The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-01-02
THE SCHOOLS.


There was little change in school mat
ters during the year, but there was some
little friction between the City Govern
ment and the School Committee The
Committee decided to do away with sew
eral schools in outlying districts, where
in their opinion, the number of scholars
did not warrant the continuance. The
people of Citypoint district protested, anC
the City Government sustained their pro-
test. While the question was in dispute
the people of the neighborhood maintain
ed private school at their own expense.
The City Government has ordered the
school re- established and it will open next
week. In the Union district, o-called,
there was a misunderstanding about the
division of the expense among the towns
interested, but that has been arranged
and the school will begin Jan 9th
The school census taken in May showed
1 $50 scholars, gain of PIP over the num-
Der recorded in 1894, and consequently an
increase of $500 in the amount of money
received from the State mill tax.
The modern methods of teaching intro :
duced into the lower grades last year, and
gradually working upward, are proving
highly satisfactory. In the ''word
method of teaching reading and spelling
and the new method of number work the
improvement is particularly noticeable.
Mr. w Crawford, who is connected with
the schools of Boston, and who visited
Belfast last spring, says the work here
compares favorahly with that of any of
the Massachusetts schools with which he
is acquainted.
A class of y pupils was graduated from
the High School June 21st. Instead of
the usual graduation exercises by the
class concert was given at Belfast Opera
House by the Cecilan Quartette of Port
land.
SEWERAGE AND SANITARY MATTERS.
The system of sewerage, begun few
years ago, was continued in short sections
on several streets, making connections be-
tween sections previously laid. The
greater part of the city is now supplied
with sewers, and if the plan of expanding
from s., 600 to 81, 1000 per year is con-
tnued, in a few years more there will be a
complete system throughout the city
The Board of Health did some work in
abating nuisances, and prevented others
by timely warnings through the local
papers. Diphtheria appeared in two fami-
lies, with one death in each, but aside
from this and run of mumps in the
spring the city was free from contagious
diseases.
SHIPPING.
January 1st, sch Pochassett was on the
marine railway, but was taken off to give
place to sch Levi Hart, which had been
ashore on Colts Head ledge, with cargo
of granite.
Brig H B Hussey was loaded with hay
for Charleston, S c, by number of
farmers and others, consigned to COM
mission broker for sale.
Sch Marblehead went ashore at Glouces-
ter in the gale of Feb and was a total
loss. Sch Mary Farrow went ashore at
Biddeford Pool in the same gale, but came
off uninjured. She has since been sold
by her Belfast owners to Scott q Bridge
of Boston.
Capt W W Turner sold sch Senator,
$3.50 net tons, to Winterport parties, and
bought sch Maria Webster, 55. "a tons.
Sch Jonathan Cone, 1866 tons, was
bought by Belfast and Searsport parties
and placed under the command of Capt
Elbridge j Robertson, formerly of sch
Brunette.
Sch Nettie Langdon of Jacksonville,
Capt Pearl W Bagley, formerly of Belfast,
sailed from Jacksonville for Perth Amboy