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

upon the excellent management of this
department by our city treasurer. his
and plainness and l consider that we are
most fortunate in having this important
department in so competent hands.
A detailed statement of the city's finan.
ports and need not be repeated here
SCHOOLS.
Our schools have always held q place
of deep interest to our people and well
they should for it is there that citizens
are prepared, that those who shall adj
minister ,Ae affairs Oh state are fitted. 1t
is therefore wisest and best that this de-
partment , your most care
tons. During the past year L believe
much had been accomplished towards
lifting our schools upon the high plain al
perfection that we all would wish, YET
much remains to be done. | heartily en-
dorse the recommendation Of the com
mittee that "a new school building should
be erected for the grammar grades. A
building sufficiently commodious for the
five grades that now occupy as many
schOolhOuses. ! am of the OPINION that
sufficient could be saved in the items of
repairs, heating and janitor service to
pay the interest on the investment while
the sum which would be realized from
the sale of the old buildings and lots VIII
go far towards paying the cost. II would
undoubtedly cost approximately SloWDo T.
erect ii DulltllIlX SulIanlt IbI All tiIht' Gnu
while the present year may not he oppor-
tune for so large an expenditure or our
credit | trust that the time is not far dls-
tant when this much needed want may
be supplied.
In this connection. gentlemen, ! desire
to urge the necessity of greater atten-
ton to the grammar grades. II is here
that large number of our scholars COM
plete their educatiOn. 1t behooNeS us
therefore to make these grades as eff
Gent as lays in our power. BY perfect
ing these grades all scholars are bene-
fitted, those who pass on to the hign AMI
to college, while to the boy who is COM
PEELED by force of circumstances 10 finish
his work here and go oNt into the world 10
earn his own and possibly parent $ sup
port, it is of inestimable Importance tina,
these few SCHOOLGIRLS should be as rich.
complete and far reaching as il is pos
sible to make them. And it is largely for
this reason that | appeal for a new gram
mar building, not for the looks or orna-
ment, pleasing as these are, but because
l feel certain that by concentrating these
schools and placing them under the care
of a master far better results will be at
tanned. At this age. of all times in boy $
hand, and realizing as the committee must
the Importance of the subject, | feel that
they can hardly be called eXtravagant in
calling our attention to it.
HUBBARD FREE LIBRARY.
Through the generosity of one, born.
and nearly all her life passed within our
city, the munificent sum of 100000 has re-
Gently been given to this institution.
Without ostentauon or display AIRS. Eliza
Lowell supplemented her previous splen
did gift with another equally as large, If
not larger. and all done through the love
she bore her native city. Well may We
zens as Gen. Hubbard and Mrs. Lowell.
Although this gift will bring a consider
able revenue to the library, it yet should
receive an appropriation from the city to
enable it to keep abreast of the times in
the purchase of new books. The library is
valuable only for the books that it con-
tains and all our families are benefited
by it. therefore should We assist it until
such time. as it's income will be sufficient
to pay the running expenses and pur-
chase such books asrare needed.
POOR DEPARTMENT.
It was recently my privilege to person.
ally inspect the affairs of this department
at the city farm and the. condition in
which every department was found re-
fleets great credit not only upon the over
seer but also on the superintendent, Mr..
but examine the home that they have
provided for those less fortunate than
themselves and see the excellent condi-
ton in which it is kept, they would as
expended. The condition Of the buildings
and the farm Is of the best. having with
in three or four years been newly shin
gled and painted both outside and in.
STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
During the past year it has been diff
cult for the commissioner to keep our
streets in their usual good condition
owing TO the laying of the water mains
and l doubt not but that an unusual eX-
pense will be necessary this year to
place them in proper condition. The last
commissioner has hauled large quantity
of gravel, about $500 having been expend
ed. which you will undoubtedly find TO
have been "A wise provision.
Much has been said during the past
three years about the eXtravagant city
which has invariably been brought for
ward is the few hundred dollars which
the city council has deemed expedient 10
eXpend on our walks in an honest en-
dition. Who can frankly look back at
the patchwork walks We had five or six
years ago and but feel that a modest
sum thus expended each year Is a step in
the right direction. ! believe that good
walks are appreciated by our taxpayers
and that they are willing to stand a mod
crate sum expended in this kind of inn
proVementS.
- SEWERS.
Much progress has been made in the
past few years in supplying our city with
proper sewerage and the most thickly
settled portions are nearly all provided in
this important matter. During the past
year strong pressure has been brought
upon the city council for sewers along
the lower part of Second street and on
Page street. With these sections provid-
ed for but very little would be left to be
built and the appropriation that has in
years past been made for this purpose
could be done away with. | submit that
this question is one that is closely identi
fled with the health and comfort of our
people and is worthy of your careful con-
sideration.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Our fire boys have responded with their
accustomed promptness 20 the few fires
and have well sustained the high reputa-
ton that our fire department has always
had in the past The introduction of a
complete water system will possibly
necessitate a partial reorganization of
this department.
/ believe that a hose company should
now be stationed near the junction Of
Water and Greenville streets that the
lower part of the city may receive better
protection than was possible to give it in
the past. The chief engineer recommends
the placing of the entire department in
the old city hall after the same shall be
vacated as the condition of the buildings
occupied by thu hook and ladder boys
is so dilapidated as to be unfit for fur
Their use, thereby rendering it necessary
efficient company and the old city hall
will undoubtedly accommodate the entire
apparatus. This suggestion is deserving
of careful conSidera ton