The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-03-19
CITY GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED.

In accordance with the provisions of the
city charter, the Mayor, Aldermen and Com
mon Councilmen-elect met in the city rooms
at 10 O'Clock Monday forenoon, March 10th,
and were sworn by William P. Thompson,
ESQ.,, Justice of the Peace. All the mem
bers of both boards were present.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Harry Lutz.
Major Small read his annual address as
follows
Gentlemen OF the City Council: You are
this year placed in control OF municipal al
fairs by the unanimous choice OF your lei
low citizens an act which implies conf
dence in your integrity. and trust in your
ability to perform the duties incumbent
npon YOU. You have bound yourselves for
the performance OF these duties by the
solemnity of an oath. From this moment
the public eve is upon YOU: tol praise OF
censure, as your acts meet with approval or
otherwise You will be confronted with
0uestions of Importance. Conflicting inter
ests will undoubtedly urge upon you widely
Ldivergent courses OF action. TO favor one
I YOU may antagonlZe another: GU consul
| fute A tribunal which should meet every
issue squarely, judge impartidlly, draw
YOUR conclusions with deliberatjon ana Wis
dom and in accordance with the dictates OF
conscience, ever remembering that yop are
not in the service OF any lnulNlula4 as 4
unit DllI Oh lJt liittlltl ld4ltt a. q W ANY,.
earnestly hope you viii strive to thoroughly
familiariZe Yourselves with the duties OF
your respective Offices, that you Will be
constant in attendance upon all sessions
of the council, promptly at the appointed
| hour and that harmony and strictly busl-
| ness-like methods Will prevail
FINANCES.
The cash balance in the treasury March
| . 1903. was S6,597.1S against si1.o12.l7 IN
Il b.iflAr MAINLY account
| ed for by appropriatlng eG,G'2, 50 from the
| surplus fund OF last year for the conStluc-
tion of the sewer outlet | would recommend
| that apprOpriations amply sufficient tor our
needs be made for the current year, ana also
| that rigid economy be practlced III every de-
nartment and that nothing but what Is nee
| assary. and at current prices, be authorized
| nv the hoard The city Solicitor in his re-
! mort has called attention to the fact that
tsThe city has a large number OF TAX deeds
resulting from both collector anu snerln ). ;
sales of real estate for delinquent taxes,
and that measures should be taken by the
present Council to realize upon the same
| His suggestion of Imposing condition III
the collectors bond that all taxes on resi-
! dent real estate should either be collected
| within the wear or put in suit as provided
hv the statutes, should be carried out to
| the letter.
| FIRE DEPARTMENT.
We have again been fortunate in our fire
losses. a few hundred dollars covering the
| entire amount We cannot expect such I'M
munjty for an indefinite period. A Gafle-
we'll fire alarm system with seven boxes mas
been installed and is working satlsfactor-
| ily Our chief has recommended tnat tine
system be increased by six additional boxes
that one thousand feet of hose be pur-
| cha Sed and that d hose wagon be placrd IN
| the central station, and some repairs oe
! made in the hook and ladder room--ali OF OF
| which requests are reasonable ana shoulu QUIZ
| he granted. We should be prepared to meet
any emergency and everything necessary
should be done to increase the emclency ol
the department. ! again take occasion W
urge our citizens to provide themselves Win
fire hose or some form OF chemical nre APP
| paratus at their homes and places OF DuSi-
| ness | would recommend, addltlonally,
that a station be established near the 1oot Oh
the square Time and property might De
saved by such an arrangement.
CITY WATER.
Much dissatisfaction has been expressed
in regard to our city water, at all times as
to color and amount OF sediment ana at GER
| tain seasons of the year as 10 itS disagree
able odor and taste which render 1t unI!t
for domestic purposes. Athoush thls sei.i !,
| ment has never crystaliZed into any foflnal
protests except SO far as flushing hydrants
and mains and cleaning the stand pipe Is
concerned, still feel that should be re-
miss in my duty if did not bring the sub
iect to your attention Inc absence VI
typhoid and other sickness, which i'll some
of olr sister cities are clearly due to their
water supply, proves that from bacterlologl-
| cal pOint of view our water is wholesome,
| hut the fact remains that it is not what 1t
might be, or should be, and that measures
| sh0uld. if possible, be taken to improve 1T.
40 amount of flushing hydrants and mo'v9-
ing the water in the mains will improve It.
The proper and conceded remedy lies IN the