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

Gentlemen Il the City C0uncll:-
Once year the stockholders Of every
corporation get together, either in per
son or ny proxy. and elect certain in
dividuals to carry on the business of
the concern for the ensuing year. In
private cCrporatiCrs. such persons are
usually designated as directors. but in
public or municipal corporations. the
title is different. but the duties are
precisely the same. You and | have
been elected to look after the interests
Of some six thousand stockholders. and
we are to eXpcnl for them, wisely ]
trust. somewhere in the neighbOrhood
of Seventy-fiva thousand dollars. My
last service in this capacity nf direc-
tor. was in 1901, and | believe that the
only Person then 4 member ana now. is
the gentleman from Ward 3. Mr.. Har-
mon. who was NJ that time represent
ing Ward in the Common Council.
1t has been the custom of mayors
from time immrmorial, to call the at
tention Cf the city government to each
department. its requirements and its
virtues. but for the present. 7 shall
abolish custom and take up n few mat
tiers in my own peculiar way and with
out regard to precedent.
INDEBTEDNESS
find that -tflc net Indebtedness Of
the city is slightly il excess Of that Of
last year. but this is accounted for by
the fact that the payment for the new
draw bridge Of six thousand dollars
was provided for by temporary loan,
which of course. increases our debt by
tnat much. AS this bears interest at
a five per cent. rate 1 hope You will
endeavor to repay it this year. and
advise that you make provision there
fer in the appropriation bill. I note
that forty thousand OF our bonds and
fifty-one thousand. one hundred of our
outstanding notes. bear four per cent
interest. and 1 would advise that new
issue Of bonds be authorized as soon rs
the money market becomes normal
ard that all notes and such of the
bonds as might be legally called. be
paid by the same if it may be done
upon q three and one-half per cent
basis; At the present high price Of
money, | am aware that the rate could
not be reduced. but I believe the con-
ditions to be but temporary, and al
the first suggestion of a relapse, l shall
2sk Your consideration of the matter
The city would have saved several
thousand dollars. had this been done
before. A private individual or cor
poration would not Rcedless!y spend in
tcrest money, and Why should a mu-
nicipality?
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.
This department is of more impor-
lance to the citizens Of the place thar
any other. because it is absolutely ne
cessary for nearly every person, rear
ly every day in the year. to use some
portion of the street or sidewalk in the
pursuit of business or pleasure, and or
that account, more criticism must be-
expected, for people Criticise most
that which they observe most. Money
is saved by making permanent instead
OF temporary improvements. for while
the first cost may be greater unde
the former than under the latter ar
rangement, it considerably more thar
evens up in the end and the public
has been much better accommodated
So in building roads, sidewalks o.
bridges. it is better to build for TIL
future than simply for the present. !
small quantity of permanent road eacl
Year. rightly constructed. would be il
the line of progress. and if the plal
were followed, soon We would be abb
to eliminate a part of the expense o
annual repairs, and also travel will
much more comfort and celebrity.
believe we should do away with wood