Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-03-20

to occupy. / am also aware of the
contention that we must spend no
money on permanent roads until our
| sidewalks are better. l believe that
we should SO appropriate that the i'm
provement of each will go hand in
hand. For several years we have APP
propriated money for the repairs Of
| sidewalks and made a separate APP
preparation for permanent side walks.
| l am unable to see why we should not
| DO the same with our roads, approp-
| rating of course a much larger sum
for repairs than for the permanent de-
/ pa rtment. Consider the question care
| fully. gentlemen. See the attitude of
our State on the question and of other
| cities and towns and it seems to me
| you must be convinced that We should
| at once make 4 beginning ever though
a small one. You will of course con-
| tinue the appropriation for permanent
| sidewalks of concrete, and it is be-
| licved that since the last city council
ordered the purchase of a concreting
outfit for the city that we can build
a great many more yards of walk for
| the same money than We could have
under the old contract system. While
on the subject OF side walks / sincere
lly hope that you can make q special
appropriation for rebuilding the side
walks on Water street, either of brick
or concrete. Unless q special sum is
appropriated it will be found impOssi-
BILE to use any amount from the gener-
al appropriation for the highway de-
partment so great Is the call from all
OYER the city for expenditures from this
department. In many sections these
| sidewalks are 4 positive .discredit to
the city if not dangerous to life and
limb. Our merchants, who are the
commercial back bone of our city, are
entitled to decent approaches to their
places of business. l cannot think Of
any one thing that needs more i'm
me diate attention than this. If we
must defer permanent roads for a year
let us at least improve the sidewalks
on our principal business street. 1 be-
lieve, however, that we can accomplish
both and at the same time keep our
tax rates at . per cent. Once we have
made our sidewalks on Water street
what they should be. l believe the con-
trast with the paying of this street
would be so great that public senti-
lment would demand the improvement
of that. l cannot doubt that arrange
n?ents could be made with the public
lscrvice corporations, which are almost
wholly responsible for the present I'M
slightly and inconvenient condition of
the paving. whereby they would bear a
pant Of the expense OF such improve
ment.
| | am sure the reports now before
you will cOrroborate my statement
above that all officials have kept with
ir their appropriations and so con-
Quoted their departments as to merit
lyCur appreciation, yet l am sure they
Will none of them be sensitive if l
call particular attention to only one or
two. One is not technically a depart
ment of the City Government, but is
to all inteAts ard purposes. 1 allude
10 the report of the trustees of the
Water District. The statement they
lave made shows Il most gratifying
condition of affairs, and if anyone
. doubted the wisdom of taking over the
water works such substantial progress
in the future rs has already been made
must soon remove them. 1 know a
careful study of this report will be
: most profitable. A new department
has been added to the High school,
that of typcwriting and stenography.
1t has proved popular and successful
beyond the hopes of it's friends. To
maintain this may call for q slightly
increased appropriation but SO bene-
fetal is this course of study in giving
our young people a practical business
education, that / feel sure you will
provide any small additional amount
that may be required. l also hope you
will be as liberal as possible with the
appropriation for books for the High
school. We already have q fairly well
equipped library at the school, and by
appropriating as literally as possible
No better investment of our money is
possible than in improving our schools
Your first duty will be the election
of the city officials for the ensuing
year. For the first time two of the
! most important officials. street COM
missioner and city marshal have been
chosen by the people. Many important
offices, however, remain to be filled.
You should, and l have no doubt will
tinake your selection with great care
ard with only the best interests Of the
city in view. Whoever is selected CO.
operate with him heartily as occasion
may arise. With the choice Of these
officials all caucuses and elections are
finished and let us then forget any
differences and work unitedly, con-
scientiously and earnestly to transact
: the many and important duties that
Twill confront us during the year to
come.