The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-16
THAT TOWN MEETING
Was Very Quiet at South Portland
Saturday.

The Main Article Was Dismissed-s+a,f.,
street Sewer to Be RESPONSIVENESS
A special town meeting was held of
South Portland Saturday afternoon TO SET
tie several questions of Importance. Hon
E. G. Reynolds was chosen moderator
The main article was to see wbetber
the town would vote to raise money to
build sewers on Summer, High, Shaw
NUT, New, Beach, West High and Elm
streets. The question was debated by Mr.
G. A. Tilton in favor of tie appronria
ton, and by Messrs. ] S. Pickett and
Capt. A. d. Boyd against. The meeting
voted to dismiss the article.
In an informal debate following this
vote, Mr.. Pickett advanced the idea that
the town, instead of voting sewers in a
haphazzard way, should employ a CONNIE
tent engineer to lay out aIsuitable plan of
sewerage. Then the town could act in
diligently.
Article 8. relating to an appropriation
for the reconstruction of Stanford street
sewer, was next considered. Mr.. Thomas
B. Haskell inquired whether this wonld
be sewer for which assessments could be
made on the Auditors. Selectman Ma
thaniel R. Dyer replied that such was the
case. 1t would have to be a glazed pine
sewer. DR.. Lowell, speaking for the
board of he 4lth, said the sewer would have
fO no rahr1i1f or,tirolu 30 IL
lars were now lower than the sewer.
Captain A. D. Boyd moved that the
sum necessary for the towns part of the
expenses of the work be taken from the
thousand dollars already appropriated
by the town for sewers.
Selectman Dyer estimated that $4,000
would be required to do the work.
AS Captain Boyd motion had not been
seconded 7. B. Haskell moved that $4,000
be raised to build a sewer in the middle
of the street, the money to be raised by
two years notes.
Captain Boyd inquired If this motion
to raise $4,000 contemplated the payment
of anything by the AUDITORS. Mr.. Haskell
said that as the abutters were already
drawing into the old sewer, it might be
doubtful whether under the sewer law the
AUDITORS could be compelled to pay.
Then Mr.. Haskell's motion was carried.
Article related to the reconsideration
of the rate of June IL, 1896, accepting
the report of the selectmen1 in regard to
the widening of Fort Road. The damages
allowed AUDITORS for damages caused by
the widening was $645. The AUDITORS
claim $2525, also $155 damages was al
lowed sson Preble street, and S110O are
claimed. The question then before the
meeting was whether the damages al
lowed should be confirmed. 1t was voted
to reconsider and rescind the vote accept
ing the report of the selectmen. This &C.
ton reopens the question as to damages
on Fort road and Preble street.
Mr.. Adam Lemont appeared to claim
damages for the breaking of his horse's
leg at Ligonia about year ago. The
horse broke his leg on a large stone in the
highway Mr.. Lamont had the stone for
exhibition to the meeting. sssMr. Haskell
doubted the presence of such rocks on that
road and moved that the matter be re-
ferred to the town agent to ascertain the
amount due, the selectmen to pay in ac-
cordance with his findings
The question of appropriating three
hundred dollars for introducing music
into the schools come up next. Supt. of
Schools Frank Hill advocated the appro-
priation.
John P. Chase, the old singing master
who had 'stood before 152 classes, as he
said, thought branches enough were
taught in the schools already. The town
debt was large, and they couldn't afford
such extravagances The money would
better be invested in sewers.
Ex-Supt. of Schools Evans, formerly of
South Portland and now superintend-
ent in Massachusetts,, advocated the intro
duction of music. Music was a har-
monizer, and made the schools go pleas.
anter all day, besides giving the pupils
useful training. The common schools
fitted for citizenship, and the apprecia-
ton of music was great contribution to
the JOY and usefulness of the citizen.
Captain Boyd said every tax payer had
a financial harp ringing in his ears in
the shape of town debt, therefore he
moved to postpone the item indefinitely.
DR.. Rogers of the school board ex-
planned that nearly all the towns of New
England had the music in the schools.
The old way of arousing enthusiasm in
the schools was with the single. New
music was far more useful and profitable
than the single.
The motion to indefinitely postpone the
article was carried by viva voice vote.
Article s, to see whether the town
would allow the Peoples Ferry to erect a
building on the sea wall or highway near
the Ferry slip. came next. 1t was voted
that this matter be left to the selectmen
The question of raising money to build
New street from Main street to Summit
street was next in order Mr.. Tilton ex-
planned that some changes were desired in
the location of the street, so the article
was dismissed.
The Death Rate.
There were twelve deaths in Portland