The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-01-10

aCCenOanCe at the services. General
repairs have been made on the building,
both inside and out.
Rev. J. M. Leighton, pastor of the
Unitarian church, has given his people
many able and interesting discourses,
and the interest and attendance are
well sustained
The Catholics had prosperous year,
the services of Rev. j. E. Kealey having
days as in the past. His other field is
Somerset county.
The Peoples Mission is moved from
High street to the Frye school house,
where meetings are held every Satur-
day evening.
CITY MATTERS.
The City Government of 1899 was
practically reelected in 1900 without
opposition. The most important work
Of the year was re- uilding the lower
bridge, which was done by contract by
The bridge is of wood and is very neat
ly and substantially built. 1t is 2 feet
higher than the old one, and is tloored
with double plank, the upper ones laid
diagonally. The rail is planed and
painted, and the piling is thoroughly
supported by sway braces. The city
bought two large chemical fire extin-
guishers for the use of the fire de-
partment and they have proved very
efficient aids. The city,.bought lot Of
land ON Vine street, to which Seaside
hose house was removed. The building
was afterwards enlarged.
The so certificates of the Portland,
SacO & Portsmouth II. R. Co., held in
trust for the Belfast Free Library,
Nathaniel Wilson fund, were exchanged
for so shares Of common stock of the
Boston & Maine R. r. Co., and subse-
quently re-invested in city of Belfast 4
per cent bonds of the issue of 1895 The
city reports were printed in pamphlet
by order of the city council.
The claims of the city against the
Crosby Inn property, for taxes and costs,
were settled on payment OF S1105.
The annual appropriations were S39, $50
against $4,000 in 1899. The total
amount assessed was S52,621 against
SOL 1862 in 1899. The total valuations
was S2,7SS, 3Sl, an increase of 81, 46S over
1899. The number of polls was 1924,
a decrease of 20, the tax rate was II 1-2
mills, the lowest rate of any city in
Maine
Mary a. Dickey and L. c. Dean have
claims against the city for $4,000 each
for damages on account of injuries on
alleged defective highways. The city
solicitor has decided that the city is
not liable
SCHOOLS.
The march of Improvement in the
schools, which has been in progress
several years, was continued through
out the year. A class of IS graduated
from the High school with the usual
exercises in the Belfast Opera House
June 10th. The course of lectures,
begun in 1899, was continued with good
results. The addresses were, Jan. th
by John R. Dunton, on imagination in
Reading" and Feb. 10th, by State Sup
erintendent, W. W. Steuson, on Some
men have SEEN" A largely attended
meeting of teachers and others was
held in the High school room Feb. 9th,
with brief addresses on school topics
by Miss Bertha |. Bird, Superintendent
Brick, A. ID. Hayes and W. R. Howard.
John r. Dunton succeeded F. S. Brick
as Superintendent, April 18th. Mr..
Brick is Superintendent of Schools of
Agawam, Southwick and Granville,
Mass. The Hayford school house re-
ceived extensive repairs during the
summer vacation. The High school
began lecture course for the benefit
Of the High school library, with an ad-
dress Dec. 14th by j. H. Huddilston,
Phi. d., on ''The Acropolis," illustrated
by stereopticon. Other lectures by able
speakers are to follow. The old Masonic
Hall, over the High school room is be-
ing fitted up to accommodate some of
the classes of the High school.
THE FREE LIBRARY.
The Belfast Free Library increases in
efficiency from year to year, by the
addition of new books and the adoption
of new ideas. The library received dur
ing the year gift of 400 theological
books from the late Rev. Geo. W. Field,
d. d., and bequest of $4,000 from the
same generous donor, which has been
invested as nucleus for an enlargement
to the building. Albert Crane Of SIAM
ford, Ct, has given the library, in trust,
in the name of his friend, the late AL
bert B. Otis, $4,000, the income of which
is to be expended for works of history
and biography, and is to give memoir
ial tablet to Mr. Otis to be placed in the
building.
NEW BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS.
The court house extension, begun in
1899, is finished so far as the building is
concerned, but the furniture is not yet
in and the rooms are not occupied. The
dwelling on Waldo avenue, begun in
1899 by B. l.. Davis is finished and occu-
pied. The Crosby Inn property was
sold by the Belfast Hotel Co. to Mrs.
Ann M. Chenery, a daughter Of Gov.
Crosby, who had the ruins cleared away
and the dwelling restored to it's former
position and condition as nearly as
possible. L. L. Gentner bought the G.
G.. Wells building on Phoenix Row,
moved it back and built on a new front.
The Dinsmore store at the corner of
Main and High streets was raised and
otherwise improved. The T. w. Pitcher
store on Main street was raised one
story, the front modernized and the in
terror thoroughly renovated. The M. W.
Frost houses on Bridge street were re-
built. Geo. A. Leavitt built an addi-
ton to his ice house in East Belfast.
Oliver Anderson is building fine house
on the shore road to Searsport. A. K.
Jackson is building an addition to his
farm house on the Poor's Mills road.
TEMPERANCE AND BENEVOLENT
A decided anvance was made in pub
lie sentiment in regard to temDerance