Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-24

) and that the cost should be raised by
taxation or otherwise, four-tenths to BIZ
l expended during the current year. This
z was referred to the committee on public
buildings and was never heard from
: again although it's influence was OF
; course felt.
7 On May 2, 1900. the committee on
public buildings, TO which the resolu-
ton of the Board had been referred, re-
ported that it did not deem it ad-
visable to build the City hall accord
ing to the resolution. So the thing
hung fire Considerable pressure was
brought to bear on the city fathers
| about his time but they could not quite
see their way clear to go ahead with
the building.
Another attempt to get an order
through was made at the meeting Of
July 5, 1900. This was backed by the
report of a committee recommending
its passage on certain conditions. But
the order was killed and this attempt
went the same way as the others. But
things were getting warm again. The
sentiment in favor of building the hall
was growing stronger and it looked like
only a question Of try, try again. But
4
| government.
on May Z, 1901, the final and success
full attempt was made. There had
been a smash in local politics result
ing in the Citizens movement. The
city council was non-political, both
parties being represented and the
| whole being called the Citizens. On
| the date named the following order
was passed on motion of Alderman
| Pitcher of Ward :: Ordered: That the
! city begin the construction Of city
! hall this year, the superstructure to be
| placed on the foundation already built
! and said superstructure to be con-
| etructei and rooted in by or before
January 81, 1902 at a cost not to exceed
| 500, coo. that $4,000 Of the said $4,000 be
raised by taxation and appropriation
and that the mayor and treasurer be and
are hereby authorized and instructed
to raise by loan in anticipation of said
taxation and appropriation such sum
or sums as may be necessary from time
to time to carry out the provision of
this order.
Also be it further ordered: That, if
after taking legal advice it is found
lawful so to do, the $4,000 raised by
taxes and appropriation for the pur-
pose of aiding in the construction of
the Waterville & Wiscasset Railroad,
and now in the treasury, be and is
hereby transferred to the City hall ac-
count: also all material, stock, etc,
bought by the city of NJ. c. Foster &
Son for the construction of said hall be
made available so far as may be for the
above purpose and that an amount
equal to these two items, if they are
used be deducted from the $4,000 or
whatever amount is necessary to COM
plete the superstructure and the bal
ance only be raised by taxation and
appropriation instead of the $4,000
first named in this order.
That for the purpose of carrying out
the provisions Of this order a COM
mittee of five Of whom the mayor. eX-
oficio. shall act as chairman and two
aldermen and two councilmen who
shall be appointed by the mayor, shall
serve rs the city hall committee Said
committee shall employ G. G. Adams
Of Lawrence Mass, or some other
architect to revise the old plans now
the property of the city so that the
building when completed shall cost not
over S4uVJV llIClutlliS HtdllilS' EloiAi'
ing ana lighting: that said committee
shall as soon as practicable advertise TOT
bids from contractors to construct the
superstruCture and close it in on or be-
fore January 81. 1902
After all the fighting and all the
tangles for the past five years this was
the order that started the building on
its way to final completion and the one
that made the dedication possible at
this time.
But before this order was passed |
strong fight had been made by the friends
Of a new High school building to side
track City han ana get their plan adopt
ed. An order was passed for one school |
building but it was vetoed by Mayor |
Baisde.l. The City hall had finally got |
ten under way so that nothing could stop |
it. Every one was tired of the discus |
sions petitions. mass meetings and Varl- |
Gus other methods that had been tried |
to get the building started and the opin- |
ion was generally accepted that If the |
city was ever to have any more public |
buildings it must first have the City hall. |
SO the work commenced once more.
The bids were advertised as per order |
and the contract let to Horace Purinton |
x co. linen as II lIc DultulilS NctS NSS n
tined to be the cause Of perpetual trouble |
there was a hitch over the contract. But |
this was not so very serious and was |
quickly settled and the work was not |
again delayed.
The work was not much more than
fairly under way when every one began |
to talk about celebrating the 1Wth an
niversary of the incorporation of Water |
VILE as town which came on June -. |
This subject had not been talked long |
when every one began to think what |
fine thing it would be to dedicate the new
City building as a part of the celebration. |
According to the original order only |
mere shell was to be erected for start |
err and this to be followed by another |
instalment the next year. But when the |
celebration question had been thoroughly |
aired ii was generally accepted that the |
only thing to do was to go ahead and |
complete the building that it could be |
dedicated at that time.
So at the meeting of the city council |
on November 3, 1901, Alderman Pitcher |
| introduced another order relating to the |
CITY hall as follows: ordered that the |
| H. hull Ia |