Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-17

these bonds come due June 80, of this
year; some provision. either by APP
preparation or otherwise, must pc
made for them. AS there are no other
bonds coming due until May !. 1906;
J. suggest that some plan be devised
whereby we can pay a part or THESE
each year for the next three years, in
stead of raising SO large an amount
at one assessment. | also recommend
that the outstanding notes be put into
bonds and so arranged that we can
pay $4,000 each year for the next ten
years. In this way we could soon pay
off our debt and not make our taxes
excessive or unreasonable.
1t will be my aim to decrease our in
debtedness a little each year. Some
of the appropriations of last year
were largely overdrawn: but when we
consider the amount of work done and
the improvements made we should feel
fortunate that they did not over run
| more.
One of the best things done during
| the past year. and one which is
| credit to the city, was the renovating
| of the City hail. Those of you who
| were IHhIlDtTS OI lflc iuSl CITY toulitll
may we'll be proud of this work.
| While it is not so large or imposing as
some of the halls of our sister cities,
| it is comfortable and convenient, and
| it will answer our purpose for years to
| come. With the printed reports of the
| various departments now before you 1t
| is unnecessary for me to review them
| in detail. but will. as briefly as
possible, call your attention to a few
| of the most important ones.
| Our highway department, which is
one of the largest of the city, has al
ways been subjected to severe criti-
| cism. / think most of it is unjust and
| uncalled for. Few of us are aware of
| the number of miles of roads and side
| walks which we are obliged to keep in
| rapair. In trying to economize i'll this
department in the past our streets and
| more especially our sidewalks, have
gotten into a bad condition, owing to
| the heavy rains during the winter
many of our streets at the commence
ment of last year We're almost unfit
| for travel: particularly the country
| roads, which were badly washed out.
All of the latter have been repaired,
| and they are now in fairly good shape,
hence L am satisfied that our street
| commissioner has done good work.
| In looking over the streets of our city
it is evident that something should be
| done this year to the sidewalks, some
| of them being unsafe and others need
| ing rebuilding. Nothing adds more to
the good looks. health and convenience
of a city than clean, well kept streets
| and sidewalks. / believe we can
make ours satisfactory with a fair
| amount of money judiciously expend-
| ed. In making the appropriation for
| this department | recommend that you
take into consideration the existing
| conditions. and that you make the
| amount as liberal as possible.
| Our common schools are well man
aged and have the highest rank, our
efficient superintendent, Mr.. l.. Nj. San
born, with his able corps of teachers,
| deserves a great amount of credit for
| their good work. For a number of
years there has been a growing demand
for more school room and for better ac-
commOdations for our scholars; and
now the conditions are such that it is
| imperative that we do something to re-
| lieNe the situation There seems to be
a diversity of opinion among on" citi-
IerS as to the best method to pursue.
Mr.. Sanhorn recommends new gram
mar school building, to be located in
| the central part of the city, large
enough to accommodate both the High
| land Avenue and Central Street
schools and uniting them as one school.
! A building of this kind, with all the
| modern improvements and on q suit
able lot, is estimated to cost about
$50, 900; this arrangement would leave
! the two buildings now used by the
| grammar schools to the intermediate
| grade. Another plan suggested is to
erect on Highland Avenue a building
| suitable 10 accommodate the intermedi-
ate grade, which now uses the gram
mar school building, that would leave
| the present building for the sole use of
| the Grammar school; building of
| this kind. including lot, would probably
| cost rot more than $1,000. AS l under |
stand the situation, it is the Highland
| Avenue school that is oVercroWded, |
| such being the case | think the latter
plan would be the better and the more |
practical one to adopt. This will prob
ably be one Of the most pcrplexing |
questions to come before you this year
and / trust you will give it careful |
thought and consideration. For further
information on this subject and for the
the needs of this department for the
coming year, I refer you to the super
intendent's report Our high school, |
with its able principal and his efficient
assistants, is doing very creditable |
work. The school was never in better |
condition. 1t stands today in the front |
rank of high schools and it is an insti- |
tuition which our citizens justly feel
proud Of
Some noticeable changes have been
made in the building during the past
year that adds much to its appearance
as we'll as to the comfort ana con-
venience of teachers and students.
Our poor and insane department IS
being we'll looked after by the over