The Republican journal., 1896-03-19

its former condition, or more probably a
worse one This is all wrong, the hard earn
ed dollars wrung from the people should not
be wasted by incompetent men. Not one
man in ten has a practical idea about road
building.
Inmy opinion. from 25 per cent to so per
cent. of the money expended in some dis
tricts is lost To illustrate, am told that
one day last year two horses, plough, scra-
per- cart and two men drew pay amounting
to S775, the horses standing still most of the
time while the men with hoes levelled dirt.
Ploughs, scrapers and carts should not be
allowed for extra. A team to draw pay
should be equipped with suitable apparatus
to perform the work required of it. When
you hire a man to plough, harrow or scrape
for you, do you pay extra for the tools he
uses?
Again, it Is not fair or honest to pay a
level price for men or teams in road build
ing You would not do it in any other bust
ness Bows are hired by the month and their
labor sold to the city at three times its
worth. Horses weighing 7OO with harnesses
tied up with rope yarn, are paid the same as
those weighing 400 pounds. well equipped
and capable of doing twice the amount of
labor.
am not speaking of Belfast alone. This
condition is universal where the old system
is continued Neither do 1 place all our
suburban surveyors in the list of the non
competent. The improved condition of the
streets for the past year in some localities
shows considerable ability in road building.
| would, however, recommend that the office
OF highway surveyor be abolished and that a
competent practical road builder be appoint
ed as superintendent with power to appoint
assistants living in the different districts to
look after temporary repairs III case OF emer-
gency, but that all money for permanent i'm
provements be expended under his direc-
ton, he acting under the general supervis-
ion of the Committee on Highways. And
that his term of office shall be at the pleas
ure of the City Council. His salary COM
mensurate to the work, inasmuch as through
a large portion of the year the streets would
require but little attention. By this means
we would have better roads for considerably
less money. The State is going to tax BIZ
cycles. The owners thereof will demand,
and rightly, too, better roads than we have
at present. | would recommend an appro-
priation of $500 more than last year.
GROVE CEMETERY.
Last year l suggested that both sexton
and superintendent be appointed, but the
suggestion did not meet the approval of the
B ard. | presume the sexton for the past
year has given satisfaction, as no complaint
throughout the year has come to my notice,
until the annual wrangle for the Office COM
menced. This year, however, 1 would rec
ommend radical change. Belfast is the
only city, 50 far as l know, that owns and
ruus hearse, and there is more eectioneer-
ing, more contention, more wire pulling,
over the office of sexton than any other
office within the gift of the city. l would
suggest that the city hearse be sold and the
Office of sexton at Grove Cemetery be abol-
shed, and that a superintendent to care for
the grounds be appointed, thus taking the
burial of the dead out of the field of local
nd ity
hearse the poor will-by competition be-
tween private parties-be better protected
against high charges.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Within the last year Belfast has been visit
ed by several fires, only one of which has
proved disastrous to any great extent. Last
year there was large appropriation for this
Department, and we are we'll equipped with
an abundance of hose, modern nozzle, etc.
In fact at the Crosby Inn fire we had more
hose and other appliances than water. That
there was something wrong with the water
supply at the fire is evident to all, and |
woulu suggest that when the weather be-
comes suitable the Fire Department test the
hydrants and report the result. The recon-
mendation of the Chief Engineer regarding
steam fire engine, etc, is worthy of con-
sideration, b It it must be remem bered
that the city is not at present in condition to
meet the large outlay required. | would re-
commend an appropriation $500 less than
last year.
TRUST FUNDS.
The condition of the trust funds remains
practically the same as last year, W it'll this
exception. AS per my recommendation,
50 800 has been drawn from the Savings
Bank where it was paying but per cent,
and invested in the new City OF Belfast t
per cent. bonds, thus materially increasing
the income.
SEWERS.
Owing to the extension of our sewer sys-
tenn through the most important sections,
and the exceptional activity of the Board OF
Health, we have had but few cases of con-
tagious diseases, and these cases We're
quarantned and confined to the place of
origin. A large number of nuisances have
been abated through the efficient labor of
the Secretary, and the influential citizen has
been compelled to conform to the require
meuts OF laws as well Ills less fortunate
brother This is as it should be. | would
recommend the continuance of OFT SeWar
age system where most needed, and that
such appropriation as you see fit to make, be
expended in performing the work by day
labor, giving the work to our needy citizens.
SCHOOLS.
For detailed information | would respect
fully refer you to the report OF our School
Board and Superintendent of Schools. There
is no department of our great social system
of so much Importance as our public schools.
In them we fit and train our future citizens.
On American soil all classes are supposed to
share alike in the privileges of our free
school system, but in many cases this IS I'M
possible. Children in suburban sections
cannot in many cases, attend graded
school, The new school law under which
we have been working for two years was de-
signed to grant greater privileges to those
hitherto deprived of them by isolation, and
while many we'll informed, intelligent men
consider the innovation great improvement
over the past, from actual observation and
positive knowledge, l have found myself
compelled to differ from their opinion.
The new law does grant greater privileges
to some, but, as applied, it deprives others
of all educational privileges. In my opinion
this is wrong. Parents, honest. respectable
and poor, have furnished the country with
the leading business men, statesmen, and
scholars. These men started IN the country
schooIhouse-that is now pointed to with
derson-but to-day they employ the gradu-
ates from the city schools IN the menlal ca
pacity of clerks. Many Napoleon of finance
when little fellow has worn patched
Enthusiastically enough of them to keep him
warm-gone home at noon and ate hearty
dinner of johnny-cake and baked potatoes
who would have grown up in ignorance
under the new order of things. People may
be poor, live in the country, etc, but they
b I'VE pride and parental feeling. They will
not sen, their children, with patched clothes,
thiniy clad, and carrying cold dinner,
miles away to school i'll some old rattllng
droUp hv pinW -htrSts there To