Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-17

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the exceptional mark of public favor
bestowed upon me and now pledge my
best effort to 50 perform the duties OF
the high office with which am for the
third time intrusted as tn convince
them that their confidence has not been
| misplaced.
promise You, gentlemen of the City
Council, that you shall have my cor
dial support and ready assistance in
every measure which you may pro-
| pose that is calculated to. promote the
prosperity and happiness of our people
and | am pleased to believe that | shall
receive from you cheerful and able c.
! operation that we may make this
years administration a success.
FINANCES
| The financial condition of the city is
the first matter which claims attention
at the beginning Of a new administra-
ton. The funded debt is now S2S2, 300.
1t is made up us follows: per cent
bonds past due, $500; per cent. bonds,
| past due, $4,000; 4 per cent. bends, $685.
| 600; 31a per cent. bonds $4,000; total,
$2S2, 300
Bonds maturing February Il, 1909,
amount to 1880, and provision should
be made for their payment The policy
| adopted in 1899 and since continued, Of
paying the debt when it comes due
should be adhered to by the present
city government.
City bonds to the amount Of $4,000
We're paid the past year.
The following is a summary Of the ac-
count of the City Treasurer for the year
ending February %. 1875:
Balance on March l, 1907. sG60S65
Receipts from all sources, 3l6665.13
s3oa oo73. IS
Cash disbursements, $3l0, 900. IS
Balance On hand March /, 1855. $l2y675O
SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTES.
At Il special election held May IS.
1907, the citizens. Of Augusta voted TO
accept an act passed by the I'D Leg
!slature. entitled. An Act to establish
board of education in the City Of Au-
gusta and to provide for uniform
system Of schools therein
BY the acceptance of this act the VIII
lage and Williams school districts were
abolished and the property of said dis
tricts. of an estimated value Of over
100000, passed into the hands of the
City of Augusta. The city also as
stunned the debt of the districts amount
ing in the aggregate to s24,0l0. This
indebtedness is in the form OF notes
authorized by the districts to raise
funds for the erection of new school
houses. The Village district notes
artourt to $1,000 and bear per cent.
interest per annum. They rep
resent the balance due on the
cost of the Lincoln street school
house and are held by several
Augusta citizens. The Williams dis
trict notes amount to $4,000 and bear
interest at the rate of per cent. The
latter are held by the. Augusta Savings
Bank and are payable OIL demand
/ recommend that these former school
district notes be funded at a rate not
exceeding per cent. The bonds will
be readily accepted by the present
holders of the notes or may be offered
to our citizens. 1t was long the GUS
tom III both districts 70 raise $1,000 or
more annually for the reduction of dis
trict debt ana the city can adopt the
same policy by providing for the par
tial payment Of the proposed school
bouse bonds each year.
HIGHWAY SINKING FUND.
Two years ago when the proposition
of building several miles of macadam
and gravel highways on the main
thoroughfares leading into Augusta was
submitted to the City Government T
suggested that Il sinking fund might be
established by depositins $1,000 Il YEAR
in any Augusta bank at interest or
investing that amount annually in safe
interest bearing securities The city
has expended on its highways during
the IA years previous to 1907. exclusive
of snow bills, the sum of $3.50, 1885, or
an average Of about 5000 per mile per
year, for the maintenance OF us miles of
streets and roads. Our country roads
did not receive their fair share of this
amount and what they did receive was
expo nded mainly in temporary repairs.
until work of permanent character was
begun in the fall of 1906.
Over eight miles of improved country
roads have now been constructed and
should be maintained in their present
splendid condition at an annual cost of
about $50 per mile. The saving on
these roads alone will provide the sum
Of $1,000 which should annually be add
ed to the sinking fund. established for
the payment Of the road bonds when
they come due. The good roads will
therefore become our gift to the COM
ing generation as we'll as blessing to
the present.
During the past two years $1,000 has
been appropriated annually for TIE
above purpose ard the sum Of $4,000 is
| now on deposit to the credit Of the city
in the Augusta Trust Co. and Is
drawing 4 per cent. interest. I recon-
mend that this policy be continued by
this and future city governments.
| WATER STREET SIDEWALKS.
| The rights Of owners or tenants of
places of business on Water street tG
occupy a portion Of the sidewalk in
front Of their stores for the display of
their wares has been question that
has vexed many former city govern
| ments.
| Increasing population and the conse-
quent increase of travel upon the side
walks of our principal business street
has brought about condition which