Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-07

MdhiiS a totai VI 4i4i IT. S4lSo. 81
The city engineer reports that you have
this year Dulit, more sewer inches and
at a less cost. than ever before in the his
tory of the city t1i5
The poor department has accomplished
some things of importance TO sthe CITY
during the past year. There has been es-
| tablished the pauper settlement OF VII
ham Coffin and his wife over which there
was controversy with the town of Wis
casset. me matter was finally settled
and the pauper settlement of the fam, V
was established in Wiscasset, ana the
city has collected about $500 from the
town of Wiscasset for supplies, etc, fur
nished TINS was a matter of Importance
to the city as the possibilities and op-
portunities for large expenditures on ac-
count of this family in the future were
great. In the amount of outside supplies,
the present year the number receiving
such supplies outside the aImshouse has
been about forty less than the year be
fore, and the difference in expense Of
supplies furnished outside the aimshouse
is about $3.50 This is not because deserv-
ing and needy persons have been allowed
to suffer- but because more careful exam
ination has been made into the abilities
of those seeking to draw from the city
treasury. AT the almshouse the number
of inmates this year has been less than
the preceding year and this single fact
added to the fact OF less supplies fur
nished to families outside of the aims
house, is one evidence of the prosperity
which the city has enjoyed during the
year. The cost of running the almshouse
this year is not yet known. The inven-
tory Mas not yet been taken. but the re
ceipts IRON the town farm have been
more from sales of hay and produce than
the preceding year.
The fire department has continued to
maintain its high standard of efficiency
and probably is not surpassed in the
character of its members by the depart
ment of any city of it's size in New Eng
land. The promptness of its response 10
fire alarms and the comparatively small
number Of losses taking into account the
wide territory the department has to COW
er, speak eloduently of the departments
efficiency. During the year you have in
stalled an improved fire alarm signal sys-
tenn at an expense of $500. This was
unanimously recommended by Aldermen
Keene and Haskell and Councilmen
Messrs. Chadwick and Delano, committee
on fire department, and was installed
action may be judged from the fact that
since its installation not one cent has
been paid for repairs. While the de-
creased expense of running the fire alarm
under the new arrangement is so much
less than under the old that the differ
ence will more than pay this increased
expense of $500 in less than three years
Our schools have continued to be a mat
ter of pride to all our citizens and while
we know it is the disposition of our peo-
pie to make liberal and even generous
expenditures for the support and main
tainance OF our schools, the same careful
scrutiny of all expenditures and the same
careful planning of former years to ac-
compliSh the greatest result with the
least money has been continued, and the
schools of our city have a reputation
which must be source of satisfaction to
all who have had charge of them as well
as to the parents and all who are inter-
ested in the welfare of our youth
City Marshal Henry M. Breen, has had
force of but five regular policemen
during the past year. though many cities
no larger than Augusta find it necessary
to have larger force.
| would call your attention to the fact
that during the past year there has not
csine. although in many of our neighbor
ing cities and towns these gambling de-
vices are allowed unmoested and in
sidious temptation to the young.
While applications have many times
been made for license to give exhibitions
of different kinds. no travelling exhibit
ton of a questionable character has been
permitted to open it's doors in our city.
GUS outbreak and the continued quiet and
safety of our streets is proof of the
watchful care of the marshal and his Of
ficers both day and night.
The amount of work given by the diff |
ferent joint standing committees of the
city council has been very great The
committee on highways and sewers was
composed of Alderman Hichborn. Burns
Chadwick and Penney. Nothing but
praise can be given to this committee for |
the interest they have shown In the work |
of the city and the time that they have |
contributed to the successful carrying |
on of the highway improvements. And |
in this connection it is due to the alder |
men and councilmen alike to bear witness |
to the interest they have shown and the |
time they have given to the citys work. |
have been member of former city |
governments when it was necessary to |
send the city marshal in order to get a |
quorum to do the city's business. but this |
year that has been unknown. Roth |
branches have had good attendance and |
those who have lived the most remote |
have been punctual In their attendance |
and that too, whether weather and roads |
had been favorable or not. |
To take up once more the matter of |
expenditures Of this year In some depart
ments compared with similar expenses
OF the preceding year, you have expended
this year more than last.
On cemeteries ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $685.
On Fire Department ............. 315M |
On Kennebec Bridge .............. 5ol.6
On snow bills Observation-Disclosures. S9lT,J2
ON stationery and blank books, 4T;Sl
On city bonds OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, 3oDw
After striking. off as an asset the! old
taxes which were abated by order of, the
council and also abatement by the board
of asseszors you close your year with a
net baiance in favor of the city of $ll35.60 |
In viewNOf the large expenditures which
have been made | feel that this show |
ing must be source of satisfaction Ia |
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