Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-22

have been made the past year beyond
the ordinary running expenditures. \
new truck has been purchased and a
compressed air plant installed in the
city building, furnishing power for Civ
ing fire alarms. These extra eXpendi-
lures were wisely made. l think. In the
opinion of the chief of the department
the new truck furnished means for pre-
venting many times greater loss in the
serious fire of January I. The COM
pressed air plant furnishes, now that it
is installed, a power at an estimated
cost of one hundred dollars per year
for which outside parties would have
| asked an annual rental OF six hundred
dollars.
In this connection l wish to speak in
| the highest terms of the efficiency OF
| the department during the past year
TO its watchfulness, to its promptness
in responding to every CALL and to the
brave and efficient fight which it has
more than once made to save our city
from serious disaster. our heartiest
gratitude is due. l wish also in behalf
of the city to express our hearty appr.,-
citation of, and thanks for, the aid re-
ceived from the fire departments of our
sister cities, Waterville and Hallowcll,
during the fire of January, and to the
| department of Gardiner for its readi-
ness to come to our aid had their help
been needed.
| For the greater efficiency of the de-
! partmcnt in the future I recommend
! this year the purchase of deluge sets,
and that such other improvements as
the chief Of the department may recon-
mend in his report TO place the depart
ment iii first class condition, be granted
50 far as compatible with other inter-
| ests.
LITHGOW LIBRARY.
From the report of the trustees it will
he seen that the city appropriated for
| the benefit of the Lithgow library for
| the past year, two thousand dollars
! This sum WAS needed and was eXpend-
ed for the purchase of new and the re-
| binding Of cid books. l recommend for
| this year al appropriation of one thou
sand dollars.
POLICE. FORCE.
OF our police force | need only to say
that it has been efficient in the per-
formanccof its every duty. As at pres
ent organized. ana as trust it will con
| iinuc to be organized and conducted,
the people Of our city may safely feel
| tha: their interests are properly guard
ed by Il viGilant and effective police
force.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
Tho reports of the Street Commits
sioners and City Engineer will be placed
before you in due time. To the facts
stated i'm those reports and the recon-
mendations made in them invite your
careful attention.
Among the items of expense for the
past year you will find that of the ex-
change Of our old for new street roller
ut a cost of tWcnty-ScVcn hundred dol
lars. This expenditure was necessary
to the wise and economical improve
mentS made upon our streets. 1t will
obviatc the necessity of any further eX-
pensc in this direction for many years.
[ believe from personal Knowledge as
we'll rs from the facts submitted in the
reports OF the street commissioners and
city engineer. that the appropriations
for stl cct improvements have been ju-
diciously expended, and that the i'm
prOvcmcnts made are in the nature of
permanency.
The plans under which they have
been made should be followed in the
future till every street in our city is
such as the capital city of Maine shall
be PROUD of.
Beside continuing the Improvement
of the streets within our city limits
proper. | recommend the systematic
planning and beginning of improve
from the city Our commercial and
business we'll being depends in no small
degree upon the readiness with which
our business centers may be reached
by those living u a distance from those
centcrs. 1t is not enough that the
streets within our business limits Shall
he OF the best. but it is for our interests
that these leading to those limits shall
be o: the best
SEWERAGE
The work done upon the city sew crs
for the past year as appears from the
report Of the city engineer, has been
made in accordance with plans which.
il followed out, will provide our city
with perfect and efficient system Of
sewerage. I trust that you will see
that such work as You may authorize
for the ensuing year may be done in
accordance with that plan. The health
of our people is a matter Of such i'm
portance that nothing should be left
undone to produce the best health con-
ditions. which we can consistently do.
1t hardly seems necessary to say that
the health of a city depends upon the
perfection Of its sewerage and water
supply.
THE POOR.
The report of the overseer OF the poor
will be placed before you in due time.
l think you will be satisfied on careful
examination of that report that the in
ferests both of the city and of those
unfortunates for whom it has had to
care. have been wisely and humanely
cared for. The overseer of the poor.
Mr.. Wentworth, seems to have been