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

broad and progressive IN us spirit
We commend it to the careful atten-
ton Of our readers. No citizen of Au-
susta should fail to give the careful
attention it merits. 1t is the candid
Judgment, frankly expressed. of one If
the ablest business men of Maine, as to
the needs of our city. and the best
methods of meeting them.
We think that all thoughtful citizens
will agree with Mayor Haynes that
good sewerage should take precedence
public health is paramount While the
city needs many thinGs-notably i'm
of these can we'll afford to wait until
the more important problem of mod
crn up-to- date system of sewerage has
been, III some measure. solved. There
are few cities in the country so well sit
llated as is Augusta for the building ot
good sewers Indeed. if we have to a
considerable extent escaped the evils
that ordinarily result from neglect of
this matter. we are indebted largely to
the fact that nature herself has done
so much for us in this direction. We
have no doubt that the frequent ty-
phoid fever epidemics in this city have
been due very largely to lack of proper
sewerage a few portions of our city
have good sewerage; there are others
that have bad sewerage; some have in
different sewerage. and many more
have no sewerage at all. As Mayor
Haynes We'll said, the people will not
complain of the amount of money
advantages resulting from its eXpen-
diture Undoubtedly the shiftlesS.
from wear to year. aimlcss and painless
policy. so much in vogue in the past
has been an exceedingly expensive ona
have very little of a permanent charac-
ter to show for it. Mayor Haynes has
given clear and vigorous expression to
views that have been growing move
and more sharply defined in the minds
of Augusta taxpayers as the years have
passed. without adding much if any
thing to our permanent municipal pro-
gress. Some sections of the city have
secured in improvements considerably
more than they have paid into the city
treasury. while others have got little
or any of it. We can think of one quite
good sized section which has grown APP
within the last 10 years, and which
wildly illustrates this fact. There ar"
about 50 houses which will compare
very favorably with the average resi-
dences throughout the City-and yet.
light. a letter box and a hydrant, there
is not a single city improvement in this
section that was not there 20 years ago,
when only three houses existed in that
neigh borhood. There are no good side
walks no SeWera Ee-nOthinG to indl-
cate that these people have had any
claim upon the municipality, and yet
in the last six years they have paid into
the Augusta city treasury in taxes.
about $4,000. not 500 of which has eyer
been expended in their vicinity. Is it
surprising that these people there
should wonder who got their money, u
that they should grow exceedingly
weary of methods of administration.
Of such rank injustice and in
equality in the expenditure of the pup
lie money?
We are glad to note the recommends
ton of Mayor Haynes that the eXpcndi-
ture Of the peoples money shall be
made upon an intelligent and comprr-
hensiVe plan in which all sections of
the city may have a just and proper
tionate share. As the mayor well says:
"A city's growth and prosperity de
ponds upon the increase of its popuia-
ton and to secure that it should he
made attractive. Unsafe hills. impas-
sable roads. weed growing cutters
dilapidated sidewalks, unsanitary sur
face drainage. high taxation without
resulting manent benefits. and the
drcary hopelessness of a shiftless pub
lie policy cannot but deter those
who are seeking homes and business
opportunities"
Those who have given thoughtful at
tpution to the city affairs can but agree
With Mayor Haynes that it is useless 70
think of carrying out any comprehen-
sive and practical scheme of city i'm
provement piece-meal. "A little each
year. and that little dependent upon the
will OF the city council for that year.
The mayor states a plain practical
truth when he expresses the conviction
that there must be a scientific scheme
to include the work and the method Of
payment to which the city shall be
committed from the start. In that way