the sewerage
rum nearly the entire nothern slope Of
oile Guy, as we'll as that of considerable
po e - Oh the city of Deering. A section
VI IL TWO thousand six hundred "a. 6OO)
leeo In length has been laid out and
careful estimate of its cost made, and 1
earnestly recommend that an appropria-
. I1nd OF twenty three thousand dollars
te"9' 9ool be made for its construction,
as believe that the health of the city
o s 1t. For particular description
~ onis important work, I refer you to
0ng commissioners report on sewers
a.so call your attention to that por-
tioh OF his report relating to
STREETS,
by which you will see that even more
work OF a permanent nature has been
accomplished than during the year pre-
vlous' The paving of the westerly end of
| congress street from Ellsworth to St.
John street, as 1t is one of the principal
entrances to the city, was much needed
WORK. and the same may be said of the
paving OF Green street. In addition to
Ihe large amount of paving accomplished
mucn larger area of sidewalk has been
laia than usual The Commissioner
recommends an amendment to the city
ordinances relating to sidewalks, SO that
the material and labor shall be furnished
by the city, and half the cost assessed
upon the AUDITING property.
The city is burdened with the mainte.
nance of five
BRIDGES.
Upon Vaughan's bridge has been ex-
pended three thousand four hundred
seventy four and 33shundredths dollars( 49,
474.33); upon Stroudwater bridge. which
is wholly within the limits of Deering,
four hundred twenty seven and 46 hun
dredths dollars ($427. 49,; upon behring's
bridge, of which half is in Portland, one
hundred slxty-five and 90 hundredths
dollars (S165.95) Half of the expense of
maintaining this bridge is borne by
| Deerlng. Pride's bridge, between the
cities OF Deering and Westhrook is wholly
maintained by the city. This bridge was
carried away by the recent storm, and
must be rebuilt at coast approximatine
seven thousand dollars (S7, 000).
| Upon former occasions I have called at
tention to the condition Of Tukey's
bridge more especially to the demand of
the United States Government for new
draw in place of and considerably wider
than the present structure. After giving
the subject due consideration, the Com
missioner of Public Works and those
whom he has consulted, have decided
! that it will be for the best interests of
the city to replace the present bridge
with one Of iron, and as longer delay is
| believed to be unwise by those who are
acquainted with the subject, especially
commend that portion of the Commits
sioner's report relating to this subject to
your careful consideration. Intimately
| connected with this undertaking is the
project for the improvement of Back Bay,
plans for which are now being completed
by Mr.. OlmsGead of Boston. with the ad-
vioe and assistance of the Commissioner
of Public Works and Mr.. e. G. Jordan.
These plans will at an early day be SUBJ
| mltted to you for approval, and if adopted
by you the frs step towards the accom-
plishment OF this improvement may be
| taken, which is the acquisition of a GER
tain portion Of the shore line of the bay.
1t is to be expected that tho owners of
property around the bay will see that it
will greatly enhance the value OF their
| adjoining property to give to the city the
land required, which Is of insignificant
value to them in its present condition.
This accomplished there can be but little
doubt that an arrangement onn be made
with our sister city of Deering which
will meet the approval of her citizens and
ours II these steps can be ACCOMPLISHED,
an improvement of inestimable impor-
lance 90 the comfort and health of both
communities will result with small
annual expenditure OF money, and with
out appreciably burdenlng the tax payer.
THE CEMETERIES AND PUBLIC
GROUNDS
have received careful attention during
the year, and show considerable improve
ment. The Commissioners, as usual.
have devoted themselves earnestly to
their work, and the results are apparent.
No money is better expended than that
laidIout upon public grounds, the prop
erty of the people, in which the poorest
man in the community can enjoy the
feeling OF proprietorship. Everywhere, in
this country and in Europe the beauti-
tying OF cemeseries and especially of
parks and principal thoroughfares of
cities, has been found not only to greatly
contri butte to the health and comfort Of
their inhabitants, but to the growth and
prosperity Of the cities themselves. Our
residential streets, where of su fficiant
width, should be adorned with esplanades.
open spaces with fountains, statuary.
shrubbery and flowers, while as much
land as possible should be secured for
parks and public play grounds. A re-
| cent writer has pictured the city of the
future in manner to make one wish
that his birth might have been delayed
long enough to enable him to be born in
such city. A plan has been made fer