Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-19

where 1t is impossible to use other ma
terial, and depend upon the concrete.
IL tHese are laid in the right season OF
the year and in the right way I am
sure the results will prove more salts
factory to the taxpayers than any 9TH
er Kind. The sidewalk on Water
street should be relaid this year, begin
hing where the work stopped last sea-
son. 1t should be commenced as soon
after the snow and frost departs, as
will permit, so that the people NAV
have the full benefit of it during the
open months. l am afraid the abut-
ters along Water street are not aware
OF the risk they run in allowing snow
and ice to accumulate in front of their
buildings. II is their duty to keep the
sidewalks clear and in case Of acct
dent, the liability if any, would be for
them to adjust. Abutters are also
legally bound to remove all snow
from the highway which comes from
the roof of buildings bordering there
on. If the electric road from Sabat-
tuS comes into Gardiner, and is gwen
the right to locate through Water
street. it would he Il good time to
Strengthen the pavement in the places
where it is most needed .Fhe railroad
OF course, would be obliged to reiay
the pavement along the road-bed, and
thus 1t would not cost as much as at
Some future period. | am only speak
ing OF contingencies in this respect. for
the people connected with the road
may not care to come to Gardiner
One thing l object to most strenuously.
and that is sweeping TIE streets With
the horse sweeper. | think it the
most obnoxious method ever invented
and it must, with the dust and dirt it
raises, make havoc With the stocks of
the merchants along the street. The
objection to washing the payment, is
that it tends to fill up the sewers, and
thus impairs their usefulness, but even
at that, it would be preferable to clean
out or even build sewer occasionally.
rather than continue the nuisance. In
some years the streets have not been
properly sprinkled. and to my mind
there is nothing more disgusting than
a steady diet of dirt and dust. during
business hours. 1t is also very ag-
grava;ing 10 the merchants and bust
ness men and makes it necessary for
them to spend time in cleaning goods
that might be more prOfitably en-
plOyed. | shall insist that whoever
has the contract, shall be ready to
keep on the street all the time, If re-
quired to prevent these abuses. As
between dust and mud, give me mud
and l think the majority of our citi-
zens feel the same way. There should
be an ordinance enacted to prevent
- nr ~ e.;I
walk or curbing except under the di-
rection of some competent city repre-
sentative. who should be paid for dc
ing it, by the person, firm or corpora
ton desiring it done.
GARDINER AND RANDOLPH
BRIDGE.
We had high hopes that the general
bridge bill taking all bridges over forty
feet in length, would pass the present
Legislature and become a law, but
while the House gave it favorable pas
sage, the Senate refused to do SO, and
thus we have the expense Of maintain
ing the above bridge still with US. We
have Il resolve for two thousand dol
lars i year on its way. and it emerged
from The committee room with IA
vorable report. thanks to the eXertions
Of our faithful representative. Charles
| s. Cobb. If the resolve passes it will
| practically take care of the annual and
usual expense of maintenance and re-
pair. IT seems to me that it would
be wise to extend the draw pier down
river to such point as would insure
| the safety Of the draw itself from dam
| age by collision with vessels passing
1 70
committee will consider this PROPOSE
| ton.
The two covered ends present very
| unsightlv appearance, but I suppose We
| must bear with their unpleasant effect
until Providence sees fit to remove
| them as was the case with the middle
portions Of the bridge.
COLLECTION OF TAXES.
The office of collector of taxes is the
| most important in the administration
Of municipal affairs. because 1t Is
| through that official that We
| receive the necessary funds to run the
| government Whoever is elected and
| takes that office for the ensuing year
| must clearly understand that he is &c
| settle with the city exactly when the
/
| In the years 1904 1905 and 1906, there
| has been abated. according to the re-
| port. the sum of three thousand -four
| hundred twenty one dollars and forty
| one cents. an amount altogether toe
large. The collector should be alert ir
| causing poll tax payers to settle, not
| waiting for them to come to him. hui
| going to them. There are lot of this
| class who feel as though they WoulC
| like to run the government about
| caucus ard election time. but who have
| no idea Of ever paying anything
| toward the privilege. | would sugges
| that the assessors if ii may legally be
| done. give the list Of the same to the
| collector with their warrant, at thF
| earliest possible moment. withou
| waiting to commit the entire list a
| one time Real estate taxes will take
| care Of themselves, but single polls anc
| polls with small personal taxes are the
| most difficult to obtain. 1t really
| seems as though the smaller the tax {
/ man is assessed for, the more serious
Il