Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-22

municipal officers and citizens of Au-
Sus,a' 90 not think the. danger 70 re-
,n"se m, h"weNef' that an allusoh To it IN
wshfhlhE will not be prudent Mt this time.
a., . lntelligeht and active pubic spirit will
put hole and faithful men in office and
p.c,SefNe us long against Tile debehetahs
n,'u u'sastets or which other cities toin
'He main Question that will confrdtt
~, lhmk, will he in what manner and To
"Ii,' uses we shall devote the revenues
-, 'he city. You will observe that | place
, we disposition of the revenues before
Nv pieS'ioh OF The amount of them.
90 , not think the criticisms of our citizens
nave been directed generally to the
amounts they have been asked to pay in
TO 'he public treasury. 1t is the use ana
ne anuSe OF these funds that has eX
Cltcd 'helr IuSt complaints. | have never
he"lo any General ANA serious charge TT
oNlFnNleahHe ahd waste made against
anS hef'haheht And aib5t;lhtial improt G.
menu "natever its cost may have been.
1t is the large sums expended each
year IN producing only tranSitory and
'pii'heral effects that cXcltcS indiGna-
tloh ana revolt SO careless and improv-
ld'nt has been this habit that ut the
tl"He Oh the 18th century We are actually
ilNln% under some conditions scarcely
dltlcrent from those of the unrcclam, d
Wlu"fheSS which our forrfathcrS under
TOOK /" l"Nei and suhdue Il century ago.
thlhk our people wurd checttuliy Sub
''''' w 'NNl large assessments II tDF'
were accompanied with i tcasdnanlr as
"llrance that thcre Wuu'd come dal
Wh"n necessary improvements would ht
i'hlSncd ANA permanent ana they might
rest IN the enjoyment of them.
40 not think we can longer postpone
som" decisive action directed toward Il
complete system of sewers ana street inn
pfoNFmcntS. There are open ana partial
~ completed sewers and in many parts of
the city an entire absence of them.
producing an unSHnitarN condition.
threatening the safety ana health of the
city.
There are bogs, which with euphemistic
chr"riulnesS we call streets. on which
enough mas been spent to pave them
broader and deeper than the Anpian way.
There are dteaNiue wooden culVtrts un
which enough has been spent to lay them
with polished marble The evils of these
things have become SO great and Obvious
To all. that feel that oUr citizens will de
m3nd thlt We take even radical action to
remove them.
think with well digeSted and com
prehenshiNr plan for these improvements.
they could he made at less cost than we
have been led to expect
do not think the small amount that
has been hitherto accomplished in this
direction is a fair criterion of the cost of
larger works.
/ think we employ the term economy
and put the principle into practice in a
may be an economical one ana a small
outlay may be an eXtraVdGant ono II il
not 50 much the amount we authorizes Ia
be raised hN taxation that We ehall he
held accountable for AZ lnc right and
profitable use Of it.
y citN's growth and prosperity depends
upon the increase of its population. and
70 secure that ii should no mAHc attrac-
tive. Unsafe hills. impassabl" roads
weed growing CUTTERS, dilapidntVd side
walks. unSanitarN surface drainage nigh
taxation without resulting permanent
benefits and the droary hopelcssreSs of
shiftlesS public policy cannot but deter
those who are seeking homes ana bust
ness opportunities.
Many causes in the past have con-
Spircd to preserve our prestige. They
will not do 1t in the future. We are fall
ing behinu. The progressive spirit Is
waning and We must net with crerEN
and promptness If we would preserve the
advanced position We have always hc!d
among the cities Of the STATE.
In this connection | want to say, with
an emphasis that cannot be mistaken.
that it Is useless to think OF carrying out
such a work by piccemcal.. Httlo each
year and that little dependent upon the
will of the city council for that year.
There must be Il scientific scheme to in
clhd" the work and the method of pay
ment, to which the city shall be commit
ted from the start. In that way ana no
other can these improvements be made.
The auditors books show March LIST. '9S