Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-14

TIE past year. III there Is no tmme
,dfate prospect of a new city building
and there seems to be no method BY
which the municipality can erect sucl
a building this year. think some more
decent place should be provided fol
incarcerating prisoners than we nov
have. This leads me to say that / an
of the opinion that some means should
be at once adopted by which the lega
status and liabilities of the city with
reference to what has already beer
done in relation to the erection of the
City hall, should be ascertained and
equitably adjusted.
SCHOOLS.
1.-The schools are properly a subject
of our pride and solicitation. Almost
one-fifth of our entire revenue is ex-
pended in their support. 1t is not my
intention at this time to enter into d
discussion of the merits of our schools
for a board. other than this, is charged
with that duty. and that board is
amply qualified to handle the subject
1t is sufficient for me to say that our
schools are second to none in the State
At proper time l recommend con-
ference with the board of education
for the purpose of ascertaining in de-
tail the needs of the schools with d
special view to reducing the expendi-
lures if possible. l am told that the
schoolrooms in the southerly part OF
the city are overcrowded, and that a
large new building is needed on the
Summer street lot l do not deny the
h,,t Jnt ha
tire school population could be moved
northward and thus utilize all the
available schoolrooms now in the city,
that none would be seriously incon-
venienced, and that in this way the
school department, teachers and pupils
would be contributing no more than
their just share to the attempt which.
l trust, will be made by all good citi-
zens, to prevent additional burdens be-
ing laid upon the taxpayers during
the coming year.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.
What shall we do upon our streets
and sidewalks? Here l squarely place
myself on record as opposed to any
considerable expenditure of money for
permanent improvements, this year.
The sidewalks on Maine street, lying
adjacent to the new paving and the
macadam road should be attended to-
College street should be surfaced suffi-
GENTLY to make travel comfortable and
safe for year or so. and beyond this
rigid economy should be practical in
the expenditure of money. l have COM
pared our streets and sidewalks with
those of other municipalities and the
comparison is decidedly in our favor.
This, together with our financial condi-
ton, should make us content to wait
while before continuing permanent
improvements, except, perhaps, on a
limited scale and in case of imperative
need.
Il should be glad to enter into a
more detailed discussion of matters
pertinent to this occasion, but time
and opportunity for research have
been limited. We can, doubtless, agree
upon particulars as the year advances.
and for that agreement I bespeak d
fair, impartial consideration of all
matters which may come before us
with temperate spirit Of concession
on those subjects whose disagreements
may arise in the first instance. The
general welfare of the city should be
our solicitous aim. it's industries be
fostered. the rights of all it's citizens be
jealousy guarded. Without fear of
contradiction let it be said that no city
exists today under more favorable
conditions than our own. Favored in
it's natural surroundings, prosperous
in its manufactures. quickly and easily
accessible, cultured by its scholastic
atmosphere. Sobered by it's moral and
religious influences, it is at once an
ideal place for business or for resi-
dence. Here capital may find safe in
Vestment, here the home seeker has a
place. Our greatest industry has an
nounced in no uncertain voice its re-
turning prosperity. From where we
sit we see the ever frightening wallis
of brick and stone which bespeaks Il
further growth of an already large
pulp and paper industry. Train after
train thunders past our windows.
bringing and carrying great loads of
merchandise and people. The hitherto
unused water powers on our western
border are gathering their strength to
work our will, and last, but by no
means least. operations have actually
been begun upon u new line of railroad
to connect us with the outside world.
May this year be made memorable in
the history of our beloved city, by rea =
son of what we have done to promote
her social, moral and material pros
perity.
Inaugural Address Of Mayor Stafford.
| Gentlemen of the City Council: