The Republican journal., 1899-03-09

portion of the lower bridge was rebuilt,
and the city council has had under con-
sideration plan to rebuild the bridge in
rip-rap and iron spans, portion each
year until completed.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
In 1897 Mayor Fletcher said under this
head 1.-THE subject of fire protection is
one of great Importance, and nothing
should be left undone to give our homes
and other property all the protection in
our power.'' There was but one fire that
year wherein any property was destroyed,
but the fire companies were kept in prac-
tice by occasional drills. In 1898 the
mayor recommended chat volunteer
hose company be organized in the south
ern part of the city and provided with the
necessary apparatus and building in
which to store it, This is the only
recommendation in the two messages
of Mayor Fletcher that has not been
favorably acted upon, and it should have
attention in the near future. His advice
that runners be procured to be used on
the hose carts, ETC., during the winter
has been followed. During the past year
new concrete floors were laid in the hose,
engine and hook and ladder rooms, new
hose and other apparatus bought, and
everything put in frst-class condition.
The police clock put in to register the
work of the night watch may well come
under this head, as ensuring a regular
patrol of the city.
THE ELECTION OF ASSESSORS.
Each new city government has usually
brought change in the board of assessors,
who were elected for a term of one year
only. Mayor Fletcher secured an amend
ment to onr city charter under which
three assessors were elected in March,
1897, for oae, two and three years, re-
spective!y; one assessor to be elected an
nually thereafter for the term of three
years. This ensures a practically re1ma-
nent board of assessors, who thus bee come
familiar with their duties, and to a GER
tain extent it takes this office out of poll
tics. Two years experience have attested
the value of this system.
THE CEMETERIES.
In tho AaI 1at
the cemeteries be placed under the con
troll of board of trustees. whose duties
shall be defined by an ordinance" He
also suggested that the board consist of
three members, one to be elected for the
term of one year, one for term of two
Years, and one for the term of three years :;
hereafter electing one member annually
for term of three years. These sugges-
tions were promptly embodied in an ordi
nance which abolished the office of sexton
and gave the trustees authority to sell the
healse owned by the city. These trus-
tees have full control of all the cemeteries,
and may appoint sections. to hold office at
their Will. The taking of the office of
sexton out of politics is recognized by
every one as a move in the right direction
Under this department may be noted an
other reform. From time to time the
city has been entrusted with sums of
money, the income to be used in caring for
lots in Grove Cemetery. The money had
been put at interest and then Apparently
lost sight Of while the city was yearly
laying out money in caring for the lots.
This matter has been looked after. and
now a separate account is kept of every
fund of this sort, in which the amount of
interest received is ae1err,. V ell as the
amount expended for labor.
In conclusion, attention may be called
to the improvement in the street lights.
the arc lights having been greatly increas-
ed in power over those formerly in use.
1t may also be said that Mayor Fletcher
has manifested strong interest in our edu-
catiOnal institutions-the public schools
and the Belfast Free Library: and, indeed
in all that concerns the material and
moral welfare OF our city.
In another column, under the caption
of 1.-TWO Good ears for Belfast,N is pre-
sented a review of what has been done by
our city government during the two mu-
nicipal wears lust passed In this connec-