The Republican journal., 1907-03-21

BELFAST,
oallaing aa3 of the State road, and that SO fa
S osS,Dae ~ 81 rse sne work On our highways b
maue as permanent as practicable.
l would recommend that Won o;,,o H.,
neeus OF tne city in this department yon1
careIul consideration before making Won,
appropriation. youl
Only two cases Of infectious or contapiop,
diseases during the past wear are ranorteI
Dy tne Board OF Health, which would indi
cate tnat the sanitary conditions of our cit,
are very satisfactory. There is little If AM
urgent demand for extension of sewers h;'
there are some short sections that shonir
De completed, and would RECOMMEND :
small appropriation for continuing thi,
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
l Delieve that we have very efficient Fire
department. and / note by report of thu
Chlef Engineer that it is reasonably wei
equipped to meet ordinary confiagrations
wlthln the limit OF our hydrant service.
AS per his report would recommend tbe
purchasing of such hand chemical fire ex
tlngulshers as may be necessary, and l alst
believe that Seaside Hose Company shonlG
be assisted in procuring a suitable hose
wagon, Tor the purchase of which they al.
ready have considerable amount subscrib
ed by citizens.
believe the protectors of our homes and
lives should have suitable remuneration
Tor their services, and if they are not re.
celvlng such remuneration, | would advise
that the matter be given suitable attention
some nifty men are employed as guardians
of life and property against the devourinp
element, and during the past year but two
1res nave done any considerable damage
| One OF these was beyond the reach of the
tire department, and in the other case the
fire had practically devoured the interior OF
the building before an alarm was sounded
LIBRARY.
Every citizen may take a Just pride in our
Library. Its good work is evidently appre.
cIated as shown by the large number OF
| BOOKS supplied to our citizens. 1t is in first
class financial condition and l hear no com.
plant against those in charge.
SCHOOLS.
| The educational department of our city is
one of the most important in our whole so.
cial system. Here we train and educate those
upon whom will soon devolve the RESPONSE
bility of good citizenship.
| While we are attending to their mental
development we should exercise the best
| care possible of their physical condition.
| Crowded rooms, with poor ventilation, un-
sanitary conditions, in and around our
school buildings, may lay the foundation
for insidious disease that will eventually
terminate in years of suffering and death.
Failing to supply the proper conditions,
we fail to perform our duty toward those
whose present and future welfare are large
ly dependent upon the care we give them.
1t is unnecessary for me to enter into de-
| tail, for the unsatisfactory condition OF our
school buildings is well known to every Cit
| iZen.
That the city needs a modern school
building in what was formerly known as
| the Central District, is acknowledged by
every one, but the problem of how to OBJ
tain it remains unsolved unless some method
can be discovered by which the work of
those who placed the cty's principal asset,
her railroad stock-beyond her control,
can be undone. These gentlemen deliber-
ately placed the city where she cannot
build modern schoolhouse or meet any of
her most urgent needs, where it requires
any considerable outlay of money or in
creaseS her liabilities.
| The method of creating fund by setting
aside sum each year to be used for the
erection of a Schoolhouse at some future
time-as inaugurated by the last city gov
ernment-is, according to the written opin-
ion of the city solicitor, absolutely illegal
| This method, therefore, which seemed to
promise solution of the problem, cannot
| be continued without danger of causing the
| city serious trouble in the collection of
taxes. regret to say it must be abandoned.
| Unless the city regains control of her rail
road stock see little hope of erecting a new
school building until after the city comes in
possession of Hayford Block, which will be
in about six years.
| Our immediate needs demand that such
temporary repairs be made ON the present
school buildings as shall be required to en-
sure safety and the best sanitary conditions
possible under the circumstances. l ac-
knowledge that this is wholly undesirable,
but we face conditions not theories.
Our scholars show very gratifying prog
ress, which is proof positive that we have
d very efficient corps of teachers, and by
| the way it is claimed that the salary they
service rendered, and l would advise that
you give this matter due consideration.
l am pleased to learn that eight suburban
schools, in which nine teachers are employ
ed, have been re-established, thus demon
strating that my contention-When formerly
serving as your Mayor-that these schools
should be opened, was correct.
The superintendent MIR. KnowltOn-is
evidently rendering satisfactory service, for
hear no complaints, and believe he has
shown considerable ingenuity in the rear
rangement Of some departments, thereby
as possible.
There should be no niggardnesS in making
necessary appropriations for this depart
ment.
CITY PARK.
That we have one of the most beautifully
located parks to be found on the coast of
Maine is, think, self evident. The hand
uf art can here assist nature in making this
park beautiful gem that will remain a
source of pleasure to our posterity for sue
ceeding generations.
To clothe this park with vesture of
beauty, attractively distributed, will re-
quire the expenditure of a large amount of
labor anG money. AS the city is not in a
position financially to render such efficient
aid as could be desired, l am of the opinion
that the work of beautifying this park can
be commenced at very early date and car
ried on with the generous assistance of the
citizens of Belfast until we shall have a
park beautiful to behold.
In furtherance of this plan, and to the
end that no time be lost, would recon-
mend that competent landscape garden
er who has had experience in laying out
parks, be employed to commence work as
soon as the snow has departed and lay out
the park in an artistic manner, make de-
| tailed plans, stake out the different sec
tions, indicate on the plan the kind of trees,
shrubbery, ETC., that is required for each
section, and having procured such plan, ex-
| tend an invitation not only to the residents
| of Belfast, but to its citizens who have
| wandered afar, to contribute trees ana
| shrubs, to be planted as indicated on the
! plan.
, believe that many of the puolic-spirited
| people who live in our city, or II former
| residents, now residing elsewhere, Will be